City Charter Review Commission

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City Charter Review Commission

Overview

The City Charter is the legal document that defines the political powers of city government. The Charter defines the relationship between the Mayor, the City Council, the various departments of the city and the residents of St. Petersburg. You can read a current copy of the Charter here.

Why is the City Charter Important to St. Petersburg?

It is the Charter that protects our city's waterfront park system and prevents development of waterfront land unless the public votes in support of doing so through a referendum. The City Charter directs the city's strong mayor form of government, and determines how many Council Members we elect and how our Council Districts are divided. The Charter is, in essence, St. Petersburg's version of the U.S. Constitution.

What is the Charter Review Commission?

The Charter Review Commission (CRC) is a body appointed by the City Council and the Mayor every 10 years. The eight Council Members and the Mayor each appoint one individual to the Commission. The CRC is given the responsibility of reviewing the City Charter and recommending any changes it deems necessary.

How is the Charter Amended?

The CRC gathers recommendations from the Mayor, Members of City Council, city staff and citizens. The Commission met in January 2021 and completed its review and submitted the Final Report of the 2021 Charter Review Commission in July 2021. The amendments to the City Charter must be approved by voters.

Final Report 2021

Proposed Amendments

1. Limiting City Council elections to voters in the applicable Council District and making related changes

Currently, City Council Members are elected through primary elections limited to voters in the Council district and general elections open to all City voters. Shall the Charter be amended to (i) limit primary and general elections for Council Members to voters in the Council district, thereby eliminating City-wide voting for Council Members; (ii) allow a candidate receiving more than 50% of votes in the primary to be elected; and (iii) make other clarifying changes?

2. Establishing new process for drawing district boundaries for election of City Council Members

Shall the City create a new process for establishing City Council district boundaries that (i) uses comprehensive standards for drawing equitable district boundaries; (ii) has requirements and restrictions for appointment, service, communication, and accepting public comment; and (iii) requires City Council to be bound by commission recommendations unless inconsistent with applicable law? The new process would occur every ten years and maintain the existing nine-member citizens commission appointed by the Mayor and Council Members.

3. Establishing an equity framework and Chief Equity Officer for City government

Analysis of demographic and economic data for Pinellas County indicates that the region’s economy would benefit from eliminating equity gaps based on race, ethnicity, or other immutable characteristics. Shall the City Charter be amended to establish an equity framework intended to address those equity gaps? That framework must include an equity action plan implemented at City-wide and departmental levels, regular assessment and reporting, and the creation of a Chief Equity Officer for the City.

4. Establishing a requirement for Charter-protected equity funding

Analysis of demographic and economic data for Pinellas County indicates that the region’s economy would benefit from eliminating equity gaps based on race, ethnicity, or other immutable characteristics. Shall the City Charter be amended to require that the City designate “Charter-protected equity funding” to address those equity gaps and prevent that funding from being used for other purposes? This amendment would not prohibit the City from funding equity-related initiatives with other, unrestricted funding.

5. Establishing new requirements related to City Administrator, City Clerk, and City Council Administrative Officer

The Charter provides requirements and duties for certain City officials appointed by the Mayor with consent of City Council. Shall the Charter be amended to (i) add a residency requirement for the City Administrator; (ii) clarify that the City Clerk serves both Mayor and Council and may be removed only with consent of both; (iii) provide the City Council Administrative Officer with duties and protections similar to the City Clerk; and (iv) make related changes?

6. Changing the City's Charter-review process to avoid conflict with redistricting and make other improvements

Every ten years, the City conducts a Charter-review process to consider the operation of City government and propose amendments to the Charter. Issues occur when the Charter-review process changes the process for redrawing City Council districts because the two processes are scheduled to occur almost simultaneously. Shall the Charter be amended to resolve that scheduling conflict and to make other changes to improve the administration and integrity of the City’s Charter-review process?

7. Adding a preamble to describe the spirit of the Charter and the City's governing philosophy

Shall the Charter be amended to add a preamble containing a concise statement to describe the spirit of the Charter and the City’s governing philosophy? That aspirational statement will describe the City’s vision, goals, values, and priorities while acknowledging past shortcomings and promising a renewed and continuing commitment to improving the quality of life for all citizens.

Members

Mayor Rick Kriseman – Dr. Lars Hafner, Chair
CM Deborah Figgs-Sanders – Terri Lipsey-Scott, Vice Chair
CM Robert Blackmon – Dr. Ed Carlson
CM Brandi Gabbard – Vicki Shuman
CM Ed Montanari – Chris Burke
CM Darden Rice – Tami Simms
CM Gina Driscoll – Roxanne Fixsen
CM Lisa Wheeler-Bowman – Rev. J.C. Pritchett II
CM Amy Foster – Meiko Seymour

2021 Agendas, Packets & Minutes

07/26/21 CRC Meeting	Agenda
07/19/21 CRC Meeting	Agenda
07/12/21 CRC Meeting	Agenda
06/28/21 CRC Meeting	Agenda
06/21/21 CRC Meeting	Packet
06/21/21 CRC Subcommittee on Racial Equity Meeting	Packet
06/07/21 CRC Subcommittee on Racial Equity Meeting	Packet
05/22/21 CRC Subcommittee on Racial Equity Meeting	Packet
05/17/21 CRC Subcommittee on Racial Equity Meeting	Packet
05/10/21 CRC Meeting	Packet
05/03/21 CRC Subcommittee on Racial Equity Meeting	Packet
04/26/21 CRC Meeting	Packet
04/19/21 CRC Subcommittee on Racial Equity Meeting	Packet
04/12/21 CRC Subcommittee on Racial Equity Meeting	Packet
04/12/21 CRC Meeting	Packet
03/22/21 CRC Meeting	Packet
03/22/21 CRC Subcommittee on Racial Equity Meeting	Packet
03/08/21 CRC Meeting	Packet
03/08/21 CRC Subcommittee on Racial Equity Meeting	Packet
02/22/21 CRC Meeting	Packet
02/08/21 CRC Meeting	Packet

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City Charter Review Commission