In Gardens’ sights: A review of city charter
Newly elected Gardens officials to propose committee tonight.
PALM BEACH GARDENS — A new slate of elected officials is forging ahead with plans to review and change what is arguably Palm Beach Gardens’ most important document: its city charter.
Vice Mayor Mark Marciano a s ke d a b o u t t h e t i mi n g a n d approach of a charter review — a topic that came up on the campaign trail — at a City Council meeting last month.
The council will discuss creating a charter review committee at its 7 p.m. meeting tonight at City Hall, 10500 N. Military Trail.
Voters elected Marciano, Matthew Lane and Rachelle Litt on March 14. Litt during the campaign also said the charter needs to be re-examined and changed so it doesn’t conflict with state law.
A five-member charter review committee would recommend the replacement of sections of the charter or the charter in its entirety and submit its final report with recommendations to the council by Oct. 12, according to a report from City Clerk Patricia Snider sent to the council through City Manager Ron Ferris.
Council should consider using an experienced, outside consultant who will maintain transparency and impartialit y and can meet with committee members during the day or evening as needed, the report recommended.
The council should establish the review committee at its July 13 meeting and appoint the members Aug. 3, according to Snider’s report.
Each member of the city council should consider recruiting one resident who meets certain minimum qualifications: own property in the city for at least five years, own a business in the city for at least five years, not currently serve on a city or county board or committee and be able to attend both day and night meetings, according to the report.
Any candidate for the committee must be a registered voter in Palm Beach Gardens and may not be a lobbyist, according to the recommendations in the report.
An informational campaign to gain voters’ acceptance could start Jan. 16, according to the report.
City council will have to approve by Dec. 7 the wording of a referendum to change the charter to get the ballot to the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections on time, according to Snider’s timeline. The 2018 election is March 13.
The city’s last attempt to change the charter in 2012 had mixed success. Residents opposed changes to excuse the city manager from having to live in Palm Beach Gardens and undergo yearly reviews. They agreed to changes that allow the city to grant tax breaks for businesses that create jobs in the city.
By c o n t r a s t , i n 2 0 14 , r e s i - dents successfully campaigned to change the charter to prevent city council members from serving more than two consecutive, three-year terms. Eight y percent of voters approved the term limits, and 68 percent approved changing the charter to make them retroactive.