Controversial Charter Amendments Move Forward

HIGH SPRINGS – The High Springs City Commission on July 11, 2024, approved on second reading an ordinance calling for a referendum to be placed on the Nov. 5, 2024, ballot. Amendments included in the referendum were proposed by the City’s Charter Review Committee and approved on first reading at the June 27, 2024, City Commission meeting. Citizens will have an opportunity on Nov. 5 to cast their votes in support of or against the amendments.

The July 11 Commission vote on the matter passed 3 – 2 with Commissioners Tristan Grunder and Byran Williams casting the dissenting votes. Both expressed their opinion previously on first reading on June 27, 2024, that all of the items initially proposed by the Charter Review Committee should be on the ballot. Several Charter Review Committee amendments were voted down by the Commission at the June 27 meeting. Of the eight amendments proposed by the Charter Review committee, the four that will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot are:

Updating Corporate Boundary to that of the present-day boundary and provide for the ability of the City to change its boundary as prescribed by law.

Updating Public Notice Requirements to allow for electronic advertisement of public notices in the event the City has followed the requirements of Fla. Stat. 50.0311 and require five weeks of online publication in the event of electronic advertisement.

Updating Oath of Office and Ability to Alter Appropriations and Reductions to require commissioners and charter officers to assert they are not precluded from holding office pursuant to Article VI, Section 4 of the Florida Constitution prior to taking office, and allow the City Commission to make supplemental appropriations or reductions and require the City Manager to inform the City Commission when revenues will be insufficient to meet appropriation amounts.

Updating Public Owned Lands to update the names of public parks and add the Sports Complex to the list of public owned lands.

Four of the amendments initially proposed by the Charter Review Committee will not appear on the ballot. At the June 27 meeting, some Commissioners expressed the need to review the remaining recommendations in more detail prior to placing them on the ballot. Another reason also expressed was the large number of amendments for voters to consider on the November ballot. Some Commissioners also voiced concern that voters may tire of reading all of them and skip the City Charter items.

The Commission passed in a 4 - 1 vote on July 11, that the Charter amendments not included on the ballot will come before the Commission again for consideration at the Commission’s second meeting in January 2025. Grunder casting the dissenting vote.

Charter Review Committee recommendations which will not be on this year’s ballot are: Commissioners, Voting, and Notice; Commissioner Salary, Mayor Term, and Unified Commission to Instruct City Manager; Adding Forfeiture of Office Section; and Disallowing Individual to Serve as both Manager and Clerk, Residency Requirements for City Manager and Candidates.

Of the failed recommendations, issues regarding forfeiture of office and censuring a commissioner for not adhering to the Charter appeared to be of most concern. At the June 27, 2024 commission meeting, several commissioners and a few audience members along with Commissioner Andrew Miller expressed concern about that proposed charter amendment.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com