City of Gainesville - File #: 160876.

• File #: 160876.
• Version: 7
• Name: Gainesville City Elections, 2018 Election - Discussion of Remaining Issues & How to Increase Voter Participation in the City of Gainesville and Cost Savings for the Budget if Elections are in the Fall
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Adopted
• File created: 3/16/2017
• In control: City Attorney
• On agenda: 12/7/2017
• Final action: 1/4/2018
• Title: CHARTER LAW AMENDMENTS TO MOVE CITY ELECTIONS TO THE FALL OF EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS COINCIDING WITH STATEWIDE ELECTIONS, AND TO TRANSITION TO 4-YEAR CITY COMMISSION TERMS (B) Ordinance No. 160876 An ordinance of the City of Gainesville, Florida; proposing an amendment to the Charter Laws of the City of Gainesville; amending Article II of the Charter Laws, entitled "City Commission", by requiring regular municipal elections to be held every other year in even-numbered years coinciding with statewide elections rather than every year, by changing the terms of office of the Mayor and City Commissioners from 3-year terms to 4-year terms, by providing transitional terms of office at specified lengths to achieve the changes; by specifying the commencement date of terms of office; providing for submission of the charter amendment to the voters for approval or disapproval at the November 6, 2018 election; approving the question to be placed on the ballot; providing that this charter amendment sha...

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
1/4/2018	7	City Commission	Adopted on Final Reading (Ordinance)	Pass
12/7/2017	7	City Commission	Adopted on First Reading (Ordinance)	Pass
10/5/2017	6	City Commission	Approved, as shown above	Pass
8/17/2017	5	City Commission	Approved, as shown above	Pass
7/20/2017	4	City Commission	Approved, as shown above	Pass
6/8/2017	2	General Policy Committee	Approved, as shown above	Pass
3/16/2017	1	City Commission	Referred	Pass

title
CHARTER LAW AMENDMENTS TO MOVE CITY ELECTIONS TO THE FALL OF EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS COINCIDING WITH STATEWIDE ELECTIONS, AND TO TRANSITION TO 4-YEAR CITY COMMISSION TERMS (B)

Ordinance No. 160876
An ordinance of the City of Gainesville, Florida; proposing an amendment to the Charter Laws of the City of Gainesville; amending Article II of the Charter Laws, entitled "City Commission", by requiring regular municipal elections to be held every other year in even-numbered years coinciding with statewide elections rather than every year, by changing the terms of office of the Mayor and City Commissioners from 3-year terms to 4-year terms, by providing transitional terms of office at specified lengths to achieve the changes; by specifying the commencement date of terms of office; providing for submission of the charter amendment to the voters for approval or disapproval at the November 6, 2018 election; approving the question to be placed on the ballot; providing that this charter amendment shall become effective if approved by the voters; providing directions to the codifier; providing directions to the clerk of the commission; providing a severability clause; providing a repealing clause; and providing an immediate effective date.

recommendation
The City Commission adopt the proposed ordinance.

explanation
At the regular City Commission meeting of July 20, 2017 the Commission asked the City Attorney to prepare for further discussion a proposed charter amendment that would include 1) moving City elections to the fall of even-numbered years with the City's regular election being held at the time of the statewide primary election and a run-off to be held, if necessary, at the time of the statewide general election in November; 2) changing the terms from 3 years to 4 years and maintaining a two consecutive term limit; and 3) developing a transition plan for the terms if the charter amendment were to pass. On August 17, 2017, the City Attorney's Office provided a...