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Home My WebLink About2025 04 28 Consent 302 - Resolution 2025-05: Amending for Veteran and Veteran Families Advisory CommitteeCONSENT AGENDA ITEM 302 CITY COMMISSION AGENDA | APRIL 28, 2025 REGULAR MEETING TITLE Resolution 2025-05: Amending and Restating the Purpose and Function of the Veteran and Veteran Family Advisory Committee SUMMARY The City Commission recently undertook a comprehensive review of advisory boards and committees throughout the city. With regard to the Veteran and Veteran Family Advisory Committee, the Commission requested that the Mayor meet with stakeholders and discuss a vision for the committee to provide clarity and structure. Staff met to review the recommendations and incorporated them into a proposed resolution. The proposed Resolution 2025-05 achieves the following: Clarifies the mission stated in Section 2. It is proposed that the committee will make recommendations for items to be included in the newsletter, recommend veterans to the Commission for various awards/recognitions throughout the county, help to develop and recommend a process for the Hometown Hero selection, and continue to promote involvement in city events, specifically the Celebration of Freedom (July 4th event), 9/11 memorial, and Veterans Day. The restated mission allows this variety of activities to occur. Section 4 clarifies term limits for the committee. In Section 5 language has been added providing that committee members can submit items for the agenda no later than ten working days prior to the meeting. Any committee member submitting an agenda item is responsible for providing any and all background information to be presented to the committee. Language has also been added to designate the chairperson as a liaison with veteran organizations. Section 6 is adminstrative in nature and removes a previous reference to a specific staff member/title, instead stating that a liaison will be appointed by the City Manager. The Veterans and Veteran Family Advisory Committee met on April 22nd and recommended approval of the resolution with membership maintained at seven rather than reduced to five and a quorum defined as four members. This proposed change has been included in the resolution before the Commission. FUNDING SOURCE 13 RECOMMENDATION Staff requests the Commission approve Resolution 2025-05. 14 City of Winter Springs Resolution No. 2025-05 Page 1 of 4 RESOLUTION NO. 2025-05 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA, AMENDING AND RESTATING THE PURPOSE AND FUNCTION OF THE CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS VETERAN AND VETERAN FAMILY ADVISORY COMMITTEE; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF PRIOR INCONSISTENT RESOLUTIONS INCLUDING RESOLUTION NO. 2020-22; SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the City is granted the authority, under Section 2(b), Article VIII, of the State Constitution, to exercise any power for municipal purposes, except when expressly prohibited by law; and WHEREAS, the City Commission desires to encourage and facilitate the involvement of veterans and their families in the Winter Springs community and city events, and in pursuit of this goal established the ad-hoc City of Winter Springs Veteran and Veteran Family Advisory Committee via Resolution No. 2020-22 to obtain input in matters of special interest to veterans and to encourage meaningful veteran participation in city events; and WHEREAS, the City Commission desires to revise the purpose and function of the Veteran and Veteran Family Advisory Committee by repealing Resolution No. 2020-22 and replacing it with this Resolution, to ensure that the Committee functions efficiently and provides the maximum benefit to veterans, their families, and the City; and WHEREAS, the City Commission of the City of Winter Springs finds that this Resolution is in the best interests of the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Winter Springs. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, SEMINOLE COUNTY, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Recitals. The foregoing recitals are deemed true and correct and are hereby fully incorporated herein by this reference. Section 2. Repeal of Resolution No. 2020-22. All prior inconsistent resolutions adopted by the City Commission, or parts of prior resolutions in conflict herewith, including Resolution No. 2020-22, are hereby repealed to the extent of the conflict. 15 City of Winter Springs Resolution No. 2025-05 Page 2 of 4 Section 3. Creation of the Winter Springs Veteran and Veteran Family Advisory Committee. The City Commission hereby creates an ad-hoc Winter Springs Veteran and Veteran Family Advisory Committee for the purpose of advising and making appropriate recommendations to the City Commission regarding matters affecting local veterans and their families. The Winter Springs Veteran and Veteran Family Advisory Committee shall be an advisory committee only and shall not have any final decision-making authority. The Veteran and Veteran Family Advisory Committee shall perform the following duties: a. Advise and make recommendations to the City Commission on matters affecting veterans and their families, including but not limited to assistance available to veterans and their families, ways the City can provide meaningful recognition to veterans and their families, and proper observance of military protocols. b. Advise and make recommendations to the City Commission concerning items, information, and/or articles to be included in the City Newsletter related to the purpose of the Committee. c. Recommend veterans to the City Commission for various available awards and recognitions. d. Assist the City Commission in developing a recommended process for selection of individuals to be included in the City’s Hometown Hero program. e. Promote involvement in City events, including