Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Tim Ryan
Department: County Commission
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution to place a proposed amendment to the Broward County Charter on the ballot for the November 8, 2022, General Election, amending Sections 2.01, 2.02, 2.03, and 2.04 of the Broward County Charter to establish a countywide elected Mayor, the title of which is as follows (deferred from June 1, 2021 - Item No. 82):
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, PROVIDING FOR A REFERENDUM ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 8, 2022, THE DATE OF THE GENERAL ELECTION, TO DETERMINE WHETHER TO AMEND THE BROWARD COUNTY CHARTER TO PROVIDE FOR A COUNTYWIDE ELECTED MAYOR; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
(Sponsored by Commissioner Tim Ryan)
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Why Action is Necessary
The Broward County Charter authorizes the County Commission to propose amendments to the Broward County Charter, subject to referendum of the general electorate.
What Action Accomplishes
Places a referendum on the ballot that, if approved by the voters, would establish a countywide elected mayor.
Is this Action Goal Related
No
Previous Action Taken
Summary Explanation/Background
This Resolution proposes an amendment to the Broward County Charter that, to be effective, must be approved by the Broward County electorate during the 2022 General Election. If approved, the proposal would establish the Broward County Mayor as a Charter Office elected countywide beginning in November 2024. The Mayor would have a salary of $220,000 (subsequently adjusted for inflation), be limited to two (2) consecutive four year terms, and be prohibited from holding outside employment. The Charter amendment would not, in any way, expand the duties and obligations of the Mayor as stated in the current Charter.
This item was discussed by the Board on May 18, 2021, and June 1, 2021, and subsequently deferred to the Board's June 15, 2021, meeting. At the June 1, 2021, meeting, the Board voted to amend the Resolution by inserting additional provisions intended to prevent a gubernatorial appointment to the position of Mayor in the event of a vacancy. At the June 15, 2021, meeting, the sponsor withdrew the item from the agenda in recognition of the extremely lengthy agenda for that meeting and stated the item would be placed on a later Board agenda. In addition to the amendment approved by the Board on June 1, 2021, several non-substantive revisions have been made to the proposed resolution.
Six (6) affirmative votes are required to place this proposed Charter amendment on the ballot.
Source of Additional Information
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
Pursuant to Section 11.07 of the Broward County Charter, the County Auditor has reviewed the proposed amendment to the Charter and determined that the amendment would result in additional costs in the amount of approximately $707,000 per year (Exhibit 2).