MINUTES OF THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 12, 2006

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1 MINUTES OF THE CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 12, 2006 PRESENT: ABSENT: Chair Michael Shelton, presiding, Members David Brain, Diana Hamilton, Thomas Luzier, and Pandora Seibert, City Auditor and Clerk Billy E. Robinson, and City Attorney Robert M. Fournier Vice Chair Elsie Souza and Member Gretchen Serrie Chair Shelton called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m. 1. APPROVAL RE: MINUTES OF AUGUST 29, 2006 (AGENDA ITEM I) Chair Shelton noted the consensus of the Charter Review Committee to approve the minutes of the meeting of the Charter Review Committee of August 29, DISCUSSION & QUESTIONS RE: INTERACTION BETWEEN THE ELECTED MAYOR AND CITY MANAGER (AGENDA ITEM II) Mayor Jeff Perlman, City of Delray Beach, Florida came before the Committee by conference call. In response to a question by Chair Shelton regarding the availability of City Manager David Harden, Mayor Perlman, stated that City Manager Harden is at an ICMA conference and therefore not available. In response to question by Mayor Perlman asking if Sarasota had a district or an at-large election system, Chair Shelton stated that Sarasota has five Commissioners, with two at-large and three district seats; that the current Mayor is an annual rotating, ceremonial Mayor. Mayor Perlman stated that Delray Beach has a five-member Commission, with the Mayor sitting as part of the Commission; that the Mayor and Commissioners are directly elected at-large; that Delray Beach has a City Manager form of government; that in his opinion, not having the Mayor rotate every year is of value; that although he does not have any power over the other Commissioners, he acts as the main spokesperson for the City during emergency situations; that being the main spokesperson helps in economic development due to the stability of the position; that he has the same voting privileges as other Commissioners; that the powers of the Mayor in the Charter include setting the Agenda which has been delegated to the City Manager; that the bully pulpit has a value; that the terms are for two years with a six-year limit; that consideration has been given to extending the terms to three years. In response to a question by Member Hamilton asking how long Delray Beach has had an Elected Mayor form of government, Mayor Perlman stated that Delray Beach has had this form of government since the 1960s, previous to which the Mayor was a rotating position. In response to a question by Member Hamilton asking if Delray Beach has a Redevelopment Director, Mayor Perlman stated yes. In response to a question by Member Hamilton asking if the Redevelopment Director is a Charter Official or reports to the City Manager, Mayor Perlman stated that the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is a quasi-independent agency which does not report to the City Manager but rather to a Board of Directors, which is appointed by the Commission. In response to a question by Member Hamilton asking the procedure if a Commissioner wishes to add an item to the agenda, Mayor Perlman stated that an agenda item can be added by a Commissioner. In response to a question by Member Hamilton regarding the CRA and master planning, Mayor Perlman stated that the CRA was formed in 1985 and encompasses 2,000 acres of the City; that the City is 16 square miles, with a large downtown area; that the Master Plan was developed when the CRA was established and was updated in 2001; that he co-chaired the committee which updated the Master Plan; that the CRA funded the study and is responsible for implementation; that the City adopted and ratified the Master Plan; that the City Commission had to change the land development and zoning regulations as a result. (5:14:34) In response to a question by Member Hamilton asking if the Mayor is supported by the public in the redevelopment efforts, Mayor Perlman stated yes; that the City was blighted in the 1980s; that the redevelopment efforts were supported by the citizenry during this time; that redevelopment has occurred during the last 20 years; that a land use fight has not occurred in over ten years; however, some resistance Charter Review Committee 1

2 surfaced last year; that the non-profit regional consulting group which updated the Master Plan was brought back for public charrettes for orientation; that a moratorium was implemented for historical districts so a consultant could rework the guidelines for clarity; that the 2001 Master Plan has received public support; that a non-profit institute was formed to give visiting city representatives an overview of the Master Plan. In response to a question by Member Luzier regarding the bully pulpit and the development and implementation of a platform by the Mayor, Mayor Perlman stated that a vision was established when running; that in 2000 when running, he wanted a Downtown Master Plan; that problems had developed with height limitations in Downtown; that a clear vision was desired; that with the Master Plan in place, candidates are running either for or against the Master Plan; that Delray Beach is unique as political stability has existed for 16 years yet elections are held every year; that since 1990, the candidates elected have had a similar philosophy of reasonable development, height limits, design