Charter Revision Committee

Purpose

The City’s Charter Revision Committee (CRC) is charged with the responsibility of studying the City Charter and providing recommendations to the Commission regarding potential changes.  The proposed recommended amendments, if approved by the City Commission, would then be included on a future election ballot to be considered and voted on by the electorate of Delray Beach.

Proposed Actions/Recommendations

Since the CRC’s appointment, the Committee has been meeting to discuss potential recommendations to be presented to the City Commission for consideration.  However, prior to presenting these recommended changes to the Commission, the CRC has determined the need to obtain the public’s input on their proposed recommendations by holding a Public Hearing on Tuesday, June 26, 2012, at 6:00 pm in City Hall Commission Chambers, 100 NW 1st Avenue.

The proposed changes to the City of Delray Beach’s Charter that are being considered by the Charter Revision Committee to be presented to the City Commission include:

City Commission Term Limits – Currently, the term of office is two (2) years with a maximum of three (3) terms (not including any partial terms) for a maximum total of six (6) years that can be served.  The CRC is proposing to change the term of office to a three (3) year term of office with a maximum of (2) terms for a maximum total of six (6) years that can be served.

Expanded Term Limits for City Commissioners who become Mayor – Currently, any City Commissioner that assumes the Office of Mayor cannot exceed the maximum of three, two (2) year terms.  The proposal provides that the time a person spent as a Commissioner will not count towards the term limit for Mayor, if the person assumes the Office of Mayor directly from the Office of Commissioner.

City Manager – The CRC is proposing to change the number of City Commission votes needed to fire the City Manager from four (4) to a simple majority vote [or three (3) votes].  Also, the CRC is proposing to remove the language from the Charter that provides that the City Manager’s salary may not be reduced.

Readability – The CRC is proposing to correct some grammatical and spelling errors and provide for minor clarifications within the City Charter.

Meetings

Meetings are held in the 1st Floor Conference Room – City Hall at 8:00 a.m. on an as needed basis.  A Public Hearing on the proposed recommendations to amend the Charter will be held in the Commission Chambers – City Hall on Tuesday, June 26, 2012, at 6 p.m.  (Calendar)

City Charter and Related Links:

The City of Delray Beach's Charter

The City Commission Agenda Item establishing the Charter Revision Committee (Resolution No. 18-12)

To provide comment on the proposed recommendations to amend the Delray Beach City Charter by the Charter Revision Committee, visit the City’s new Open City Hall online forum.

Staff Contacts

Chevelle D. Nubin, MMC, City Clerk, (561) 243-7050 or CityClerk@MyDelrayBeach.com

R. Brian Shutt Esq, City Attorney, (561) 243-7090 or CityAttorney@MyDelrayBeach.com

Board Membership

The Charter Revision Committee was established as a temporary Committee by Resolution No. 18-12 and will be disbanded upon completion of their duties or by September 1, 2012, unless extended by the City Commission.

Qualifications

In March 2012, the City Commission approved Resolution No. 18-12 that established the Charter Revision Committee, which consists of eleven (11) individuals from the community at large, with each member of the City Commission appointing two (2) members to the committee and the Mayor appointing a Chairperson.

Board Members