Ordinance 2008-307 - Laserfiche WebLink

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TO: FROM: DATE: RE: City of Sunny Isles Beach 18070 Collins 1\ venuc Sunny I sIcs Beach, Florida 33160 Ciry Commi.r.riol/ Nonnan S. Edelcup, ,11t/yor Lcwis J. Thaler, I 'i,,' '\[''Yor Roslyn Brczin, C'Ol!lmiffifllll'r Gerry Goodman, COmmif.l'i01I1'r George "Bud" Scholl, (.ommini(!IIer (305) 947-0606 City I lall (305) 949-3113 Fax (305) 947-2150 Building Department (305) 947 -5107 I,'ax A. John Szerlag, Cily M"II,!~er Hans Ottinot, (il)' /II/onll') Jane A. Hines, (1)' Clerk. MEMORANDUM The Honorable City Commission Hans Ottinot, City Attornei~/1A--- April 17,2008 r V Charter Amendments Ordinance Relating To Residential Voting Areas RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Commission approve the attached Ordinance Calling for A Special Election to submit Charter Amendments Providing the City Commission with the authority Redraw Boundaries of the Residential Voting Areas to the Electorate. REASONS: At a workshop held on February 28, 2008, the City Commission determined that a need has arisen to redraw the boundaries of the residential voting areas due to population growth in the City. The Commission also determined that converting the At-Large Commissioner Seat to a Residential Area Seat was necessary to ensure balanced representation on the City Commission from geographic areas in the City. These determinations were made by the City Commission after the Commission concluded that the three residential voting areas have either become too large or too small due to population growth in the City. In other words, the residential voting areas are not proportional. To make the residential voting areas proportional, the boundaries of residential voting areas must be adjusted. In order to redraw the boundaries of the residential voting areas and convert the At-Large Commissioner Seat, the voters of the City must approve two charter amendments. These amendments are set forth in the attached Ordinance. The first amendment asks voters for permission to redraw the boundaries of the residential areas by ordinance based on population growth in order to ensure proportionality. The second amendment asks voters to convert the At-Large Commissioner Seat to a Residential Area Seat. If these amendments are approved by the voters, the City Commission will have authority to redraw the boundaries of the residential areas to ensure that the areas are proportioned. Lastly, I want to emphasize that the proposed charter amendments does not change the manner in which the members of the City Commission are elected by voters. Under the City Charter, the five members of the City Commission, including the Mayor, are elected at-large. Simply put, all voters are able to cast a vote any member of the City Commission. / Attachment Agenda Item Cf A Date 7 - 11- 08