All right, let me call this meeting to order. This is a regularly scheduled meeting and the final regularly scheduled meeting of the Fort Meers Beach Charter Review Commission. Today's Tuesday, April 7th, 2026 at 2 p.m. officially call this meeting to order
and all rise for the pledge, please. I pledge allegiance >> to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
>> Thank you all. Start down with Ed on the roll call, please. >> Ed's going over. >> Thanks. >> Jim Dunlap, >> Bev Milligan, Bev Milligan, Michelle Churn, Anita Sarasa. >> Thank you. And could I have a motion to
excuse Brian Thomas? He is out of town on work today, please. >> He's in great Chicago. >> There you are. >> Good times. >> That's a motion. >> Motion. >> Okay. Is there support? >> Second. >> All right. All those in favor? I >> motion carries unanimously. >> All right. So, let's pause now and um
get our public comment. In spite of Vice Mayor Safford's attempt to recruit people to participate, there's no one here today. So, we will close public comment and um I would entertain a motion to approve the minutes. They're at your place. >> So, move.
>> Okay. Thank support. >> Second. >> All right. Any additions, deletions, corrections to the minute? Good. All those in favor indicate by saying I. >> I. >> All right. Motion carries unanimously.
All right. So today's um agenda is basically uh one main item and then a supporting document. So you have a letter at your place that you have seen in the packet. The one at your place has been corrected. Um it's a rationale
change and we'll you can point that out and compare the two, but don't refer to the one in your packet. But I would ask you to separate the spreadsheet from the back of your packet you've got because we're going to go through that together today as we prepare for um our final uh
agenda item which is to codify this this letter. So first I'm going to go back to the letter as it sits in its form um and then go make sure it syncs up in your minds to the uh categories that we have because we made several scrimer errors changes minor changes all those have
been reflected and we'll get to those in a second. not to be redundant and go over them, but just let you see where we've got them documented. So, there's five charter change items that we are uh recommending council take under consideration for referendum. The first one is obviously section 3.01,
101, which is a change about enhancing, amplifying or um clarifying, if you will, the um transparency attitude approach and the way we do business through our resolutions and ordinances as well as reinforcing the uh
concerns about any awful gifts or disclosure of exparte. So, um that's all there. rationale we've been through each other unless somebody has something to revisit on that straightforward and it's I think it's a nice change for the context we live in right now
nothing from anyone on that all right let's move to compensation 4.05 05. This has to do with what we used to call the blue ribbon panel. We're now calling the compensation committee. You asked me to go back put some additional verbiage around the approach which is now here.
Um it's been vetted in a couple ways. I spent some time with our HR director who did a lot of peerroup research on that and then we did um interact with the uh folks that have us in place today over several sessions now which of course enables. So, I'm going to read to you
what the final language is that's been inserted in here because we went around a lot of I think it was Ed that said and several of you I want a firm date in there for review and that has been accomplished now. But let me go through it and give you them with the rationale how we ended up here. Commencing in 2027
and no sooner than every four years, a compensation committee consisting of five residents appointed by the town council shall make recommendations for compensation adjustments to town council. The first compensation committee shall be appointed and will make its recommendation to the town
council no later than three months prior to the date of the next general election. Any action by the town council to change its compensation shall be effective as of the first day following the next regular election. There's two things here. One didn't change. We we
always had made it effective after uh the next general election which we thought was was good so that there was a little bit of separation. Additional change here um recommended by both parties that we did a research with said you shouldn't make it a campaign issue once you seat a new council they should
be the ones appointing the commission um because it will not be therefore a campaign one for and against etc uh and then it doesn't take effect till the next general election anyways you've got distance from both elections which I liked a lot and you've got a um uh
unaffected parties if you will if you don't get reelected the next term you don't benefit from the compensation change should there be one adopted by that. So I think that cleans that up a lot. The four-year cycle protects our 34 or 32 32 uh starting in seven and go to 11. You can do the the the math from
there or 27, I mean. So we went through that as as best we could to make sure. There's always going to be one time in there where you have that kind of an issue, but it's better than mucking it all up several times in a row by starting when we started and making it four years. and and our HR director was
very very good about going through that. So, let me go down then at the bottom and finish the rationale and I hope this meets the uh the test of the assignment you gave me. Um, this approach provides a cons a consistent and predictable review schedule. That was one of the
requests from this group. You want it on there not too often, but they have to do it. ensures the review is con conducted by and under a newly seated council rather than during an active election period and supports transparency and public trust in the process because
obviously it would be through a public comment and other interaction before it was adopted to accept the change in compensation. So with that I rest my case and put it back to the commission for anybody's comment or concerns. No, thank you for your explanation and
rationale. >> Yeah, thank you for that. That's fine. Okay, Ed, >> no issues with that. >> Thank you, Bev. >> None. No issues. >> None. >> And Nita, >> I think you did a very good job. >> Well, thank you so much. I was given very clear instructions.
