01-15-15 Minutes Minutes
Charter Review Committee Meeting
January 15, 2015
City Hall, 800 Seminole Road
In Attendance:
Committee Members
Don Wolfson, Chairman City Manager Nelson Van Liere
Mark Tomaski,Vice Chairman City Attorney R. Komando
Joan Carver, Secretary City Clerk Donna Bartle
Katherine Carithers
Sally Clemens
Judith Leroux
David Vincent
Absent
Mike Borno
Tom Goodrich
Call to Order
Chairman Wolfson called the seventeenth meeting of the Charter Review Committee to order
at 5:00 p.m. He asked if there were corrections to the minutes of the meeting of December 15,
2014. Dr. Carver stated that in the paragraph relating to Mr. Vincent's motion to include in the
report to the city commission the fact that the vote on district elections failed because of the
lack of a super majority, the sentence; "Thus, the motion did not receive the super majority
needed to pass" should be deleted since a super majority is not required on issues not related
to charter changes. Ms. Clemens noted that in the statement that anyone running for office
must be a citizen the word "verified United States" should be placed before the word citizen.
Ms. Leroux moved the acceptance of the minutes as corrected. The motion was seconded by
Ms. Clemens and passed.
Courtesy of the Floor to Visitors
Chris Jorgensen, 92 West Third Street, noted that he is disappointed that the CRC is not
recommending election by district for the city commission. He feels it is part of the American
system to elect by district. He stated that he wants citizens to be aware that in this city
commissioners, who are like representatives at the national level, are elected at large. He
considers this to be like "bait and switch." He wants to keep this issue alive.
Chairman Wolfson thanked Mr. Jorgensen for his attendance at the meetings. He noted that
the process works when there is citizen input and open debate. He encouraged Mr. Jorgensen
to continue to follow the process.
Unfinished Business from Previous Meetings
Article XVIII. Sec. 81
Chairman Wolfson asked for comments on the revised Section 81, as drafted by City Attorney
Komando. Dr. Carver stated that as she recalled the discussion at the prior meeting a range of
from seven to fifteen electors had been suggested for the committee. There was discussion of
the appropriate size. Chairman Wolfson observed that nine had worked well for the current
committee. Dr. Tomaski noted that charter review committees are often larger in number,
while City Attorney Komando stated some committees might be quite small. Chairman
Wolfson responded to City Manager Van Liere's concern about finding interested people to
serve by noting the leadership of the city might need to recruit citizens for the committee. Ms.
Leroux and Ms. Carithers both felt that a larger size allows for a greater diversity of views. Dr.
Carver moved that the first sentence of Section 81 be changed to read: " A Charter Review
Committee consisting of from nine (9) to fifteen (15) electors of the City shall be
appointed...." Chairman Wolfson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Ms. Carithers moved that a provision be added that the committee should be appointed
in January of the year preceding the regular municipal election to ensure there is
sufficient time for the committee work and public input. Ms. Leroux seconded the
motion and it was approved.
Mr. Vincent moved and Ms. Clemens seconded the motion that the word general
election be replaced by regular municipal election.The motion was approved.
Mr. Vincent moved that ninety (90) days in the second and in the third paragraphs of
Section 81 be replaced by one hundred and eighty (180) days. Dr. Tomaski seconded
the motion and it was approved.
Mr. Vincent moved the approval of Section 81 as amended. The motion was seconded
by Ms. Leroux and approved by the committee.
Report to the Commission and Joint Workshop
There was a brief discussion of the committee's report to the city commission. City Attorney
Komando suggested including a brief cover letter, the spreadsheet of the recommendations
and the number of meetings the committee held.
January 26 or February 23 was suggested as a possible time for a joint workshop with the city
commission. City Attorney Komando suggested that the workshop might be held at 5:00 p.m.
before the city commission meeting.
Ms. Leroux stated that the recommendation from the committee that a coastal planning
committee be established should be included in the report.
Mr. Vincent stated that he visualized the report as including a simple cover letter, a spread
sheet with the recommendations, and an addendum with the coastal committee
recommendation and the vote on electing district commissioners by those in the district
rather than at large.
Minutes of the Charter Review Committee on January 15, 2015 Page 2 of 3
Miscellaneous Business
Chairman Wolfson asked City Attorney Komando if the committee could re-consider its vote
on district elections, Article II, Section 5. City Attorney Komando indicated that the vote could
be re-considered. A motion to reconsider was moved by Ms. Clemens, seconded by Dr. Carver
and passed by the committee.
Chairman Wolfson pointed out that City Manager Van Liere had observed that only one
hundred people had voted in one district in the last municipal election. Dr. Tomaski stated
that the number of voters was not of great concern to him. He cited the difference in number
of voters for senators in Wyoming and Florida. Ms. Leroux suggested that people might not
turn out for elections because they don't feel represented.
Chairman Wolfson mentioned that his proposal for four commissioners elected by district and
two at-large and the mayor-commissioner elected at-large was designed to provide a balance.
Ms. Leroux observed that the people who have come to speak to the committee have stated
that they did not feel represented when their district commissioner is elected at-large. She
noted that any kind of change is viewed as a danger.
Chairman Wolfson asked Ms. Carithers what the thinking of the District Representation
Committee was when it recommended that district commissioners must live in their district
but be elected at-large. She stated that there was a lot of back and forth discussion but there
had to be compromise to get the districts.
City Attorney Komando expressed concern that a district's citizens might feel further
disenfranchised by having only one vote out of four.
Ms. Leroux noted that running in a district would reduce the cost of campaigning. Ms.
Clemens stated it is time to try district election.
Dr. Tomaski moved that Article II. Section 5 specify that Seats 2 through 5 shall be
elected by their respective districts. Mr.Vincent seconded the motion and it was passed
by a vote of seven to zero (7 -0).
Ms. Clemens stated that the names of the committee members should accompany the report
to the city commission.
Dr.Tomaski stated that the boundary description of Atlantic Beach in the Charter and the land
plats have some discrepancies. He noted that he has a personal interest in the issue. Chairman
Wolfson moved that the committee request that the city ensure that the descriptions of its
boundaries are accurate. The motion was seconded by Ms. Carithers and passed by a vote of
six to zero with Dr.Tomaski abstaining.
Chairman Wolfson thanked the staff and members of the CRC for their work.
Adjournment of the meeting was moved by Mr.Vincent, seconded by Ms. Leroux, and passed.
The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
CDon Wolfson, Chairman
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