TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Peter D. Lear, CPA, CGMA, City Manager
TITLE: An Ordinance of the City of North Port, Florida, Calling for a Referendum Question to Be Placed Before the Qualified Electors of the City Of North Port, Florida at the November 3, 2020 General Election; Providing a Charter Referendum Question Determining Whether to Amend the City Charter to Remove the Designation of the Deputy City Clerk as a Charter Officer; Providing for the Full Text of the Proposed Charter Amendment; Providing Findings; Providing for an Effective Date if the Proposed Charter Amendment Is Approved; Providing for the Filing of the Ordinance with The Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections; Providing for Publication of the Text of the Proposed Charter Amendment; Providing for Filing with the Florida Department of State if the Proposed Charter Amendment Is Approved; Providing for Conflicts; Providing for Severability; And Providing an Effective Date
Recommended Action
Continue Ordinance No. 2020-22 to second reading on June 23, 2020.
Recommended Action for Second Reading
Adopt Ordinance No. 2020-22.
Background Information
At the February 4, 2019 City Commission Workshop, there was a unanimous consensus to remove the Deputy City Clerk as a Charter Officer, to be brought to referendum as a Charter amendment in 2020. The Charter Review Advisory Board conducted a publicly-noticed meeting on October 30, 2019 to review this proposed change to the City Charter (at that time, this ordinance was numbered as 2019-05). The advisory board voted 4-1 to recommend removing the Deputy City Clerk as a Charter Officer by amending the Charter via referendum.
Since that time, both the Charter Review Advisory Board and the City Commission have discussed submitting additional Charter changes to the voters via referendum. On May 26, 2020, the City Commission voted not to submit any other Charter changes.
In order to obtain placement on the ballot for the general election, the Supervisor of Election has established a deadline of August 14, 2020 for the submission of referendum questions. To meet the Commission’s practice of hearing ordinances in one day meeting and one evening meeting, second reading of this ordinance must occur on June 23, 2020, the last evening meeting before the deadline to submit referendum questions.
Background Information from First Reading
On June 9, 2020, the City Commission heard this ordinance for first reading and continued it to June 23, 2020.
Strategic Plan
Efficient & Effective Government
Financial Impact
n/a
Procurement
n/a
Attachments:
1. Ord 2020-22. First Reading. Charter Referendum. Deputy City Clerk
2. Ord 2020-22. Second Reading. Charter Referendum. Deputy City Clerk
Prepared by: Amber L. Slayton, City Attorney
Department Director: Amber L. Slayton, City Attorney