I do follow them. All right, let's move to filling of vacancies. Nothing uh exceptionally new here, but just to get it on the record um for the final document. Basically, the change is I had written a very eloquent paragraph and Nancy changed it to the expiration of
the term of vacated seat. So, it seemed to be clear and to the point and can be translated by several generations. So, it's on the cutting room floor right now on mine anyway. And then the additional one was dealing with the vice mayor. The vice mayor shall assume the office of
the mayor for the remainder of the ex unexpired unexpired time as mayor. Remember that. So, we wanted to get that clarified in there. The vacant position of vice mayor thus created shall be filled at the next regular scheduled meeting by the town council until the
next selection of a vice mayor. So if the vacancy created is not temporary, the vacancy shall be filled under the provisions of the charter. So we clarified when they have to do the back filling should we have a temporary and a permanent absence. And I think that met
the spirit of it and the rationale is pretty ch pretty straightforward down below. All right. Qualifying period that is now set by Lee her statute or supervisor election. So you see that one's pretty straightforward. The canvasing board um
handled for us now by competent third parties. Seemed like there was one other thing I was gonna talk about. No, it's remainder term which I already did. So with that, let me take you to your spreadsheets and pull those out for a second. And uh
council will be getting this in the form of the official recommendation package that when we send it out should this be approved by us today. And as Amy and Nancy had guided us through last time, everything we talked about in here has now been reflected in some action or deliberate lack there action u by
section and category. So I won't go through the minor scribers and all that. They're very self-explanatory and fairly non-controversial, but I do want to point your attention to the charter change column because that should match >> everything we just talked about. If you look at the five that are there, 3.01
was we called it all powers possible. It didn't have a title at the time. >> So that's our transparency. Section 4.05 compensation. We just went through section 4.08 filling of vacancies.
Uh then section 5.01 1 elections and we had one there it is and on the next page section 5.09 the camping board demise. >> One thing I did we I thought we were going to come back and talk about the seat numbering that we were >> whether or not we want to maintain it or
not. >> Yeah, it was we kind of all went back and forth on it and I don't know whether or not we said yep, keep it as is or we were going to come back with ideas and I went through my notes and I don't have where we came out on that one. I'm going to defer to Anita because I
had no context of it. I couldn't find a reason or rationale for it and I don't even have term I don't even see it re referenced when the elections are being had. So help us. >> There isn't there is no rhyme or reason to it. It's just for organizational structure. That's it. At the very beginning there was a rhyme and reason.
You ran for a seat. The very first election I ran for seat three. And so you had direct competition with who whomever you know else declared for that particular seat. that that proved to be rather divisive at the very beginning um
and strategic for some. And so at some point in time that first charter review committee decided that these seats shouldn't be um shouldn't have everyone runs at large and so the seats should just be at large. Everyone runs at
large. You win the election or you don't win the election by a majority of a vote. And so the seat numbers really don't have anything to do with anything other than 1 2 3 4 5. >> I also saw in one of the earlier versions whether it's >> a terrible explanation, isn't it?