guidelines, respect for historic preservation, and a pro-neighborhood and pro-business perspective; that the Commission has been cohesive; that having not necessarily a Strong Mayor but an Elected Mayor makes a statement of having a leader of the visions and stability. (5:21:20) In response to a question by Member Luzier regarding a good relationship between the Mayor and the Commissioners in setting a broader agenda, Mayor Perlman stated that a good relationship exists; that nothing is done without citizen input through charrettes and public meetings; that decision-making is easier if the work is done prior to the decision due to the buy-in; that during the 2003 election, his platform was to improve and to add new parks; that after the election, a Parks Master Plan was implemented and included in a $24 million bond referendum, which passed as time was spent with the public prior to placing the bond issue on the ballot for approval. In response to a question by Member Luzier regarding his staff, Mayor Perlman stated that the Commission functions like a Board of Directors by setting policy; that the staff implements the policies; that a goal-setting session is held each year with new Commissioners; that everything goes through the City Manager; that Commissioners must go to the City Manager and not individual Department Heads with questions; that the City Manager responds to all Commissioners for any question asked by an individual Commissioner; that technically the Mayor s position is part-time but is in reality full-time; that he and the City Manager have separate duties. In response to a question by Member Seibert asking if the form of government is for the voters, Mayor Perlman stated yes; that all the Commissioners are elected at-large which is good; that the Commissioners are considering the bigger picture rather than just an individual district; that the issues can be understood; that each Commissioner is encouraged to be aware of the problems of the entire City; that Boynton Beach has just implemented an Elected Mayor form of government; however, only the Mayor s position is elected at-large; that at Delray Beach, the resources are directed to the needs rather than individual districts. In response to a question by Member Seibert regarding the community perception of the City Manager, Mayor Perlman stated that the City Manager is low profile, has been in his position since 1991, is very apolitical, and concentrates on staff issues and implementing policy; that the Commissions role is to interact with the community and get feedback, allowing the City Manager to get issues accomplished. In response to a question by Member Brain regarding the planning consultant, Mayor Perlman stated that the planning consultant who prepared the Master Plan was the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council. In response to a question by Member Brain regarding the position of Mayor and the initiation and implementation of a Master Plan without any specific powers, Mayor Perlman stated that the public s perception is the Mayor is a full-time Strong Mayor in terms of vetos, etc., and is the person who has the vision, of which he has taken advantage; that the perception is the Mayor is the leader and sets the vision for the City; that he does not have any more authority than any other Commissioner. (5:31:51) In response to a question by Member Brain regarding cooperation from the other Commissioners, Mayor Perlman stated cooperation has not been an issue; that in the 1980s the City was going backwards; that Boca Raton had a sign in the Planning Department indicating: Do it our way or do it Delray in jest; that Delray was called Dullray ; that in 1990, the platform of the candidate for Mayor was to run the City like a business, to have stability, and not to micro-manage the staff; that the City has been on this track for 16 years; that nothing personal between the Commissioners is taken from meeting to meeting; that if the Mayor loses a vote 4 to 1, he does not carry the defeat over to the next vote; that a cooperative relationship with consensus building Charter Review Committee 2

3 works better; that if a negative Commissioner is elected, the public votes them out; that candidates have been successful who run to build on what is currently being done. In response to a question by Member Brain regarding the election of the Mayor, Mayor Perlman stated that the election is held every two years; that the term limit for Commissioners is six years; that the Commissioner could run for Mayor after six years and start all over in the six-year process; that the reasons are: - Experience on the Commission can be built and an individual could potentially stay in office for 12 years, allowing the accomplishment of projects from start to finish, and - Regional organizations such as the League of Cities and League of Mayors which are becoming increasingly important due to the effect on State legislation and regional cooperation require people to climb through the leadership ladder. In response to a question by Member Brain regarding the Mayor's serving a longer term than Commissioners, Mayor Perlman stated he is in favor of a three-year term; that some cities schedule elections around projects. (5:38:00) In response to a question by Chair Shelton regarding powers and including items on the agenda, Mayor Perlman stated he could set the agenda; however, the