CC Minutes 03/18/2008 Joint Workshop with Charter Review Advisory Committee

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CASSELBERRY CITY COMMISSION & CHARTER REVIEW ADVISORY COMMITTEE Minutel of Marcb 18,2008 - JOIDt Workshop Page II of 13 (60) days after the date the petition was finally determined sufficient, it shall submit the proposed or referred ordinance to the voters of the city. (2) SubmlssloD to Voters of Proposed or Referred OrdluaDces~ The vote ofthe City on a proposed or referred ordinance shall be held not less than thirty (30) days and not later than one year from the date ofthe final Commission vote thereon. If no regular city election is to be held within the period prescribed in this subsection, the Commission shall provide for a special election; otherwise, the vote shall be held at the same time as such regular election, except that the Commission may in its discretion provide for a special election at an earlier date within the prescribed period. Copies ofthe proposed or referred ordinance shall be made available at the polls. (3) Withdrawal ofPetltloDs. An initiative or referendum petition may be withdrawn at any time prior to the fifteenth day preceding the day scheduled for a vote of the city by filing with the City Clerk a request for withdrawal signed by at least two-thirds of the petitioners' committee. Upon the filing of such request, the petition shall have no further force or effect and all proceedings thereon shall be terminated. (g) Results of ElectloD. (I) IDltlatlve. If a majority of the registered voters voting on a proposed initiative ordinance vote in its favor, it shall be considered adopted upon certification of the election results and shall be treated in all respects in the same manner as ordinances ofthe same kind adopted by the Commission. If conflicting ordinances are approved at the same election, the one receiving the greatest number of affirmative votes shall prevail to the extent of such conflict. (2) RefereDdum. If a majority ofthe registered voters on a referred ordinance vote against it, it shall be considered repealed upon certification of the election results. Committee Member Dennison stated the proposed initiative and referendum process was more in line with the State's requirements, whereas the current code provision was more stringent. Ms. Crotty stated State law prescribes how municipal charters may be amended and allows for the governing body to place amendments on the ballot, or for the citizens to do this through a petition process after collecting signatures of 10% of the registered electors as of the last preceding municipal general election. The current City Charter does not indicate a time frame for measuring the percent and the proposed revision would make the Charter compliant with State law. Sec. 66. Future Charter AmeDdmeDts Amendments to this Charter may be framed and proposed pursuant to Section 166.031, Florida Statutes, as amended. Ms. Crotty stated the current Charter does not address a periodic review of the Charter. The Committee recommended that a citizen review committee be appointed every seven years so that proposed amendments could be on the ballot for consideration every eight years. Add a new section entitled Charter Review. There shall be a periodic review of this Charter by a citizen review committee every seven (7) years to make recommendations to the City Commission for possible submission to the voters at the next regular election.