>> It's completely accurate. >> But that's that is it. No, I would there be any reason that we need to change it then if it's >> I don't think so. Yeah. >> I I think it just goes back to um the thing that I'm still against with what
we're changing in the charter for for an appointed member. >> If we if they kept the seat numbers, then that that person that was appointed would be essentially running for a seat number which would would be the remainder of the term whe >> that's where the seat numbers would come
into play. >> I agree. And if and so if this charter change doesn't pass, then the seat numbers would could come back into play with however Nancy and and Amy would would figure out how to handle the next election. >> Excellent point. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, there is some backup insurance
on there for not messing with it because otherwise they had to come back and deal with it. And I read through all those past um charter review commissions and their notes and stuff. And at some point, I recall and you may have context on this for sure. These seats were assigned that number was assigned
alphabetically by the last name back in that day. >> That sounds familiar, but it's it's that random I guess or they tried to make some sense of it because there was absolutely no reason for me to be in seat three other than that's the one I picked and happens to be my favorite
number. So, >> it's under the do no harm category, I think, at this point, Michelle. And back to Ed's point, which is a very good one. It may be relevant. Shouldn't if and when. >> Okay. Uh there's a there's a voter reaction to our recommendation. Okay. So those um unless I hear differently
from you, I sat down with obviously Nancy and and Amy went through all this. But I want to make sure you see those in the right box in the right category in the right way, which is why I did the letter and then referred them back to these so you've got context. I believe that's the five that we ended up with.
>> Yes, Nancy. >> So I'd like to just add a few comments. Um, thank you everyone for working um, diligently on on getting everyone to this point. Um, and I appreciate all the input that we've gotten um, Amy and I
along the way. Um, what I wanted just to state is I don't want anyone to be offended or caught off guard that the next step for your letter is to go to the town council. The town council will
look at your recommendations. um and they will make a decision as to um whether or not this should go on the charter. >> Um but perhaps there may be a way to embody the concerns that you had through
an ordinance or also through a resolution. So just because you are recommending it as a charter change, I don't want to leave you with the false impression that automatically this is going to be a charter change. Of course,
>> um the council has the um discretion to say we agree that some of these things need to be looked at, but um for whatever reason, maybe the the length of the ballot coming November um is not the appropriate time. You know, maybe they
want to do it at a subsequent election. So again, my my comment is really I want to thank you for all your work, but just know that this is not the end of the story. However, if council agrees with the five recommendations that you have, my
challenge will then be to take the concepts and the concerns that you have and mold them into sentences that will actually appear, questions rather, not sentences, questions that will appear on the ballot that can be voted upon by the
electorate with either a yes or a no. Um, and I will then distill that down. Once that happens, I have to go back to council by ordinance and say, "Is this what you directed me to do?" Um, and then based
on whatever feedback I got, I would make whatever changes or again, council could decide that, you know, we thought about it a little bit more. We don't think the time is right to make these changes. Um, however, then if they do adopt the ordinance because it is an ordinance, so
it's going to require two readings at that point, then we would take that ordinance and I would hand it over to Amy and she'll be working with the supervisor of elections to put it on the ballot. So, I just wanted to kind of give you the rest of the story um so you
can monitor and and follow it through. >> So, a couple things I'd say based on the size of our paychecks, I knew we were only recommending body. I don't think anybody got confused around that at all. Secondly, um that's a good reminder about why we set up the schedule way we did. These are our deadlines and they're
immovable. If you want to get to the referendum category. So, um April 20th is is literally on the cusp of where we need to have done, we need to have done. Then council will pick up and as Nancy indicated, do what they choose to do.
Any questions for Nancy on the process? All right. So, we're at the place then. Now, we haven't had to do this a lot because we found compromise, but I do want an official motion to recommend this letter get sent to council. I have signed it. So, I I do not want to be the
one to make that. So, I can get independent on that. Then, we'll have a final vote on codifying this into our work product. >> I'll make that motion. >> Be. >> I'll second that. >> And seconded by Ed. Um, any conversation
before I call the role on on the vote? >> Yeah, I I have a question. Sure. Um, are we voting on each individual >> charter or master? >> The master and Okay. >> Okay. Other questions? >> Mr. Chair, if our vice mayor, if you want to say anything about it or
>> I I just want to thank all of you. I This has been a great experience and I think you've you've guys have have stepped up and and done a fantastic job. So, I I commend all of you. Thank you. Anything else?