majority of the Commission could also place items on the agenda. In response to a question by Chair Shelton regarding implied powers, Mayor Perlman stated that the title of Mayor implies powers in the public's perception; that an individual with the title of Mayor will likely have more success in approaching business decision-makers than an individual with the title of Commissioner. In response to a question by Chair Shelton regarding complaints from citizens, Mayor Perlman stated that most of the complaint calls go to the Mayor rather than a Commissioner; that in Delray Beach the position of Mayor has become complex and has become a full-time position; that the major stress is not being Mayor but rather having enough time to spend in his working position. In response to a question by Chair Shelton regarding his annual income, Mayor Perlman stated that the compensation is $12,000 annually; that the annual budget for Delray Beach is $124 million; that the City has three unions; that the population is 65,000 off season and 85,000 in season; that the position is not part-time; however, the population does not realize the position is full-time yet; that the Mayor of Boca Raton placed an initiative on the ballot to raise the Mayor's salary from $18,000 to $34,000, which did not pass. In response to a question by Member Brain regarding the workload and the level of staff compared to the Commissioners, Mayor Perlman stated the Commission shares one secretary; however, the Mayor's workload is greater. In response to a question by Member Hamilton regarding the CRA and the interaction with the City Manager, Mayor Perlman stated the CRA Director reports to the CRA Board of Directors which is appointed by the Commission; that periodically, the CRA appears before the Commission; that the Commission ratifies the CRA's budget and controls the Board s policy makers; that once a week, a Development Services Management Group meeting is held including the Building Officials, Planning Officials, City Manager and the CRA Director to discuss development projects; that the CRA is quasi independent. (5:45:41) Mayor Perlman stated that the City Manager would be back next week if the Committee has any additional questions for him. 3. DISCUSSION RE: EXPERIENCE WHILE SERVING AS THE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONER OF THE CITY OF SARASOTA (AGENDA ITEM III) Richard Martin, former City Commissioner and Mayor, came before the Committee; thanked the members of the Committee for their public service; and stated that he was strongly opposed to an Elected Mayor in 2002; that the question was if having an Elected Mayor as a leader and figurehead would be beneficial; that even with a Ceremonial Mayor with limited powers, the perception is the role played is beyond the power given; that the Mayor plays a role of trust in governance and momentum; that at the end of the year, some initiatives do not get completed; that for continuity, a four-year elected Mayor position might be good; that Sarasota is a great City; that establishing a redevelopment office in Newtown, the Downtown Master Plan, and the Parks and Connectivity Plan were all excellent without an Elected Mayor; that most of the progressive plans have Charter Review Committee 3

4 been established with the present system; that the County is being recognized for being very progressive; that the County's 2050 Plan and sustainability initiatives are recognized nationwide; that the County has a rotating Chair; that his belief is nothing is broken; that any initiatives require public support; that a good idea can come from any Commissioner or from the public; that the types of powers given an Elected Mayor might be questionable; that some supporters of an Elected Mayor have used Bradenton as an example; however, a question is if having an Elected Mayor has served Bradenton well; that Sarasota is working well with the current system, so fixing the current system would cause hesitation; that the subject of an Elected Mayor keeps coming back and therefore perhaps should be considered again; that his suggestion is an Elected Mayor, if implemented, would not have a vote at the Commission table, would set the agenda, would chair the meetings, and would serve as the figurehead for the public; that two concerns are: 1. What would the powers of an Elected Mayor be; and 2. How would that leave the City Manager. Mr. Martin continued that with an Elected Mayor, the role of the City Manager would be more internal and less of a public figure; that the City Manager currently is the person the public seeks; that the powers and the duties of the Mayor and the City Manager must be considered. (5:57:54) In response to a question by Member Hamilton regarding with whom the question of affordable housing for example should be discussed in the City, Mr. Martin stated that the question could be discussed with the Mayor first to determine the lay of the land and then the City Manager for implementation. In response to a question by Member Hamilton asking if the Mayor would seek out a developer concerning plans for development, Mr. Martin stated not necessarily. In response to a question by Member Brain regarding the suggestion the Mayor not have a vote, Mr. Martin stated that the concern is more about managing or facilitating the process rather than having a vote; that the Mayor has placed an item on the agenda and has brought the item