MINUTES OF THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, HELD IN THE SECOND FLOOR CONFERENCE ROOM, 100 NORTH U.S. #1, FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA, AT 4:00 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2017.
1.
CALL TO ORDER
City Attorney Jim Messer called the meeting to order at 4:03 p.m.
City Attorney Jim Messer called the meeting to order at 4:03 p.m.
2.
ROLL CALL
- Present:
- Gloria Johnson; Frank Fee, III; Eddie Becht; Darrell Drummond; Ben Bryan, Jr.; Harold Smyth; Bob Burdge
- Staff Present:
-
- James Messer, City Attorney
- Linda Cox, City Clerk
- Nicholas Mimms, City Manager
3.
NEW BUSINESS
a.
Election of Officers
Motion was made by Frank Fee, III, seconded by Darrell Drummond to nominate Ben "Buck" Bryan to serve as Chairman.
- AYE:
- Ben Bryan, Jr., Darrell Drummond, Eddie Becht, Frank Fee, III, Gloria Johnson
Passed
Motion was made by Frank Fee, III, seconded by Eddie Becht to nominate Darrell Drummond to serve as Vice-Chairman.
- AYE:
- Ben Bryan, Jr., Darrell Drummond, Eddie Becht, Frank Fee, III, Gloria Johnson
Passed
b.
Prioritization of Issues
Mr. Messer reviewed the resolution establishing the Limited Charter Review Commission. Specific review will be of Article XII of the City's Charter and the life span of the Commission is limited to 6 months. The work of the Charter Commission should be complete around March or April, 2018 with a report to the City Commission at a joint meeting in May or June, followed by any language to be placed on the ballot to the Supervisor of Elections in July. The provisions to be studied are Sections 169, 176 and 178.
City Manager Nick Mimms explained that his staff and that of the Fort Pierce Utilities Authority is available to assist with the gathering of any technical information required by the Charter Commission.
Mr. Messer reviewed the resolution establishing the Limited Charter Review Commission. Specific review will be of Article XII of the City's Charter and the life span of the Commission is limited to 6 months. The work of the Charter Commission should be complete around March or April, 2018 with a report to the City Commission at a joint meeting in May or June, followed by any language to be placed on the ballot to the Supervisor of Elections in July. The provisions to be studied are Sections 169, 176 and 178.
City Manager Nick Mimms explained that his staff and that of the Fort Pierce Utilities Authority is available to assist with the gathering of any technical information required by the Charter Commission.
c.
Sunshine Law and Public Records Briefing - City Attorney
Mr. Messer provided a brief overview of the requirements of the members of the Charter Review Commission to adhere to the Florida Sunshine Law, Public Records laws and Florida Code of Ethics.
The members of Charter Review Commission developed an extensive list of information they deemed important to their future discussions in preparing to make recommendations to the City Commission. The items include the following:
Mr. Messer provided a brief overview of the requirements of the members of the Charter Review Commission to adhere to the Florida Sunshine Law, Public Records laws and Florida Code of Ethics.
The members of Charter Review Commission developed an extensive list of information they deemed important to their future discussions in preparing to make recommendations to the City Commission. The items include the following:
- Identify all municipal taxes that route to the city through the UA for the city’s benefit (like the CSI, Garbage, utility tax)
- Identify all FPUA revenue streams
- Identify all City of Fort Pierce revenue streams
- How was the formula for transfer originally determined
- Identify cities with similar sized utilities
- Identify the basis of the transfer used by other cities
- Identify number of customers and size of systems in other cities
- Rates of the UA and other similar sized systems
- How do other utilities calculate their transfer
- Identify structure as with a department or separate authority
- Copies of computations
- Outside service boundary rates
- Other autonomous entities and method of appointing their board members
- FPL fee and tax info for that which is in City limits
- 1994 Minutes from City Commission and UA when changed from 40% of net profit to 6% (compromise to get rate)
- 1970-72 Minutes leading up to creation of authority
- Any other information deemed by staff to be valuable to review.
d.
Establishing Future Meeting Schedule
The Commission agreed to hold its next meeting on October 18, 2017 at 4:00 in Commission Chambers. The public input meeting required by the Resolution will be held on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. in Commission Chambers.
At the next meeting, the Commission will discuss all of the information that was gathered and distributed.
The Commission agreed to hold its next meeting on October 18, 2017 at 4:00 in Commission Chambers. The public input meeting required by the Resolution will be held on Tuesday, October 24, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. in Commission Chambers.
At the next meeting, the Commission will discuss all of the information that was gathered and distributed.
4.
PUBLIC COMMENTS (3 minutes per person)
There was no public comment.
There was no public comment.
5.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting was adjourned at 5:20 p.m.
Meeting was adjourned at 5:20 p.m.
ATTEST:
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CITY CLERK
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CHAIR
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