All right, Bev, your vote. >> I >> Hank. >> All right. >> Let's do everybody. >> Hi, >> Ania. >> I >> and I'm an I. So, it passes unanimously um to send to council, including our
alternates, which I don't think from a distance anybody could tell what seat you're in or not either. And um I think that's the best way to do what we do. Um, so to remind you then we will have some time on the uh council agenda April
20th. I will be uh representing us if you will at that time to present the core of our findings. They obviously can read and we're not going to spend a great deal of time on that but I'm going to reflect and you'll hear it again much to what Vice Mayor Safford just said. There was um in my mind fantastic
dialogue the appropriate amount of crosscurrens people that uh were heard and in some cases we made changes in others we appreciated point of view and may have modified but didn't completely comply and if you can see local
government operating in this way and some of us didn't even know each other very well I didn't know Hankk at all so it was a great way to spend some time together and then develop a degree respect in how we handled our opinions and perspectives ended up in something that I'm personally very proud of and
obviously our liaison is too. So I just want to tell you all thanks. It's been a great experience to do it. We are on time on schedule and um delivered exactly what we thought. Amy and Nancy have been great. You put the original schedule together. Some happen stance of miracles. It worked exactly like you put
it there. So I think we got good guidance and counsel on that too. Jim, I'd like to commend you and your leadership on this as >> as would I. >> Oh, well, you're welcome. >> The least contentious, troublesome, uh, anything of any charter review ever. I
mean, it was really just kind of >> well, >> it flowed. >> You will hear me say, and I had a chance to talk to, um, Dr. Bell, I think his name was that we talked to early on, professor over at um the university and he was a former um town manager for
Naples and he was very complimentary of the uh document we were working from and he has compare and contrast with hundreds of these. So we did have a solid foundation and I will also say in that context Anita not only was the work
was done is we were successfully steered away from because you gave us historical perspective, but steered away from meddling and recreating and putting pieces and parts in there that council would be hamstrung by should and if and when gets a point, they should be represented. They're elected to do that.
They have maximum flexibility with the greatest amount of guidance, I guess, is the way to think about it. And I think we accomplished that >> and and we did it under budget without a consultant. >> Well, we did. You're right. >> That's wonderful. I love it. >> That is a very good comment. Thank you,
Scott. because easy. >> Well, there are other jurisdictions that do hire a consultant out for several thousand dollars uh to get a group like this through this process. So, um that that is a very um important thing to be
recognized. >> Government light, right, Scott? >> That's correct. Boom. That's it. That's a >> how boomerang the compliments Scott because you did take every request we had and put it on the air with with your peers, including our requests maybe coming for some discretionary dollars to
um to do something more than we needed to. We just have fabulous staff and follow fabulous volunteers that got us the information we needed and we got to the right place in my mind. >> So, anything else for the good of the cause? I'm going to go right down. Anita, anything on your mind? You closed down? >> Nothing. Nothing.
>> Congratulations. It's nice to see you on this and doing that, Beth. >> No. All done. Thank you. >> I know you well either. So nice to see that. Hang. >> No. Thank you. >> Okay. Ed, >> I have nothing else to >> I see it was a platform for your political aspirations. I didn't realize that when you >> I didn't realize that either.
>> All right. Nancy, is there anything we're missing to um wrap up? >> Um no, just u you did ask me a question earlier and I just want to share it with everyone. Um, so what is the actual formal termination of the charter review
commission? Um, and that would be once the that would be action taken by the town council. So technically, you'd still be subject to sunshine. Um, however, you don't have any more meetings planned. So you really wouldn't be discussing anything that's going to
come back before you. But I just that's just a little technicality I'd throw out there. >> Great. >> That's good information. And I close with one other thing just for the public. Um the letter that was in the published material was changed. It was a fairly minor change, but it was changed. So the new one will be posted or is
posted. >> The new one will be posted in the April 20th town council agenda. >> All right. So the public will see our final final recommendation. It was a rationale category, not a decision or recommendation change. So it isn't material, but I didn't want you to be confused on um what we voted on today
versus what was in the packet. All right. All right. With that, I'd entertain a motion to adjurnn. >> So move. >> Okay. >> Second. >> Okay. All in favor? >> I. >> Motion carries unanimously. Thank you. >> Congratulations, Jim.