forward to obtain the support of the Commission; that the struggle is in defining the Mayor s position. In response to a question by Member Brain regarding the position of Mayor as more than a part-time position and compensation, Mr. Martin stated that he agrees with Mayor Perlman that the Mayor and Commissioners are full-time positions; that an argument is a higher salary might attract better candidates; that Commissioners should be paid more to bring up the index from 75% to 100% to the mid $30,000 range; that what is fair and what is voted by the public are two different things; that the Commissioners are public servants; that the Committee should consider the possibility of raising the level of compensation; that two other areas the Committee may wish to consider are: 1. Commissioners could act as liaisons with certain Departments and thereby act as knowledgeable people for the Department at the table; 2. Money plays too great a role in politics and campaigns and therefore campaign financing should be considered - The $200 limit per individual the County currently has is favored. In response to a question by Member Brain regarding the Ft. Lauderdale Ordinance concerning campaign financing which limits donations to $250 and to live human beings only, Mr. Martin stated that he agrees and Political Action Committees and corporate and soft money take away from the public. In response to a question by Member Brain regarding any cities which have Commissioners oversee particular departments, Mr. Martin stated that the process could be informal based upon the field in which the Commissioner is involved; that for example, a banker may be interested in Finance or a Commissioner may have served on a parks board, etc.; that the City Manager and Staff bring information to the Commission at the table; that having one point person with expertise in a certain field may be beneficial in making more informed and wiser decisions at the table; that the Florida League of Cities could be contacted to determine if other cities have the model. (6:12:10) Chair Shelton stated that the comments of former Commissioner and Mayor Mollie Cardamone will follow those of former Commissioner and Mayor Jack Gurney. 4. DISCUSSION RE: DUTIES OF DIRECTLY ELECTED MAYOR RETAINING THE COMMISSION/ MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT (AGENDA ITEM IV) Charter Review Committee 4

5 Former Commissioner and Mayor Jack Gurney came before the Committee and stated that he served on the Commission from 1989 through 1993, serving one year as Mayor and one year as Vice Mayor; that he has been a newspaper reporter in Sarasota for 37 years; that during his tenure as Mayor, he seldom received mail addressed to him personally; however, mail was received addressed to former Mayors, some out of office for as long as ten years; that not too many people understood the rotating mayor concept; that the current system of two at-large and three district seats was approved by the court in response to a legal challenge and should not be changed; that changing the system to all at-large seats would not be good; that City government has been observed as having no captain and being rudderless; that when Commissioners are elected, each has their own agenda; that during his year as Mayor, he did not find time to proceed with his own agenda due to the time required for routine duties; that in the absence of a team captain, the City Manager becomes the person the public seeks for answers; that when he was first elected Commissioner, the City was losing businesses and had no momentum; that the Commission became proactive; that an Elected Mayor makes sense in Sarasota; that a Strong or Boss Mayor is not favored; that a Mayor should be elected at-large; that the other at-large Commissioner should be the Vice Mayor; that the person sitting in the Mayor s chair should not be elected by one-third of the population of the City; that the duties and authority described by Mayor Perlman are good; that a Mayor should be the outside person and should be the captain and point person for the electorate; that the City Manager should be the inside person, running the departments and accountable to the Commission; that items the Commissioners want to place on the agenda should be sent to the Mayor; that the Mayor and City Manager should develop the agenda together; that the Mayor should have a vote; that the Commission holds the City Manager responsible to complete tasks assigned; that a Mayoral race would be good for the City; that a three- or four-year term is preferred to a two-year term; that term limits are not favored; that the electorate will not re-elect a candidate who is not supported, which serves as a term limit; that having a term limit is not favored if the public loves a Mayor and the individual is good at the job; that the salary was $15,000 when he was on the Commission; that the job was a full-time position although deemed part time; that a Mayor should be fairly compensated, possibly in the range of $40,000 to $50,000 annually. (6:25:47) In response to a question from Member Seibert regarding the City's being rudderless, Mr. Gurney stated that the meaning is the City appears not to have a captain who maintains the focus; that a Mayor elected with a platform is responsible for keeping things in perspective. In response to a question by Member Brain regarding a Mayoral race and minority