HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2026-03 City Charter Review CommitteeRESOLUTION NUMBER 2026-03
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA PROVIDING FOR A
FORMAL PUBLIC PROCESS TO CONDUCT A
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE CITY CHARTER FOR
PURPOSES OF DETERMINING WHETHER AMENDMENTS
SHOULD BE PROPOSED TO THE CITY ELECTORATE
DURING THE 2028 GENERAL ELECTION; PROVIDING
FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A "WINTER SPRINGS AD
HOC CHARTER REVIEW ADVISORY COMMITTEE";
PROVIDING A PUBLIC REVIEW PROCESS; PROVIDING
FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND OTHER TERMS AND
CONDITIONS NECESSARY TO CONDUCT AN ORDERLY
AND WELL-INFORMED CHARTER REVIEW PROCESS;
AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Winter Springs, Florida was established by the Florida
Legislature in 1959 and operates pursuant to its City Charter; and
WHEREAS, the City Charter has been amended from time to time as the governance of
the City has evolved; and
WHEREAS, the Model City Charter, as researched and published by the National Civic
League, has provided the template for City Charters since publication of its first Model City
Charter in 1899; and
WHEREAS, in 2001 and again in 2010, the City Commission established a
comprehensive charter review process to modernize the City Charter in a manner consistent with
the then -current version of the Model City Charter, promulgated by the National Civic League;
and
WHEREAS, the comprehensive charter review process resulted in the City Commission
proposing to the electorate of the City of Winter Springs numerous amendments to the City
Charter to modernize the governance of the City, many of which were approved by the voters;
and
WHEREAS, since the last comprehensive City Charter review process in 2010, the
National Civic League published the 9"' Edition of the Model City Charter in November of 2021;
and
WHEREAS, City officials and members of the public have expressed an interest in
undertaking a review of the City Charter to determine whether the Model City Charter, 9tn
Edition, provides additional guidance that may assist in further modernizing the City Charter the
City Charter of Winter Springs, and to evaluate certain governance issues to the extent that may
be necessary; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission desires to appoint an ad hoc committee to conduct the
City Charter review process and to determine whether or not additional charter amendments
should be recommended to the City Commission for proposal to the electorate of Winter Springs;
and
WHEREAS, the City Commission desires to provide an open, transparent, objective, and
deliberative process that will afford the public ample opportunity to participate in the City
Charter review process; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission hereby finds that this resolution is in the best interests
of the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Winter Springs, Florida.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Commission of the City of
Winter Springs, Florida as follows:
SECTION I. Establishment Of A Charter Review Committee; Meetings.
(a) The City Commission hereby establishes a temporary ad hoc committee for
purposes of conducting a comprehensive review of the City Charter in accordance with the terms
and conditions of this Resolution. The committee shall be called the "Winter Springs Ad Hoc
Chatter Review Committee." (Charter Review Committee). The Charter Review Committee
shall consist of seven (7) members, who shall be registered electors of the City of Winter
Springs. The Mayor shall appoint two (2) members at -large, subject to ratification by majority
vote of the City Commission. Each City Commissioner shall appoint one (1) member who must
reside in their respective district, subject to ratification by majority vote of the City Commission.
No alternates shall be appointed. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment to the extent deemed necessary by the City Commission. Prior to any appointment
being considered final, each member of the Charter Review Committee shall be required to
complete the standard City Advisory Board and Committee Application. Upon appointment,
each member of the Charter Review Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the City
Commission until the Charter Review Committee's work has been completed and the City
Commission has accepted the Committee's final report. Each member of the Charter Review
Committee shall serve without compensation.
(b) Meetings of the Charter Review Committee shall be duly noticed and held public
meetings which shall be open to the public and which shall commence no earlier than 5:00 p.m,
during the workweek. A portion of each meeting will be reserved for taking public input
relevant to issues being considered during the City Charter review process outlined in this
Resolution. The agendas, minutes and a record of the proceedings and decisions of the Charter
Review Committee shall be kept and filed with the City Clerk in the same manner as those kept
and filed for the City Commission.