but not limited to the Celebration of Freedom Fourth of July event, 9/11 memorial celebrations, and Veterans’ Day events. Section 3. Composition of the Winter Springs Veteran and Veteran Family Advisory Committee. The Winter Springs Veteran and Veteran Family Advisory Committee shall consist of seven (7) members, who shall be residents of the City as defined in Section 2-41 of the City Code. In addition, each member must be either: (1) a veteran of the U.S. military who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable; (2) an immediate family member of a veteran or deceased veteran; or (3) an officer or leader of a veteran organization based in Winter Springs. Section 4. Appointment and Term of Members. The Committee shall have five (5) members and membership on the Committee shall be in accordance with Section 2-41 of this Code, except as expressly provided in this Section. Each City Commissioner shall, by seat, appoint one (1) member to the Committee. The term of each committee member assigned by 16 City of Winter Springs Resolution No. 2025-05 Page 3 of 4 seat number shall be retroactively staggered to run concurrently with the same corresponding city commissioner seat, except that the committee member term shall expire on February 1 immediately following the expiration of the term of the corresponding city commissioner seat. Thereafter, all appointments shall remain staggered and shall be made for a term of four (4) years. The terms of each at-large committee member shall be staggered, with the term of the at-large seat 01 initial appointment expiring December 31, 2026 and the term of the at- large seat 02 initial appointment expiring on December 31, 2028. Thereafter, all appointments shall remain staggered and shall be made for a term of four years. Alternates shall not be appointed for this Committee. Prior to appointment, all applicants shall be required to complete an application in a form approved by the City Commission, City Manager, or designee. Committee members shall serve at the pleasure of the City Commission and may be summarily removed at any time with or without cause. Each member of the Winter Springs Veteran and Veteran Family Advisory Committee shall serve without compensation. Section 5. Winter Springs Veteran and Veteran Family Advisory Committee Meetings. Meetings of the Winter Springs Veteran and Veteran Family Advisory Committee shall be duly noticed public meetings which shall be open to the public. The Winter Springs Veteran and Veteran Family Advisory Committee shall meet quarterly, unless there is no relevant business for the Committee to discuss or attend to, in which case the Committee shall not be required to hold its quarterly meeting. The Committee may conduct additional special meetings as may be necessary to properly perform its duties and functions. Meetings shall be coordinated and scheduled through the City Manager or his or her designee so as not to conflict with other City meetings or overburden limited City resources. Committee members may provide agenda items for inclusion on the agenda provided they are submitted no later than ten (10) working days prior to the scheduled meeting. A portion of each meeting will be reserved for taking public input relevant to issues being considered during the meeting or matters of special interest to Winter Springs veterans. The agendas, minutes and a record of the proceedings and recommendations of the Winter Springs Veteran and Veteran Family Advisory Committee shall be kept and filed with the City Clerk in the same manner as those kept and filed for the City Commission. The Winter Springs Veteran and Veteran Family Advisory Committee shall elect a chairperson and deputy chairperson. The chairperson shall be responsible for running the meetings, which may be conducted informally, and will also serve as a liaison between the committee and local veteran and veteran support organizations. In the absence of the chairperson, the deputy chairperson shall run the meetings. The presence of four (4) committee members of the Winter Springs Veteran and Veteran Family Advisory Committee shall constitute a quorum. The Winter Springs Veteran and Veteran Family 17 City of Winter Springs Resolution No. 2025-05 Page 4 of 4 Advisory Committee shall act by consensus to the extent possible, but if consensus cannot be reasonably reached, then the Committee may act by majority vote. The Winter Springs Veteran and Veteran Family Advisory Committee may reference and explain minority opinions/positions which obtained the vote of at least two (2) members of the Committee in any recommendation made to the City Commission. Section 6. Staff Resources. A staff liaison to the Winter Springs Veteran and Veteran Family Advisory Committee shall be appointed by the City Manager. The City Clerk's office shall provide administrative assistance to the Winter Springs Veteran and Veteran Family Advisory Committee and shall be responsible for noticing meetings, preparing minutes, and archiving public records. Section 7. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, word or provision of this resolution is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, whether for substantive, procedural, or any other reason, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision, and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution. Section 8. Effective date. This Resolution shall take effect upon adoption by the City Commission. RESOLVED by the City Commission of the City of Winter Springs, in a regular meeting assembled on the ____ day of _______________, 2025. __________________________________________________ KEVIN MCCANN, MAYOR ATTEST: _________________________________ CHRISTIAN D. GOWAN, City Clerk Approved as to legal form and sufficiency for the City of Winter Springs only: _______________________________________________ ANTHONY A. GARGANESE, City Attorney 18