SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve referendum questions to appear on the ballot March 17, 2020 regarding changes to the City Charter and pass Ordinances 9353-19, 9354-19 and 9355-19 on first reading.
Body
SUMMARY:
The Charter Review Committee is appointed by the City Council every five years to review the City Charter and recommend changes thereto. This year's Charter Review Committee recommends the following changes:
Ordinance 9353-19 would increase the size of city owned real property that may be donated or sold for less than fair market value to five acres for the purpose of workforce housing and allow the donation or sale for less than fair market value of uneconomic remainders to adjacent property holders;
Ordinance 9354-19 would make non-substantive changes to the Charter, deleting language allowing the lease of certain city property to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium because it has expired; amending Section 2,.06(c) to be consistent with state law; and to require the City Manager to submit a report on the state of the city every November instead of September;
Ordinance 9355-19 would require the Charter Review Committee to meet at least every eight years instead of the current every five years;
Upon being adopted, each of these ordinances would be presented as a ballot question on the March 17, 2020 ballot for referendum vote by the citizens of the City of Clearwater. Each ordinance would become effective only upon being approved at referendum.