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Zephyrhills finalizes ballot questions
The council approved 16 questions about charter changes that residents will vote on in April.
By MOLLY MOORHEAD
Published February 14, 2006
ZEPHYRHILLS - A set of proposed charter amendments will appear before voters in an April referendum after the City Council finalized ballot language Monday.
The changes will appear in the form of 16 questions covering issues such as citizen petitions, city manager duties and the hiring and firing of top city officials.
Two last-minute changes emerged Monday. A question asking whether council terms should be increased from two years to three was deleted, and a provision was added directing that the charter be formally reviewed every five years.
A citizens committee spent months last year reviewing the charter, which dictates how the city is run. It produced a set of recommendations for changes to put before voters. Council members accepted some of those recommendations.
A proposal to reduce the council's size from five members to four and empower the mayor with a vote will not be on the ballot, as well as a measure making it easier to fire the city manager.
Council members Liz Geiger and Gina King had hoped to see the provision on council makeup on the ballot.
"I regret that we're not giving the people that choice," Geiger said.
"I'll second that," said King.
The city plans educational sessions and materials to help voters understand the proposed charter changes. The referendum is set for April 11.
In other news
--Council members scheduled a workshop to discuss their participation in the city's group health insurance plan. The issue came up recently and has become a subject of controversy after it was revealed that two members and their families were using the plan at a cost of more than $18,000 to the city.
The workshop will be at 4 p.m. Feb. 27.
--Two new developments moved closer to reality. The board approved rezoning a 10-acre parcel off Court Street south of State Road 54 that will hold townhomes, as well as 235 acres of Gore's Dairy on U.S. 301 targeted for a large residential development.
Both plans will have another public hearing.
[Last modified February 14, 2006, 02:45:31]
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