Fort Walton Beach Ordinance — 2196--Ballot Question #2 Chrt Amend-Council Terms & Procedures to Fill — reading text

Term Limits, Filling Vacancies, and Filing Fees Shall Sections 3, 4, 5, 7, and 25 of the City Charter be amended for purposes of clarifying the non-partisan nature of council seats, updating term- limit provisions,establishing consistent procedures for filling council and mayoral vacancies, and providing flexibility in the establishment of filing fees for city elections? Yes No  SECTION 6. NOTICE OF ELECTION. The above Charter amendment contained in this ordinance shall be sent to a referendum election and shall become effective if a majority of voters vote to approve the amendment in the election on March 10, 2026. An amendment approved by City voters as provided by law shall be effective immediately and become a part of the City Charter. If approved, the City Clerk is requested to promptly file the amended Charter with the Department of State, as required by Section 166. 031( 2), Florida Statutes. SECTION 7. PLACES OF VOTING, INSPECTORS AND CLERKS. All qualified electors residing within the City shall be entitled and permitted to vote at such referendum election on the proposition provided herein. The time and places of voting and the inspectors and clerks of the referendum election to be held on March 10, 2026 shall be those designated by the Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections in accordance with law. SECTION 8. VOTE-BY-MAIL. Any electors participating in said referendum shall be entitled to cast their ballots in accordance with the provisions of the laws of the State of Florida with respect to voting by mail. The form of ballots to be used in such referendum election for these voters shall be the same as used at the polling places for such election. SECTION 9. EARLY VOTING. Adequate provisions shall be made for early voting as required by § 101. 657, Florida Statutes. The form of ballots to be used in the referendum for early voting shall be the same as used in the polling places for the election. The Supervisor of Elections shall designate the early voting dates, times, and locations. SECTION 10. PRINTING OF BALLOTS. The Supervisor of Elections is authorized and directed to have printed a sufficient number of the aforesaid ballots for use of vote-by-mail electors entitled to cast such ballots in such referendum election and shall also have printed sample ballots and deliver them to the inspectors and clerks on or before the date and time for the opening of the polls for such referendum election for the voting places; and, further, is authorized and directed to make appropriate arrangements for the conduct of the election at the polling places specified. SECTION 11. ELECTION PROCEDURE. The Supervisor of Elections shall hold, administer, and conduct the referendum election in the manner prescribed by law for holding such elections in the City. Returns shall show the number of qualified electors who voted in such referendum election on the proposition and the number of votes cast respectively for and against approval of the proposition. The returns shall be canvassed in accordance with law. SECTION 12. REFERENDUM RESULTS. If a majority of the ballots cast at such election shall be for the amendment of sections 3- 5, 7, and 25 of the City Charter to clarify the non- partisan nature of Council seats, update term- limit provisions, establish consistent procedures for filling Council and Mayoral vacancies, and provide flexibility in the establishment of filing fees for city elections, then the amendment of the Charter shall be approved. SECTION 13. SEVERABILITY. In the event that any word, phrase, clause, sentence, or paragraph hereof shall be held invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such holding shall not affect any other word, clause, phrase, sentence or paragraph hereof. SECTION 14. CONFLICTING PROVISIONS. All ordinances in conflict or inconsistent herewith are repealed insofar as there is conflict or inconsistency. SECTION 15. EFFECTIVE DATE. This ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its adoption. However, the limitation on expenditures authorized hereunder shall only be effective upon approval by a majority vote of the qualified electors of the City of Fort Walton Beach voting in a referendum. SECTION 16. INCORPORATION INTO THE CITY CHARTER. This ordinance shall be incorporated into the City of Fort Walton Beach's Charter and any section or paragraph number, or letter and any heading may be changed or modified as necessary to effectuate the foregoing. Iry Adopted: Dtcer br e, h o, aoa. 5 Nic All- . retto, Ma or Attest: Approved as s leg. form and sufficiency for the Ci if Fo ,' alton Beach, only. p ' Kim . Barnes, City Clerk Jeffrey L. ? i y Attorney Fp¢T WRLTO r/41 .-- "", A,\ vim 7 =,-----.) Vii p } F k r S Q._'gr' L_