Charter Amendments

Council Member and Mayor Accountability Provisions

Ballot Title

TITLE: AMENDING ARTICLE IV, SECTION (7) OF CITY CHARTER REGARDING REMOVAL OF COUNCIL MEMBERS OR MAYOR. 

SUMMARY: Shall Article IV, Section (7) of the City Charter be amended to expand and clarify standards for forfeitures and suspension of the Mayor and City Council members by defining ethics violations under Florida law, establishing additional meeting attendance requirements, and authorizing the City Council, after three formal censures to petition the Governor for suspension or removal of a City Council Member for neglect of duty or malfeasance. Shall the above-described Charter Amendment be adopted? 

Yes _____   No _____

What the Amendment Would Do if Approved

If approved by voters, this amendment would:

• Expand and clarify standards related to forfeiture and suspension of elected office.
• Define ethics violations by referencing Florida’s Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees.
• Add meeting attendance requirements for elected officials.
• Allow the City Council to petition the Governor for suspension or removal of a Council member or Mayor after three formal censures within a single calendar year.

Specifically, the Amendment Would:

• Require forfeiture of office if a Council member or Mayor:
  • Violates certain ethics laws,
  • Fails to maintain qualifications for office, or
  • Misses:
    • 3 consecutive regular meetings, or
    • 6 meetings within a 12-month period without Council-approved excuses.
• Clarify that “meetings” include both business meetings and workshops.
• Allow Council, by supermajority vote, to formally request that the Governor suspend or remove an elected official after three formal censures in one calendar year for conduct considered “neglect of duty” or “malfeasance.”

What Would Happen if the Amendment Does Not Pass

If voters do not approve the amendment:

• The current Charter language would remain in effect.
• Existing forfeiture and suspension provisions would continue unchanged.
• Current attendance rules and ethics language would remain as currently written.
• The Charter would not include the proposed censure-based process for requesting gubernatorial suspension or removal.

Procedures for Filling City Council Vacancies

Ballot Title

AMENDING CITY CHARTER ARTICLE IV (7)(e) PROCEDURES FOR FILLING CITY COUNCIL VACANCIES AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS. 

SUMMARY: Shall Article IV(7)(e) of the City Charter be amended to revise vacancy procedures? If a vacancy occurs with over 18 months remaining in a term, a special election is required within 90 days. If a vacancy occurs within 60 days or less of a general election, a special election must be called within 90 days following that general election. Shall the above-described Charter Amendment be adopted? 

Yes _____   No _____

What the Amendment Would Do if Approved

If approved by voters, this amendment would revise the procedures used to fill vacant City Council seats.

Specifically, the Amendment Would:

• Require a special election when:
  • More than 18 months remain before the next regularly scheduled election.
• Require the City Council to call the special election within 30 days of the vacancy.
• Require the special election to occur within 90 days, subject to election scheduling requirements under Florida law.
• Add procedures for vacancies that occur too close to a general election to legally place the office on the ballot.

What Would Happen if the Amendment Does Not Pass

If voters do not approve the amendment:

• The current Charter vacancy procedures would remain in effect.
• City Council would continue using the existing appointment process outlined in the Charter.
• The additional timing requirements and special election provisions would not be added.

Increase to City Council Unfunded Contracting Authority

Ballot Title

AMENDING THE CITY CHARTER TO INCREASE CITY COUNCIL’S UNFUNDED CONTRACTING AUTHORITY TO $30,000,000.00. 

SUMMARY: Shall Art. VI (3) (e) of the City Charter be amended to increase the Council’s unfunded contracting authority from $15,000,000.00 to $30,000,000.00 and extend the term from 36 months to 30 years? Unfunded multi-year or lease-purchase contracts exceeding these limits shall require voter approval via referendum. The $30,000,000.00 threshold shall be adjusted annually for inflation (CPI), rounded to the nearest $1,000.00 Shall the above-described Charter Amendment be adopted?

Yes _____   No _____

What the Amendment Would Do if Approved

If approved by voters, this amendment would increase the City Council’s authority to enter into certain unfunded multi-year or lease-purchase contracts without voter referendum approval.

Specifically, the Amendment Would:

• Increase the current financial threshold from:
  • $15 million to $30 million.
• Extend the allowable contract term from:
  • 36 months to 30 years.
• Continue requiring voter approval for contracts exceeding those limits.
• Add an annual inflation adjustment tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rounded to the nearest $1,000.

What Would Happen if the Amendment Does Not Pass

If voters do not approve the amendment:

• The current Charter limitations would remain in effect:
  • $15 million limit
  • 36-month maximum term
• Contracts exceeding those existing limits would continue to require voter approval through referendum.
• No annual inflation adjustment would be added.

Additional Context on Unfunded Contracting Authority

Unfunded multi-year contracts are commonly used by local governments to finance large capital projects over time rather than paying the full cost upfront in cash reserves.

Examples of projects that could potentially utilize this type of financing include:

• Fire stations
• Public safety facilities
• Major infrastructure improvements
• Utility or transportation projects
• Large-scale equipment purchases

Under the current Charter language, contracts exceeding $15 million or extending beyond 36 months require voter approval through a referendum.

If Amendment 3 is approved, the City Council could authorize certain larger or longer-term agreements up to the proposed limits established in the Charter.

For example, if the City identified a need for a new fire station to maintain emergency response times in a growing area, the City could potentially finance the project and repay the cost over time instead of waiting until the full amount is accumulated in reserves before construction begins.

Like homeowners or businesses, municipalities must meet financial and creditworthiness requirements to secure financing. The City’s ability to borrow funds depends on factors such as financial stability, existing debt obligations, credit ratings, and repayment capacity under Florida law and accepted financial practices.

If the amendment does not pass, the current Charter limitations would remain in place.