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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-27-2026 CR MinutesCITY OF SEBASTIAN CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE MINUTES TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2026 - 6:00 P.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1225 MAIN STREET, SEBASTIAN, FLORIDA 1. Call to Order — Interim City Attorney called the Charter Review Committee meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all. 3. ROLL CALL Present: Chair Vicki Drumheller Vice Chair Grace Reed Jeanne Hill Bill Fynn Scott Liberatore Charles Stadelman Richard Gillmor Tim Borden Sharon Herman Susan Lorusso Felicia Hollorman Wanda Simmons David Moore Nicholas Scheskowsky Tegpreet Singh Also Present: Brian Benton, City Manager Jim Stokes, Interim City Attorney Cathy Testa, Acting City Clerk Bridget Eakins, Recording Secretary 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION by Mr. Moore and SECOND by Vice Chair Reed to approve the January 5, 2026 minutes. The minutes were approved unanimously. 5. NEW BUSINESS A. Review Article 1: Creation and Powers Chair Drumheller noted that the article primarily restates foundational municipal authority granted by state law and that the review would focus on clarity and relevance. During discussion of Section 1.01, Mr. Gillmor questioned the lengthy sentence structure and lack of punctuation in the introductory paragraph. The Interim City Attorney explained that modern legal drafting favors shorter sentences and that the language reflects older drafting practices. He advised that certain cosmetic changes may be possible without voter approval if no substantive meaning is altered and agreed to research this issue further. Chair Drumheller noted that similar concerns were raised during the prior charter review and that even minor language changes often require a referendum. CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE PAGE 2 MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 27, 2026 MEETING In reviewing Section 1.02, Extraterritorial Powers, Ms. Lorusso asked whether the charter language implied city ownership of all seawalls. The Interim City Attorney clarified that the charter lists powers rather than ownership and that ownership depends on property location, easements, and title history. Mr. Stadelman raised questions regarding mineral and air rights. The Interim City Attorney explained that such rights cannot be asserted through the charter and are governed by state and federal law, noting that mineral rights under city property depend on how the property was acquired. He agreed to review the issue further. The committee then discussed public utilities, noting antiquated references such as telegraph systems. The Interim City Attorney explained that the language broadly expresses municipal authority, regardless of current operations. Ms. Lorusso inquired whether the provision includes cellular towers, and the Interim City Attorney responded that state law significantly limits municipal authority in this area, particularly regarding 5G infrastructure. Mr. Gillmor commented on the city's past transfer of water utility services to the County and expressed concerns regarding water quality. Regarding nuisance abatement, Ms. Lorusso asked whether recent state law changes affect enforcement authority. The Interim City Attorney confirmed that nuisance abatement and code enforcement authority remain in place and continue to be exercised through the special magistrate process. No substantive comments were made on provisions related to public lands and waters, livestock, airports, leasing authority, intergovernmental contracts, conveyance to the State or federal government, or the golf course. Discussion of eminent domain followed, with Ms. Hollorman asking whether the city has authority to acquire property outside city limits. The Interim City Attorney explained that such authority would apply only for lawful public purposes, such as utilities serving areas beyond City boundaries, and not for arbitrary acquisition. The committee briefly reviewed remaining sections of Article I, including intergovernmental relations, boundaries, and existing businesses after annexation, with no comments offered. 6. STAFF MATTERS No staff matters were raised. 7. COMMITTEE MEMBER MATTERS Committee members identified several preliminary areas of interest for future discussion, including eligibility requirements for elected officials, with Vice Chair Reed and Mr. Borden noting the need to review qualifications, disqualifying offenses, and ethical standards; city council compensation, with Mr. Gillmor and Ms. Herman expressing concerns regarding outdated compensation levels, public perception, and the method by which compensation adjustments should be made; election cycles, including the timing and structure of elections; and the need to clarify, consolidate, or reconcile provisions within Article II that may be duplicative, contradictory, or unclear. The Interim City Attorney discussed alternative compensation structures used by other municipalities, such as formulas tied to population or cost -of -living adjustments, and cautioned against including fixed dollar amounts in the charter due to their tendency to become outdated. Mr. Singh advised that he would be traveling internationally and may attend upcoming meetings remotely if possible. CHARTER REVIEW COMMITTEE MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 27, 2026 MEETING PAGE 3 8. ITEMS FOR NEXT AGENDA The Interim City Attorney advised that Article II would likely require more extensive and detailed discussion than Article I, as it addresses core governance issues, including the structure and composition of the city council, the length of terms, election procedures, compensation, and eligibility requirements. He suggested that the committee be prepared for a longer meeting and potentially flexible pacing when reviewing this article. 9. Being no further business, Chair Drumheller adjourned the Charter Review Committee meeting at 6:35 p.m. Date: Chair Drumheller