03-26-2019 Charter Review City of Clermont
Charter Review Committee
March 26,2019
The Charter Review Committee met on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
Chairman SanFratello called the meeting to order at 10:00am with the following members present: Cuqui
Whitehead, Larry Lenon,Jim Purvis, and Stan Melnick. Other City officials present were: City Manager
Gray,City Attorney Mantzaris,and Deputy City Clerk Zinker.
Chairman SanFratello reviewed the agenda for the meeting.
Item No. 1 —Approval of February 26,2019 Charter Review Committee Meeting Minutes
Committee Member Whitehead moved to approve the February 26,2019 Charter Review
Committee meeting minutes;seconded by Committee Member Purvis for discussion.
Chairman SanFratello reviewed changes to be made to the February 26, 2019 Charter Review Committee
meeting minutes.
The motion passed with all members present voting aye.
Item No.2—Continue Review and Discussion of the City Charter
City Manager Gray reminded the Committee of their previous stopping point. City Attorney Mantzaris
suggested skipping to Section 18.
City Manager Gray explained the City Charter dictates that ordinances require a roll call vote and any
other agenda item requires a group vote. City Attorney Mantzaris stated some cities require a roll call vote
on all items with some cities requiring a rotating roll call vote where the vote begins with a different
Council Member each time.
Committee Member Purvis suggested considering changing the terms within the Charter to be gender
neutral. City Attorney Mantzaris requested time to look into how the change will have to be made and
return to the Committee with an answer.
City Attorney Mantzaris reviewed Section 20 regarding emergency ordinances.
City Attorney Mantzaris suggested skipping to Section 23 as Section 23.1 is antiquated. The Committee
could recommend deletion of the language or change the language to allow for a designee to execute City
documents.
Chairman SanFratello inquired if deletion of language would have to be placed on the ballot. City
Attorney Mantzaris replied the matter would have to go on the ballot.
City Attorney Mantzaris stated the Council could instead pass a resolution for each item needing a
signature and include language authorizing for a designee to sign.
Committee Member Whitehead suggested having the language changed to allow the City Manager to sign
City documents for the Mayor.
City Manager Gray suggested having the language state "designee"rather than specifically stating"City
Manager".
City Attorney Mantzaris suggested changing the language to allow for the City Manager to sign City
documents but recommended the Committee focus on topics they deem are high priority.
Chairman Purvis expressed support for changing the language to allow for a designee to sign City
documents but inquired who designates the designee. City Manager Gray suggested changing the
language to"Mayor or designee"so as to allow for the Mayor to designate the designee.
The Committee Members expressed a general consensus to change the language in Section 23.1 to
include"Mayor or designee".
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City of Clermont
Charter Review Committee
March 26,2019
City Attorney Mantzaris reviewed Section 24 of the City Charter. Section 24 is the section to include any
residency requirements should the Committee want to add requirements. The longer the requirement is
the more likely the requirement will be deemed as too extensive. The current law would have to be
reviewed before making an official decision.
Committee Member Whitehead suggested making the requirement to be two years.
Chairman Melnick suggested requiring a one-year residency requirement.
Committee Member Whitehead expressed concern for people who do not participate in the City's local
government running for election. City Attorney Mantzaris stated the residency requirement is to only
address people who have recently moved into the City who are wanting to run for election.
City Manager Gray stated the Committee does not have to decide today and could include the topic in the
presentation at the upcoming public hearing. Then, at the following Committee Meeting after the public
hearing,the Committee can solidify the suggestions to Council for the May Council Meeting.
Chairman SanFratello commented a residency requirement could restrict qualified candidates from
running.
Committee Member Purvis expressed agreement with Committee Member Whitehead's concerns and
expressed support for a one-year requirement.
Committee Member Lenon agreed with having a minimum of one-year requirement but suggested the
possibility for an 18-month requirement.
Michelle Pines, 550 East Avenue, expressed concern for a two-year requirement and support for a one-
year requirement.
Committee Member Whitehead inquired about where the residency requirement will be calculated from.
City Attorney Mantzaris suggested the residency requirement start one year prior to qualifying.
Committee Member Lenon inquired about districts. City Attorney Mantzaris stated districts would fall
under the same section as residency requirements.
Committee Member Lenon expressed support for districts to ensure all areas of the City are represented.
Committee Member Purvis expressed concern for some districts not having a candidate.
Committee Member Whitehead stated the City had districts before and the City had problems finding
people to run for certain districts.
Committee Member Purvis expressed support for leaving it the same.
Chairman SanFratello stated districts could cause people to become engaged in their local government.
Committee Member Whitehead suggested leaving the subject for the next charter review.
Mrs. Pines suggested having two at-large seats and three district seats.
Chairman SanFratello stated three districts and two at-large was previously mentioned at a Charter
Review Committee meeting where the member from the at-large seats with the most votes would become
the Mayor. However, if there were three district seats and two at-large seats, the City could still have
three Council Members from the same area. Whereas the County has 5 local districts which are all voted
on at-large. The County's set-up prevents Council Members coming from the same district but also
allows all residents to have a say in who is elected to the Council.
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City of Clermont
Charter Review Committee
March 26,2019
City Attorney Mantzaris commented he listened to a presentation which stated having an appointed
Mayor is an issue when talking with the State Legislature and other individuals. According to the
presentation,Legislature look at elected Mayor's with more credibility.
Chairman SanFratello stated the public would know the Council Members which they elect would vote on
the Mayor when they elect them. City Attorney Mantzaris stated the City would run the risk of the
position being given to someone who does not want the position.
Chairman SanFratello stated the citizens may appreciate electing their own Mayor.
Committee Member Whitehead expressed support for the Mayor to be elected.
Committee Member Melnick expressed support for the Mayor to be elected to ensure the individual
elected wants to be the Mayor rather than a Council Member being forced into the position. Committee
Member Melnick also expressed support for districts if there are still at-large seats but expressed concern
at the possibility of limiting the people who would want to run.
Committee Member Lenon expressed support for making the Mayor an at-large seat and have the rest of
the seats become districts.
Libby Hanna, 1251 Fran Mar Court, commented districts would make the task of running for office
reasonable as the candidates would not have to cover the whole city when campaigning. Districts would
also allow the residents of the City to have a specific Council Member they know who could serve as
their first point of contact.
Committee Member Purvis suggested condensing the way the question is presented to the public at the
public hearing. City Manager Gray stated discussion of the presentation for the upcoming public hearing
is the next topic on the agenda.
City Attorney Mantzaris stated the next portion of the Charter to review is Article Five,City Manager.
Committee Member Purvis inquired as to the opinion of City Manager Gray. City Manager Gray replied
he does not have any recommended changes.
City Attorney Mantzaris stated the next portion of the Charter to review is the submission of a budget.
The Finance Department does a great job following the Charter and as a result no changes are being
suggested for that portion. Section 57 does not reference Council districts but rather zoning districts for
planning and zoning. Section 63 is the Board of Adjustment language. One of the other purposes of this
committee is to also identify issues which come up related to the Charter and to make suggestions on
those issues to the Council even though it may not be a charter change. It is unusual for the City Council
to serve on the Board of Adjustment.The Board of Adjustment is the board that hears variance requests in
regards to the City Code. Most cities will appoint citizens to serve as the Board of Adjustment as they can
address the issues quicker and the decisions should not be politically based. Recommends suggesting to
the Council.
Committee Member Whitehead expressed support for making the recommendation to Council.
Chairman SanFratello inquired about the length of Council Meetings. City Attorney Mantzaris stated the
meetings would not necessarily be shortened as other items would replace the variances on the agenda for
Council consideration.
Committee Member Purvis expressed concern of placing too much power with staff. City Attorney
Mantzaris stated the Board of Adjustments would consist of five citizens. Staff would present the items to
the board and provide a recommendation.
Committee Member Lenon asked if neighbors are noticed of the proposed variances. City Attorney
Mantzaris replied the neighbors are notified.
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City of Clermont
Charter Review Committee
March 26,2019
Committee Member Purvis expressed concern with a possible lack of candidates and expressed
opposition to making the recommendation to Council.
Committee Member Purvis inquired about Charter language regarding the Board of Adjustment. City
Attorney Mantzaris stated there is an ordinance which appoints the Council as the Board of Adjustments.
Committee Member Purvis inquired about maximum population. City Manager Gray stated the City's
maximum population is roughly 50,000 to 55,0000 however the maximum population is projected to be
reached in about 20 years. There are approximately only three large property owners left in the City who
are looking to develop.
City Attorney Mantzaris reviewed the remaining portion of the Charter.