representation, Mr. Gurney stated that the election of a minority candidate as Mayor may be difficult but not as difficult as when the Federal Court made the decision concerning the district seats; that the City has had experience with several African-American Mayors; that nationwide the public has a perception of what a Mayor is; that the current system in Sarasota has worked well; that a major change is not being suggested. (6:30:37) 5. DISCUSSION RE: DUTIES OF DIRECTLY ELECTED MAYOR RETAINING THE COMMISSION/ MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT (AGENDA ITEM V) Former Commissioner and Mayor Mollie Cardamone came before the Committee; thanked the Committee for serving; and stated that she served on the Charter Review Committee in 1985 to 1987 to re-write the entire City Charter; that she was on the Commission for eight years and served as Mayor in 1996 through 1997 and 2000 through 2001; that the subject of an Elected Mayor was discussed in the late 1980s, in 1996, in 2002, and again this year; that citizens have voted down the Elected Mayor proposition each time; that far too much money and energy have been spent on the subject; that the system is not broken; that in watching the meetings, a compelling reason to change has not been discerned; that serving as Mayor was done with great pride; that during eight years serving with five Mayors, some would have made good four-year Mayors and some would not; that some used the title of Mayor for control and power and others were benevolent and inclusive; that the Commissioners welcomed a new Chair each year; that in Bradenton, the Mayor is very different, very political, and very powerful, making appointments, forcing deals, and acting as a City Manager; that a question is if a Mayoral campaign would involve more money than a normal Commission campaign; that some members of the public in Sarasota would prefer a go-to Mayor, even without power; that Mayoral races should not be reduced to being subjected to heavily financed political committees; that the question is if the Mayor would be under the influence of those who financed the campaign; that in her opinion, the answer would be yes; that the minority community may oppose a change to a four-year Elected Mayor; that the Newtown District voted 8 to 1 against the last proposition for a Strong Mayor; that she disagrees with former Commissioner and Mayor Carolyn Mason and would expect another challenge to the election system if a referendum for an Elected Mayor passes; that she served on the National Bay Estuary Program Policy Charter Review Committee 5

6 Committee while serving as Mayor; that Commissioner Palmer serves on the ManaSota League and the Florida League of Cities; that County Commissioner and former City Commissioner and Mayor Nora Patterson served four years on the Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization; that due to these assignments, Sarasota does have a face in organizations outside the City and is well respected in the region, the state and nationwide; that whether being a Mayor or Commissioner when Sarasota is represented is not a problem; that the Commissioners and the Vice Mayor are respected; that the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners has a Commission-elected Chair for one year; that one reason for the Committee s task is a disgruntled sense in the business community as well as among neighborhood leaders within the City; that changing the form of government will not change the attitude; that if the public is unhappy, the Commissioners and/or City Manager must change; that a four-year elected Mayor will be elected with an agenda and with no further powers to further the agenda, a big money race would be the result; that any recommendations concerning the duties and powers of an Elected Mayor would step on the toes of the other Commissioners and the City Manager; that the reaction of the other Commissioners to a four-year Mayor has not been but should be discussed; that discussion concerning the power of the Mayor to hire and fire the City Manager is in her opinion the single worst idea discussed by the Committee; that the ability to hire and fire the City Manager would be the most power any person could have and should not be considered; that recommending an elected four-year Mayor could be creating an expectation of getting the job done without the tools to accomplish the task; that giving a four-year Elected Mayor any powers, no matter how small, may create an image of strength of which advantage could be taken; that the only reprimand for an elected official is a recall vote or failure to be re-elected, which could take years; that the current system should be left alone; that the citizens are weary of the discussion concerning an Elected Mayor; that the question is the reason to mount another campaign costing money and resources to vote against an Elected Mayor. In response to a question by Member Brain regarding a facilitator or team leader role which could be played by Mayor who is not popularly elected, Ms. Cardamone stated that she had no suggestions; that the Commissioners decide who will be Mayor; that in some cases, a Commissioner who does not get along well with other Commissioners has been passed over; that having all Commissioners elected at-large rather than by districts is preferred; that one reason the Committee is again tasked with considering an Elected Mayor