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02-03-1998 i i o o '" ~." ............-........... """'" CITY OF EDGEW A TER February 3, 1998 Meeting Minutes A meeting ofthe City of Edgewater Charter Review Committee was called to order at 4:37 p.m. on February 3, 1998, at the City Hall Conference Room. Call To Order: Meeting was called to order by the Secretary. Members present were George Ewing, Ferdinand Heeb, Wolfgang Unger, Sandy Jones, Robin Wolf, Committee Secretary and J. Kevin Grace, City Manager. Michael N attress and Nikki Clayton, Interim City Attorney were absent. Steve Dennis from the Chamber of Commerce observed the meeting. Approval of Minutes: Mr. Heeb made a motion with second by Ms. Jones to approve the December 17, 1997 minutes. Motion to approve was carried 5-0. Old Business: The Committee decided they would wait to invite Speakers to participate in a meeting at a later date. Members discussed the type of government they should be working towards, manager/council or mayoral/council form of government. After discussion, it was decided that the Committee would keep the manager/council form of government with a suggestion of checks and balances being utilized. It was suggested that Council could stipulate in the Charter that the Mayor have more duties and Council have a closer relationship with the City Manager. New Business: Mr. Ewing brought up for discussion the following items that were suggested for review by Council: (CharterReviewCommitteelMinutes- February 3,1998) i o o Charter Review Committee February 3, 1998 Minutes Page 2 1) Staggering of terms for Council during elections - term limits. 2) Strengthen requirements for administration policies including but not limited to a central purchasing requirement. Mr. Heeb suggested that he felt this would be an item for the City Manager to address not the Charter. Mr. Grace agreed and explained that this would be an item a Manager should address. The Committee was informed that there is current policy for purchasing regulations adopted by Council. 3) Define the role of City Manager relationship with department heads and Council and clarify the hiring and firing authority. Mr. Grace recommended that Council should not be involved in the day-to-day management issues which would include: personnel evaluations/performance evaluations. 4) Mandate requirements of cash reserve. 5) Mandate requirements of budgeting all capital purchases. The Charter gives the Council the authority to address issues with the City Manager who is answerable. Checks and balances are in the Charter, Council has to use them, for example - evaluations - if there is a problem with the City Manager, it should be addressed. Mr. Ewing brought up for discussion Section 404 - Creation of Departments of the Charter - Mr. Grace explained this Section. Robin Wolf brought up concerns addressed by Mr. Nattress in his absence regarding petition requirements for submission to council Suggested that there be a requirement on petitions to reflect any petition submitted with signatures reflecting 8% of the population be submitted to Council for discussion at a meeting and then resubmitted for voting at the next scheduled Council meeting. It was decided that at the next meeting we will start going through Charter item by item and decide what actually needs to be addressed. Booklets were distributed from the Florida League of Cities. (Charte rReviewCommittee/Minutes-February 3,1998) - .. o o .- Charter Review Committee February 3, 1998 Minutes Page 3 Public Comments: Mr. Dennis addressed the Committee and explained that there are a lot of external pressures on administration to perform/function every day. Pressures are not just from within the City but from all levels, Federal, State, and St. Johns Water Management. Feels that as the Charter is reviewed it will probably be found that it's not all bad. Suggested Council evaluate the City Manager on a more frequent basis so issues would be addressed. Adjournment: After motion by Ms. Jones and second by Mr. Heeb, meeting was adjourned at 5:55 p.m.. Respectfully submitted, Robin Wolf Committee Secretary (Charte rReviewCommitteeIMinutes- February 3,1998)