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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000 03 27 Regular H Review of City Charter COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM H Consent Informational Public Hearing Regular X March 27, 2000 Regular Meeting ~ Mgr. / Dept. Authorization REQUEST: The City Manager requesting the Commission to consider alternatives relative to a Review of the City Charter and to provide Staff with appropriate direction. PURPOSE: The purpose of this Agenda Item is for the Commission to decide what action, if any, it desires to take relative to a Review of the City Charter. CONSIDERATIONS: Interest has been expressed by certain elected officials to review the City Charter to determine which improvements that may be made in a future referendum. The Commission has requested an analysis of the Commissions' alternatives in addressing this Charter. CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS REGULAR MEETING - MARCH 27, 2000 REGULAR AGENDA ITEM H PAGE 2 OF 4 Authority To Amend Section 10.01 of the City Charter provides that Amendments to the Charter may be proposed and adopted by the legislature of the State of Florida or by the City Commission pursuant to the Home Rule Powers granted under the Constitution of the State of Florida. Section 166.031 Florida Statutes provides that a municipal charter may be amended in two ways: 1) By the governing body passing an Ordinance calling for a Referendum on Amendments by the governing body, or 2) By the electorate through a petition signed by 10% of the registered electors as of the preceeding municipal general election. The governing body is required to place the language provided for in the Ordinance or the petitions on the next general election date or a special election calling for the proposed amendment. Governing Body Action There are several ways in which the Commission could approach amending the Charter by Ordinance and Referendum as follows: 1) Employ a consultant to work with the Elected Officials and Staff in review of the Charter and to provide recommendations to improve the Charter. 2) Authorize Staff to review the Charter and work with the Commission in developing amendments and providing recommendations. 3) Approve a Citizens Advisory Group to work with a competent consultant to explore amendments that could improve the Charter. Scope Of Work The most important step in initializing work on the City Charter is to defme the purpose and scope of the review to be undertaken. CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS REGULAR MEETING - MARCH 27, 2000 REGULAR AGENDA ITEM H PAGE30F4 1) Does the Commission want to look at specific areas in which it has an interest. 2) Does the Commission desire a comprehensive reVIew of the Charter. One alternative the Commission might consider is to have each Commissioner put on the table Charter issues it would like to address and parts of the Charter it would leave off the table for review. Timing Timing is another issue of importance. Times in which the City is intensely involved in a number of very important issues and projects is probably not a good time for the Commission to address Charter issues in a thorough and deliberate manner. Additionally, when the City is embroiled in very intensive conflicts between key political actors in the community is probably not a good time to provide Charter Review the time and objectiveness it deserves. The better time would probably be in a non election year when adequate time and objective consideration can be given to the process. FUNDING: The level of funding would be determined by the scope of work if any, the Commission would decide. The source of funding would be the General Fund. RECOMMENDATIONS: It is recommended that the Commission decide which of the following alternatives relative to a Charter Review it desires. 1. Do nothing. 2. Do nothing and agree to address the issue at a later date. 3. Set a workshop to discuss issues that would be on the table, and off the table and then make a decision if there is enough interest to go forward. CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS REGULAR MEETING - MARCH 27, 2000 REGULAR AGENDA ITEM H PAGE40F4 4. Hire a consultant to perform a complete review of the Charter and to work with the Commission in developing recommendations. 5. Hire a consultant to work with a citizen committee in performing a comprehensive review of the Charter and making recommendations to the Commission. 6. Hire a consultant to address specific issues identified by the Commission and work with the Commission in developing amendments. 7 . Work with Staff in addressing specific issues and formulating recommendations relative to issues in which the Commission has an interest. COMMISSION ACTION: