HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-02-22 Charter Review Board Minutes
MINUTES
DANIA BEACH CHARTER REVIEW BOARD
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2010 – 6:00 P.M.
1. Call to Order/Roll Call
Chairman Kurt Ely called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Present:
Kurt Ely Pat Flury
Lisa Duke Ruth White
Mimi Donly Bob Adams
Patrick Phipps Patricia Tyra
Pat Rafacz Joe Van Eron
Tom Ansbro, City Attorney Louise Stilson, City Clerk
Chairman Ely requested an excused absence for the February 8, 2010 Charter Review Board
meeting.
Bob Adams motioned to excuse the absence of Kurt Ely from the February 8, 2010 Charter
Review Board meeting; seconded by Pat Flury. The motion passed unanimously.
2. Approval of minutes from February 8, 2010
Pat Flury motioned to approve the minutes; seconded by Bob Adams. The motion passed
unanimously.
3. Guest Speaker – Robert Baldwin, City Manager
Robert Baldwin, City Manager, noted that typically city managers stay out of the political arena
unless they have something important to provide. He said the charter is the pre-eminent policy
superseded only by State Statutes. He noted he would be willing to speak to items relating to the
City Manager/Commission type of government.
City Manager Baldwin offered the following suggestions:
City Manager must meet high qualifications
City Manager and staff should be mandated to stay out of politics
Commission should stay out of administration
Charter should strike good balance between flexibility and specificity
Charter should include insurances that the elected body and staff will promulgate the
policies to implement the charter
Provision for charter review and update
Minutes of Meeting
Dania Beach Charter Review Board
Monday, February 22, 2010 – 6:00 p.m.
2
Provision for responsibility and accountability if charter is not followed
In order to insure continuity, do not shorten commission terms to less than 3-4 years
City Manager Baldwin responded to Joe Van Eron that the City Manager section of the charter
contains more detail than typically seen in charters. He also noted that most stable cities have
longer terms (3-4 years) for commissioners.
City Manager Baldwin left at 6:13 p.m.
4. Review of items to discuss with City Commission
4.1 Election of Mayor for 2 year term
Vice-Mayor selected by City Commission yearly
Consensus to keep this as a November ballot item, however, the effective date would be with the
2013 election.
Election of Members – At large or Seats
Mimi Donly motioned to remove this from the discussion items; seconded by Pat Rafacz. The
motion failed on a 5-5 vote, with Ruth White, Lisa Duke, Patrick Phipps, Joe Van Eron and Pat
Tyra voting no.
City Attorney Ansbro suggested leaving the item as an addendum for discussion with the
commission.
Keep Primary Election in February and General Election in March
Bob Adams motioned that the municipal election shall be held in March, with no primary
election; seconded by Lisa Duke.
The board members discussed the pros and cons of March vs. November elections.
Joe Van Eron offered a substitute motion to move the election to November; seconded by Pat
Tyra. The motion was defeated on a 3-7 vote, with Joe Van Eron, Pat Rafacz and Pat Tyra
voting yes.
The first motion failed on a 5-5 vote, with Pat Flury, Kurt Ely, Ruth White, Lisa Duke and
Patrick Phipps voting no.
Bob Adams motioned to reconsider the November election; seconded by Pat Tyra. The motion
carried 7-3, with Mimi Donly, Pat Flury and Kurt Ely voting no.
Joe Van Eron motioned to move the general election to November; seconded by Bob Adams.
The motion carried on a 7-3 vote, with Mimi Donly, Pat Flury and Kurt Ely voting no.
Minutes of Meeting
Dania Beach Charter Review Board
Monday, February 22, 2010 – 6:00 p.m.
3
Residency requirement of 1 year as Dania Beach resident prior to date of qualifying
Define residency as date you become a registered voter in the City of Dania Beach
The board concurred to keep these items on the list of discussion items.
Requirement that upon assumption to office, elected officials must attend the next
available IEMO (Institute of Elected Municipal Officials) training
The board concurred to keep this as a discussion item.
Commission appointment to fill vacancies on Commission within 60 days of seat
being vacated; appointment is until next city election
The board concurred to keep this as a discussion item.
4.2 Charter Review Board Responsibilities
Bob Adams motioned to allow future Charter Review Boards to place items directly on the
ballot; seconded by Joe Van Eron. The motion was defeated on a 5-5- vote, with Mimi Donly,
Pat Flury, Pat Rafacz, Lisa Duke and Patrick Phipps voting no.
4.3 City Manager
The board concurred the section should be revised to include provisions on education, experience
and contract.
Bob Adams motioned that the hiring of a city manager have a mandate for a majority plus one
vote; seconded by Mimi Donly. The motion carried on a 6-4 vote, with Pat Flury, Kurt Ely, Pat
Tyra and Joe Van Eron voting no.
City Attorney Ansbro will simplify the section to include the first two paragraphs. He noted that
the remaining items could be adopted by ordinance. He clarified that this section needs to be
changed by referendum.
City Attorney Ansbro will bring back the wording for this item.
4.4 Ethics Ordinance/Board
Cite in Charter that an ordinance will be created
City Attorney Ansbro will bring the language forward to require that there will be an ethics
ordinance.
4.5 Advisory Boards
Remove from Charter except Planning & Zoning Board and Charter Review Board
Should duties/responsibilities for Planning & Zoning Board be revised
Minutes of Meeting
Dania Beach Charter Review Board
Monday, February 22, 2010 – 6:00 p.m.
4
Ask Commission if boards should have sunset clause
City Attorney Ansbro will provide the language to clarify this section.
4.6 Cemeteries
Remove from Charter and create ordinance
City Attorney Ansbro will provide the language to clarify this section.
4.7 City Boundary Map
Replace descriptions with map of City
City Attorney Ansbro will provide the language to replace the descriptions with a map of the
city.
5. Select agenda items for March 8, 2010 meeting
City Attorney Ansbro will provide the language for City Manager, Ethics Ordinance, Advisory
Boards, Cemeteries, and City Boundary Map.
The board concurred that they would begin reviewing the charter page by page at the next
meeting.
Lisa Duke left at 7:00 p.m.
City Attorney Ansbro suggested the members read the sections in advance and make notes as to
the items to discuss.
The board discussed future meeting dates and decided to remain on the same schedule.
6. Adjournment
Chairman Ely adjourned the meeting at 7:05 p.m.
Approved: March 8, 2010