may be the disgruntlement of the public; that the public may not understand the processes; that in public service half of the people like what is happening and half do not; that the perspective would be different if members of the Committee served as a Commissioner; that Sarasota County does very well with a Chair who rotates each year; that many individuals move to Sarasota from the north and do not understand the current system; that the reason Sarasota has the current system is many years ago an Elected Mayor took advantage of the position; that the City does not have any corruption. In response to a comment by Member Brain regarding the dissatisfaction of the public, the Commission's ability to work together better at some times than other times, and the development of recommendations which will help make the Commission's ability to work together more consistent and assure the public is aware of the structure and issues of government in the current system, Ms. Cardamone stated that some people are born to lead; that some people who are disagreeable are elected; that the role of a rotational Mayor has not previously but will be considered. (6:51:10) In response to a comment by Member Brain regarding periodic re-education for the Commissioners, Ms. Cardamone stated that no Commissioner has every studied to be a Commissioner. In response to a question by Member Hamilton asking if a developer coming to Sarasota would first go to the Mayor or the City Manager, Ms. Cardamone stated that a developer could approach either, depending upon whether the Mayor is recognized as a business person or involved in economic development; that a developer may also go to a Commissioner; that her opinion is a very political agenda would be established if Sarasota went to a four-year Elected Mayor with limited powers; that not developing a large ego is difficult for any person in the Mayor s seat who holds a gavel; that different personalities consider the title of Mayor very differently; that one reason North Port does not have a Mayor but rather a Chair is previous Mayors used the title in a particular manner. Ms. Cardamone stated that concerning the pay of City Commissioners, the citizens will expect more and expect a 40-hour week in City Hall if Commissioners receive a large salary; that outside appearances are exceptional whether paid or not; that the demands of the officer are no greater now than in the past; that the current Commissioners who indicate a raise in pay is justified knew the salary and the job task; that she agrees with former Commissioner and Mayor Martin who indicated the position of Commissioner is as a public Charter Review Committee 6

7 servant; that everyone should give back to the community, whether by volunteering or in some other manner; that more government than the public desires may be the result if large pay increases are given. (6:57:21) 6. DISCUSSION & QUESTIONS RE: EXPERIENCE WHILE SERVING AS A CITY MANAGER UNDER A DIRECTLY ELECTED MAYOR (AGENDA ITEM VI) Del Borgsdorf, Executive Vice President of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, came before the Committee stated that the Committee's questions and open-mindedness are impressive; that the Committee is serving the City well; that having been in Sarasota for seven months, the City government is impressive as being very open and professional; that the elected and appointed officials are very accessible; that he has been in local government for 38 years; that his first City Manager s job at age 25 was in Elwood City, Pennsylvania; that he retired as City Manager from San Jose, California, which is the fourth largest city in the United States to employ a City Manager; that all the cities in which he has served had a directly Elected Mayor; that many Mayors had distinct powers and many did not; that some were elected for four years, some for two years, and some with term limits; that in his first position, the Mayor was the appointing authority for the Police Chief by State law; that the best run City in his experience was Charlotte, North Carolina, with eleven members on the City Council, seven elected from districts and four at-large; that the Mayor is elected at-large and serves as the Chair of the Council; that the elections are partisan, the terms are for two years, and all elections happen at the same time; that the City Manager's position has been held by three people in the last four decades; that the city is very stable and political; that the elected officials are part-time but work full-time; that San Jose has a ten-member Council, with all members elected by districts and the Mayor elected at-large; that the Mayor in Charlotte has a veto but not in San Jose; that the power of a veto is valuable if not used; that in one city of 80,000 residents, the Mayor appointed the Planning Director but did not sit as a member of the Council, did not have a vote, and the City Council elected a President; that he was deemed in charge in this city; that the national trend has been towards district elections; that directly Elected Mayors have also been the trend; that the Council/Manager form of government is still the most dominate form of government in cities in excess of 10,000 population; that four of the ten largest cities in the United States have a City Manager; that based on the group of Mayors in the various cities for which he has worked, the public's expectation