TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Peter D. Lear, CPA, CGMA, City Manager
TITLE: Discussion and Possible Action Regarding Changes to the Quasi-Judicial Procedure
Recommended Action
Discussion and possible action regarding changes to the quasi-judicial procedure.
Background Information
The City Commission previously directed the City Attorney to work with Commissioner Carusone to rework the quasi-judicial procedures and bring back an ordinance for first reading.
After comparing the City’s quasi-judicial procedure with Sarasota County’s quasi-judicial procedure, I found the following differences:
1. The County does not offer closing arguments
2. There is no reference to aggrieved parties
3. The order of the process varies slightly (staff goes first in presentations, questions are permitted after each presentation, and rebuttal takes place after public comment)
After meeting with Commissioner Carusone and discussing the County’s procedure, she recommended that:
1. The City’s quasi-judicial procedures remain as is.
2. The quasi-judicial flowchart be reworked to remove detail to make it more user-friendly.
3. The City develop a place where Commissioners can access existing video resources, including but not limited to:
o Quasi-judicial training presented by the City Attorney’s Office
o Sunshine law, public records, ethics, and meeting procedure training presented by the City Attorney’s Office
o Sunshine law videos from the Attorney General’s Office and/or Florida League of Cities
4. The Commission handbook be amended to add:
o The quasi-judicial flowchart
o A reference to the location of the video resources
Based on these suggestions, the City Commission may want to address:
1. Whether to amend the quasi-judicial procedures
2. Whether to revamp the quasi-judicial flowchart
3. Whether to amend the Commission handbook to include the quasi-judicial flowchart and provide video resources
Strategic Plan
Efficient & Effective Government
Financial Impact
n/a
Procurement
n/a
Attachments:
1. Sarasota County Procedure Excerpts
2. Quasi-Judicial Flowchart 07.12.2018
3. Quasi-Judicial Flowchart 2017
Prepared by: Amber L. Slayton, City Attorney
Department Director: Amber L. Slayton, City Attorney