(c) The first order of business for the Charter Review Committee shall be to elect a
chairperson and vice chairperson. The chairperson shall be responsible for running the meetings.
In the absence of the chairperson, the vice chairperson shall run the meetings. Roberts Rules
shall serve as guide to running the meetings of the Charter Review Committee to the extent not
in conflict with this Resolution. A majority of the total Committee members appointed shall
constitute a quorum.
City of Winter Spring, Florida
Resolution Number 2026-03
Page 2 of 4
(d) The Charter Review Committee shall act by majority vote. However, the Charter
Review Committee may reference and explain in the final report minority opinions/positions
which obtained the vote of at least three (3) members of the Committee.
SECTION II. Charter Committee Responsibilities.
(a) The Charter Review Committee shall conduct a comprehensive review of the
existing City Charter for the primary purpose of:
(1) The Committee shall evaluate and make a recommendation on whether the provisions
of the City Charter need to be amended to align with applicable state and federal law, and
whether the provisions of the City Charter are substantially consistent with the Model City
Charter, 9t" Edition, published by the National Civic League, and if not, whether the City Charter
should be amended to be substantially consistent with the Model City Charter, 9t" Edition or
remain the same.
(2) The Committee shall evaluate and make recommendations on matters that may be
specifically identified and referred to by the Committee by the City Commission.
(3) The Committee shall also be free to propose any amendments to the City Charter that
are not addressed in subparagraphs (1) and (2) above.
(b) Upon conclusion of its review of the City Charter, the Charter Review Committee
shall prepare and approve a final written report which shall identify all proposed charter
amendments (if any) and the reason for said proposals. The final report shall also include a
recommendation on any City Charter provisions specifically identified and referred to by the
City Commission in Section II, (2) of this Resolution. The final report shall be completed no
later than November 2, 2027 unless additional time is granted by the City Commission.
(c) The final report of the Charter Review Committee shall be presented to and
reviewed by the City Commission at least once at either a regular City Commission meeting or
workshop specialty called for that purpose. The report shall be nonbinding on the City
Commission. If the City Commission determines that any of the proposed amendments in the
report should be submitted to the electorate for a vote, the City Commission shall direct the City
Attorney to prepare an ordinance for the City Commission's consideration that will call for a
referendum to be held regarding the amendment(s) in accordance with law. The referendum will
be held at the City's next General Election, which is scheduled for November 7, 2028, or as
soon thereafter as possible.
SECTION III.
City Attorney
The City Attorney is hereby authorized to serve as the project facilitator for the Charter
Review Process, and shall be responsible for designing and implementing an orderly presentation
and review of the City Charter before the Charter Review Committee in accordance with the
requirements of this Resolution. The City Attorney shall also provide legal guidance to the
Committee, and assist the Committee with coordinating and facilitating the Committee's
meetings and drafting the final report.
City of Winter Spring, Florida
Resolution Number 2026-03
Page 3 of 4
SECTION IV. Other Technical Resources.
(a) The City Manager, City Clerk, and Department Heads shall serve as technical
advisers to the Charter Review Committee and shall assist the Committee in the preparation of
its final report. The City Manager shall also endeavor to arrange an orientation presentation for
the Committee by the Florida League of Cities, or UCF Institute of Government, if available,
regarding the general principles of municipal charter governance in Florida.
(b) The City Clerk shall provide administrative assistance to the Charter Review
Committee and shall be responsible for noticing meetings, preparing minutes, and archiving all
public records.
SECTION V. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its final passage and
adoption by the City Commission.
ADOPTED by the City Commission of the City of Winter Springs, Florida, in a Regular
Meeting duly assembled on the 9th day of March, 2026.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and
caused this seal to be affixed.
KEVIN'McCANN, Mayor
ATTEST:
01ter s
CHRISTIAN GOWAN, City Clerk o'� �•^�
U � �
Approved as to legal form and sufficiency for 19 5
the City of Winter Springs, Florida only:
0
°/e county
ANT ONY A. GARGANESE, City Attorney
City of Winter Spring, Florida
Resolution Number 2026-03
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