- November 19, 2024
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With the 2014 elections looming later this summer and fall, the Palm Coast City Council on Tuesday began the process to “clean up” elections issues that have caused conflict with Flagler County Supervisor of Elections Kimberle Weeks.
City staff presented two ordinances at Tuesday’s workshop. No vote was taken, but a vote is expected at the Jan. 21 regular meeting.
The first ordinance amends the city’s charter and code so that candidates qualifying for office must submit their petitions to the city 28 days before the qualifying period. (Candidates could forgo getting the petitions and could pay 10% of the salary if they choose.)
The qualifying period will now be in line with the county's qualifying period, which is set by state law.
Another change to the city’s procedures allows the county’s canvassing board to have control of the canvassing of the election.
Back in December, city officials discussed a Nov. 18 letter Weeks sent to the city. She expressed concerns that the city didn’t abide by Florida statutes during the 2011 referendum. In 2011, voters in the city approved via referendum (by more than 80%) to move the city’s elections to even years to coincide with state and federal elections.
The decision to move the city’s elections to even years was to increase voter participation and to decrease the financial burden on the city’s taxpayers, according to the referendum.
“We recognized ... there would be a need to update the charter,” City Attorney Bill Reischmann said at Tuesday’s meeting. “We discussed that we would do that in 2013 or early 2014 as we get toward the 2014 elections.”
Reischmann said the changes proposed Tuesday “address concerns that have been out there.”
“This is truly housekeeping,” City Manager Jim Landon said.
The City Council needs to approve the changes, Landon said, to abide by state law.
“Once again, you know the consequences,” he said. “If you don’t approve this, we’re still going to do it because we have to.”
An interlocal agreement between the city and Weeks is required prior to any election. Weeks isn’t required to run the city’s elections. (There are two City Council seats up this year.)
In December, city staff said they would be able to run an election if they had to but added that it would be costly for the taxpayers.