Item No.3—Selection of Topics for the Public Hearing
City Manager Gray stated a public hearing will be advertised to the public stating the Committee would
like to acquire public input on suggested changes to the Charter. A PowerPoint will be created which will
begin with a background and overview of the City and how the City is made up but then transition into
what the Committee has gone through over the past few months and the suggested changes to the Charter.
Committee Member Purvis expressed concern for allotting time for every resident to speak.
Chairman SanFratello inquired about implementing a time limit to the hearing. City Manager Gray stated
the committee could establish a time limit if they wanted.
Committee Member Purvis expressed opposition to establishing a set time limit before the meeting
begins. City Manager Gray suggested the Committee could wait and see how many people attend and
make the decision the night of.
Gregg Ammond, 550 East Avenue, stated the three minute limit has caused issues previously and
expressed support of determining the necessity of a time limit the night of.
Michelle Pines, 550 East Avenue,expressed support for setting a time limit as it is needed.
Committee Member Melnick inquired about the Chairman's right to interrupt the public. City Attorney
Mantzaris stated the Chairman does have that ability and recommended the public meeting be broken up
into two parts if the Committee is worried about lengthy public comments. The first part of the meeting
could be in regards to the Committee's suggested changes to the Charter and the second part can be
available for residents to make suggestions of areas within the Charter they feel needs to be addressed.
Chairman SanFratello inquired if the Committee would be able to ask questions to the public. City
Attorney Mantzaris stated that would be up to the Committee as it is the Committee's right and obligation
to get any information which may be needed.
Mr.Ammond expressed support for a PowerPoint presentation.
Committee Member Purvis expressed support for the PowerPoint and stated citizens may ask to address
sections of the Charter which the Committee has not addressed. City Manager Gray expressed agreement
with City Attorney Mantzaris' recommendation of having a second portion of the meeting dedicated for
residents to bring up matters which the Committee has not discussed or addressed.
Mr. Ammond requested a charter be provided to the public.
Committee Member Purvis inquired about requiring a mandatory deadline for future review of the
charter. City Attorney Mantzaris suggested to recommend for the Council to pass this by a resolution or
ordinance rather than including the language in the Charter.
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City of Clermont
Charter Review Committee
March 26,2019
City Manager Gray reviewed suggested changes to the Charter which the Committee would like to
present at the public hearing.
Chairman SanFratello inquired about vacancy requirements should the terms for the Council increase.
City Attorney Mantzaris stated the vacancy requirement does not have to change if the terms are
increased.
City Manager Gray suggested to have recommendations ready to make to the City Council at the May 28,
2019 City Council Meeting. The Committee could meet the morning of if they would like to review the
suggestions the day of.
City Attorney Mantzaris stated an Ordinance containing ballot language will have to be drafted for each
issue.
City Manager Gray stated the Committee can meet weekly,if needed.
Item No.4—Other
Chairman SanFratello suggested discussing the option of districts.
City Manager Gray suggested the idea for districts could be presented to the public at the public hearing
to get their input and then discuss the public's input at the next Charter Review Meeting.
Committee Member Purvis expressed concern for the topic of districts overtaking the public meeting and
suggested providing two recommendations regarding districts to the public. Propose to either have
districts or not have any districts.
Michelle Pines, 550 East Avenue,expressed support for explaining the form of government of the City at
the beginning of the Public Hearing presentation as well as explaining that the Committee could not
address every issue this time.
City Attorney Mantzaris clarified the Council could agree with only one suggestion or none of the
suggestions.Certain topics will motivate the electorate to vote such as the topic of terms.
Chairman SanFratello expressed concern with voter turnout. City Manager Gray replied the Committee
could recommend for the ballot language to wait for an even-year election.
Committee Member Melnick inquired about districting. City Attorney Mantzaris replied if districts were
adopted this election, they would be put in place by the next election. The districts would be created by
looking at population data and a breakdown of voters however, the process can be tainted if not done
correctly. We would suggest to the Council for the Committee to be repurposed to review the creation of
districts should districts be approved.
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City of Clermont
Charter Review Committee
March 26,2019
Adjourn: With no further business,the meeting adjourned at 11:51pm.
APPROVED:
Ray SanFr te11o,Charter Review ommittee Chairman
ATTEST.
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Tracy Ackroyd Howe,City Clerk
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