Fort Walton Beach Resolution — 2025-03 Establishing Charter Review Commission — reading text

RESOLUTION 2025- 3 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA, ESTABLISHING THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION; PROVIDING THAT THE COMMISSION IS SUBJECT TO THE SUNSHINE LAW AND PUBLIC RECORDS LAWS; PROVIDING FOR RULES AND PROCEDURES; PROVIDING FOR AUTHORIZATION AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, it is necessary and appropriate from time to time to review the City Charter and evaluate whether it is in the best interest of the residents of the City of Fort Walton Beach to submit potential Charter amendments to a vote of the City' s electorate; and WHEREAS, City Council finds that it is appropriate to establish a Charter Review Commission to study and review the existing City Charter and to provide recommendations for amendments to the City Charter; and WHEREAS, meetings of the Charter Review Commission shall be open to the public, shall be subject to the Sunshine Law; and shall include at least one advertised public hearing date; and WHEREAS, City Council finds the that establishing the Charter Review Commission is in the best interest of the City. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA: Section 1. Recitals. The above and foregoing recitals are true and correct and incorporated herein by reference. Section 2. Establishment of Charter Review Commission The City Council hereby establishes the Charter Review Commission as an Ad-hoc Committee to study and review the existing City Charter and to provide recommendations to the City Council for amendments to the City Charter. Section 3. Commission Rules and Procedures. A)Membership. The Commission shall consist of seven ( 7) registered voters of the City of Fort Walton Beach, each of which shall have been a resident of the City for at least one year, and each of which shall be appointed by a different member of the City Council, such that every Council Member makes one appointment. The Commission shall choose one member to act as its Chairperson. Four ( 4) members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, and a quorum of the Commission must be present ( in person) at the Sunshine meeting or such meeting will be rescheduled by the City Clerk. The City Clerk and City Attorney shall be present at every meeting of the Commission, but are not members of the Commission. The City Manager may  RESOLUTION 2025- 3 elect to attend one or more meetings of the Charter Review Commission, and shall also not be a member of the Commission. B) Meetings. The first meeting of the Commission shall be held on the first Tuesday of the month following the full appointment of the Commission. Subsequent meetings of the Commission shall be held on the first Tuesday of each month for 6 months. The Commission shall hold at least one advertised public hearing to receive input from the general public concerning the advisability of amending the City Charter. C) Input from City Council, City Manager, City Attorney and City Clerk. The City Council, City Manager, City Attorney and/ or City Clerk may submit for review by the Charter Review Commission any provision of the City Charter that may be ambiguous, unclear, outdated, or may not be in the best interest of the residents of the City of Fort Walton Beach. The Commission will review said provision( s) and make recommendations to the City Council for revisions. Additionally, the Charter Review Commission may make any other recommendations to the City Council that are responsive to the interests of the residents of the City of Fort Walton Beach. D) Report and Recommendations. Within 180 days, the Commission shall produce a report to the City Council containing any recommendations for amendments to the City Charter. The City Council shall review the report at a public meeting, however, the City Council is not bound by the recommendations of the Commission and may accept, modify or reject any or all recommendations. Recommendations accepted by the City Council, with or without modifications in the discretion of the City Council, will be submitted to the voters at a referendum election pursuant to Florida law. Section 4. Sunshine Law and Public Records. The Commission shall be subject to the Sunshine Law and Public Records Laws of the State of Florida, and all meetings of the Commission will be held in the Sunshine. Section 5. Sunset. The Commission shall automatically sunset after 180 days, unless such time is extended by majority vote of the City Council after a request of the Commission. Section 6. Effective Date and Implementation. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption. The City Manager, City Clerk, and City Attorney are hereby authorized and directed to take any and all such actions as are required to implement this Resolution.  RESOLUTION 2025- 3 Adopted: , A r 1, i S Nic Allepllw, ayor Attest: Approved as to legal form and sufficiency