Exh 4FAGENDA ITEM #4F
JUNE 25, 2001
CITY OFATLANTIC BEACH
800 SEMINOLE ROAD
ATLANTIC $EACH, FLORIDA 32233-5445
TELEPHONE: (904) 247-5800
FAX: (904) 247-5805
SUNCOM: 852-5800
http;//ci.atlantic-beach.ft.us
June 18, 2001
To: The Honorable Mayor and City Commissioners
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From: Maureen King, City Clerk, ~~~~
Subject: Ballot Deadline
in recent discussions with the Supervisor of Elections office, 1 have been advised that
the information provided earlier regarding the deadline to add an item to the ballot for
our election on October 2, 2001, was incorrect.
From a purely logistical standpoint, the deadline of September 11 would give the
Supervisor of Elections sufficient time to have something added to the ballot. However,
in determining this date, no consideration was given to the legal requirements: Florida
law requires that a referendum must be advertised twice -three weeks before the
election and five weeks before the election. In order to allow sufficient time for
advertising, the latest date the City Commission could adopt an Ordinance to put a
referendum on the ballot, would be Monday, August 13. I apologize for the
misunderstanding.
I also learned from the Supervisor of Elections that if citizens wish to pursue having a
referendum added to the ballot the signed petitions would have to be submitted to their
office by the end of June in order to provide time for their staff to verify signatures and
respond to the citizens group within the prescribed time limits. While I have not been
asked for any information by any of the citizens who are proposing to put a referendum
on the ballot, during a brief review of this matter I learned that while Florida Statutes
requires the signatures of 10% of the registered voters at the preceding municipal
election, Section 45 of the City Charter requires "a petition signed by registered electors
of the city equal to at least twenty-five per centum (25%) of the registered electors at the
last preceding regular municipal election..." The Charter would take precedence over
the Statutes in this regard.
Please let me know if you would like any additional information
xc: City Manager