CITY OF COCONUT CREEK CHARTER REVIEW BOARD MINUTES Government Center Date: March 6, 2025 4800 West Copans Road Time: 5:00 p.m. Coconut Creek, FL 33063 Location: Public Meeting Room Adjacent to Commission Chambers 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chair Craig Valvo at 5:03 p.m. 2. PRESENT UPON ROLL CALL: Chair Craig Valvo - District E Vice Chair Alex Escoriaza - District D Jonathan Ahlbum - District A David Mintzes - District B Mohammed Razib - District C Also present: City Clerk Joseph J. Kavanagh and City Attorney Terrill C. Pyburn. City Attorney Terrill Pyburn noted that the meeting was being conducted live with a quorum physically present and explained the procedures for the meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 3. A MOTION APPROVING THE MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS CHARTER REVIEW BOARD MEETING(S) (2025-0211). The Minutes were approved by a unanimous voice vote. 4. REVIEW OF CHARTER SECTIONS City Attorney Pyburn shared proposed new language for Section 604 based on discussions at previous meetings, as follows: Section 604. Lapse of Appropriations. Every appropriation, except an appropriation for a capital expenditure, shall lapse at the close of the fiscal year to the extent that it has not been expended or encumbered. An appropriation for a capital expenditure shall continue in force until the purpose for which it was made has been accomplished or abandoned; the purpose of any such appropriation shall be deemed abandoned if SO determined by the City Commission through the annual budget process. fve-SlyearspasswAlhouedisbursemReAEFOmROFARCWmbrance-O/the appropriation. Vice Chair Escoriaza noted that prior to the February 26 meeting, the discussion had been to remove the encumbrance in Section 604, but the revised language was an evolution of the conversation. Chair Valvo agreed, adding that he liked the flexibility provided. Charter Review Board Minutes March 6, 2025 Page 2 MOTION: Escoriaza/Mintzes - To approve the draft language as presented for Section 604. = Lapse of Appropriations. The Motion passed by a unanimous voice vote. City Attorney Pyburn began the Charter review by section with Section 801 = General Authority. Chair Valvo highlighted comments from Vice Mayor Railey regarding the section. City Attorney Pyburn provided a brief background on limitations consistent with State law and explained that Vice Mayor Railey's comments had suggested adding references to the Land Development Code and Comprehensive Plan. She provided a brief overview of the purpose of each document and noted the trickle-down impacts of changes. Chair Valvo asked if there was an opportunity in the process for a resident-initiated item to be shaped or denied based on legal limitations. City Attorney Pyburn stated there were limitations referenced in State law, the Broward County Charter, and the City Charter, and noted that petitions to change the Land Development Code could result in Bert Harris Act claims or inconsistencies with the land uses allowed in the Comprehensive Plan, leading to complicated problems. Discussion continued. Board Member Mohammed Razib commented on development threatening the equestrian community. Vice Chair Escoriaza shared that the Planning and Zoning Board had recently reviewed an overlay district, which was proposed to address some of these concerns. City Attorney Pyburn noted the item was scheduled to be on the April 10 City Commission agenda. Consensus was to direct staff to bring forward draft language for changes to Section 801. City Attorney Pyburn continued the Charter review by section. Board Member David Mintzes pointed to the fifty (50) qualified voters required to commence initiative or repeal proceedings and posited whether it should change as the City grows. Chair Valvo asked for clarification of the process. City Attorney Pyburn reviewed the process step-by-step. She explained that after the process was initiated and language was drafted, the petitioner was required to gather signatures of five (5) percent of registered voters, or approximately 1,800 people. Chair Valvo stated there had been discussion of amending the five (5) percent to ten (10) percent to reflect State law, but this would require a petitioner to almost match the turnout for a municipal election without a City budget. Mr. Razib pointed out that a single large community like Wynmoor could easily meet the five (5) percent requirement if they took up an issue together. Discussion continued. Vice Chair Escoriaza suggested that the time allotted could be amended to reflect the number of signatures required. Mr. Mintzes asked how the signatures were checked. City Clerk Kavanagh explained that the Supervisor of Elections office verified the signatures at a cost of ten cents per signature. He stated a buffer of approximately ten (10) percent was typically necessary to account for signatures that could not be verified. Chair Valvo asked how often petitions were filed. City Attorney Pyburn provided a brief background, and discussion ensued. Chair Valvo asked if the 90-day time frame tracked State law. City Attorney Pyburn responded that the Statute included a ten (10) percent requirement, but not a time frame. She noted this was in reference to a petition for Constitutional amendment. City Clerk Kavanagh shared his experience in Coconut Creek Charter Review Board Minutes March 6, 2025 Page 3 and Margate with citizen-led initiatives. He noted staff planning was required to be ready for the next administrative steps once the ninety (90) days had elapsed. City Attorney Pyburn highlighted the deadlines imposed by the Supervisor of Elections and logistics of getting an item on the ballot. Consensus was to leave the petition process as-is. Discussion ensued as to whether to recommend clarification of the timeframe calculations in Article VIII to state whether the reference was to calendar days or business days. Chair Valvo suggested an amendment that stated references were to calendar days unless otherwise noted. Consensus was to adopt this recommendation. City Attorney Pyburn noted that the Charter review at the next meeting would start with Section 806. - Actions by Petitions. Chair Valvo asked the Board to consider between meetings the concept of each district voting for Mayor and their Commissioner, rather than the full Commission. Discussion ensued briefly. City Attorney Pyburn stated the next meeting was scheduled for March 19 at 5 p.m. 5. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:01 p.m. , : SRN 3lélvas sepl Kavanagh, MMC Date ty'Çlerk