AGENDA ITEM REPORT
TITLE:
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AN ORDINANCE PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY'S CODE OF ORDINANCES TO ENACT A NEW SECTION ENTITLED "CITY COMMISSION CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS" IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FOR A TWELVE (12) MONTH DISTRICT-SPECIFIC RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT BEFORE QUALIFYING TO RUN FOR OFFICE. (SECOND READING)(PUBLIC HEARING)
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BACKGROUND:
This Ordinance was approved at the First Reading at the July 9, 2015 Commission Meeting with no changes or conditions.
Pursuant to home rule powers, the City of Coconut Creek has the authority to enact laws that protect the health, safety and welfare of its residents. The 2015 Charter Review Board proposed adding language to the City Charter regarding a district-specific residency requirement of twelve (12) months, with an immediate effective date if passed by the voters at the November 8, 2016 general election. However, the City Commission expressed concerns regarding notice to the public as the general election of 2016 is only two (2) months in advance of the qualifying date for the municipal election of 2017. The City Commission is desirous of providing as much notice as possible regarding the proposed residency requirement and, in an abundance of caution, requested that staff draft an ordinance making the public explicitly aware of the twelve (12) month district-specific residency requirement more than twelve (12) months in advance of the January 2017 qualifying date for the March 2017 municipal election. The Ordinance will automatically be repealed as of November 9, 2016 at 12:01am unless otherwise ratified and re-adopted by the City Commission.
DISCUSSION:
The City is committed to providing as much notice as possible regarding a proposed twelve (12) month district-specific residency prerequisite to City Commission candidacy as proposed by the 2015 Charter Review Board.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this Ordinance, providing advanced notice to the public of the proposed change to the Ci...
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