is the Mayor is visionary and the spokesperson; that the accountability of the Mayor is in policy leadership and the development of the agenda; that effective Mayors tend to have three characteristics: 1. Have a collaborative workstyle, 2. Be a coalition builder, and 3. Have a conclusive approach to problems. Mr. Borgsdorf continued that the Mayor is an expectation setter and articulates the expectations which translate into the job of the City Manager, who becomes the communicator of the Mayor s expectations and vision to the organization and is the leader in terms of performance and accountability; that the question raised as to whether the policy is clear as to the direction is a political and not a managerial problem; that good political leadership is essential to good public management; that good management cannot overcome bad politics; that the Mayor and the City Manager have different job descriptions; that neither has the desire to take over the other job. In response to a question by Member Hamilton regarding the implementation of the Commission's policies, Mr. Borgsdorf stated that the expectation and the culture may be factors; that the Mayor, whether directly elected or commission elected, can help assure the policy is understood or reiterate the policy decision made; that City Managers can ask for clarification of policy direction. In response to a question by Member Hamilton regarding the terms of office, Mr. Borgsdorf stated that twoyear terms aged well in Charlotte; that the two-year term almost meant another term automatically, so an expectation of re-election was created; that the problem gets resolved beyond the second two-year term in the absence of term limits; that the implementation of the terms and the public's reaction are key; that any Mayor would prefer a four-year term to assure time to achieve some successes. In response to a question by Member Luzier asking if a transition from one form of government to another has been experienced and, if so, the time required for success of new leadership, Mr. Borgsdorf stated that he has been involved in cities with an Elected Mayor and was involved in one change from a Strong Mayor to a Council/Manager form of government which caused some pain in the Mayor s office; that tenure helps a Mayor move up the ranks of regional and state organizations. Charter Review Committee 7

8 In response to a question by Member Luzier regarding a term limit of six years as Commissioner followed by a term limit of six years as Mayor, Mr. Borgsdorf stated that a directly Elected Mayor is different than an elected Commissioner; that treating the Mayor's position as different from a Commissioner's position is reasonable. (7:15:30) 7. CONTINUED DISCUSSION RE: DIRECTLY ELECTED MAYOR RETAINING THE COMMISSION/MANAGER FORM OF GOVERNMENT (AGENDA ITEM VII) Chair Shelton stated that the continued discussion will be delayed due to time constraints. 8. OTHER MATTERS (AGENDA ITEM VIII) A. Chair Shelton stated that two more meetings are scheduled; that five major questions remain; that the Committee should be prepared to begin making decisions at the September 26, 2006, meeting. In response to a comment by Member Hamilton indicating Committee members could prepare a list of duties for an Elected Mayor so a common ground could be sought, Chair Shelton stated that the suggestion is good and members should bring calendars in the event scheduling additional meetings is necessary. 9. CITIZENS INPUT (AGENDA ITEM IV) The following person came before the Committee: Dick Sheldon opposing any type of Elected Mayor and indicating the checks and balances the Commission/City Manager form of government provides will not be provided with an Elected Mayor, the amount of money spent in campaigns is a concern, and restrictions on political donations to $100 maximum from individuals only should be imposed, and asked the meaning of the term of facilitator in reference to a Mayor in the current system. Member Brain stated that successful meetings attended generally have an individual chairing the meeting who is skilled at facilitating a collaborative environment and knows how to move meetings forward. Mr. Sheldon stated that during his tenure on the Board of Directors at Gulfcoast Wonder & Imagination Zone (G.WIZ), several facilitators were brought in to increase the accomplishments at Board meetings, which could be done with the City Commission without an Elected Mayor; that having five potential Mayors as Commissioners instead of four or five Commissioners and an Elected Mayor is preferred; that the current system should be fine tuned with facilitator training; that democracy is uneven and rough; however, the Commission/Manager form of government is closer to true democracy than any other form of government; that having the Mayor elected at-large would not be fair to minorities in the community; that the limit on campaign donations should be set at $100 per person with no donations allowed from corporations; that each person who runs for City Commission may become Mayor and should conduct themselves appropriately; that the Mayor should be strong as a facilitator with possible training; that the City's system is appropriate. 10. ADJOURN (AGENDA ITEM X) There being no further business, Chair Shelton adjourned the September 12, 2006, meeting of the Charter Review Committee at 7:22 p.m. MICHAEL SHELTON, CHAIR Charter Review Committee 8