Referendum and charter questions: A city-by-city look for elections in Broward

Most of Broward’s cities have elections this November to pick commissioners and mayors, and a handful are also asking voters to make their voices heard on other issues, too.

From allowing all voters to get a say on pay raises in West Park, to abolishing the rules that commissioners who violate ethics rules can’t be forced to give up their seat in Wilton Manors, referendum and charter questions are on the November ballot.

Here’s a look at the issues.

Cooper City voters will be asked in November to change the charter that would allow the mayor and commissioners to be elected at-large versus by district. Currently, only the mayor is elected at-large.

In Deerfield Beach, voters will be asked to change the city charter. Currently, the city’s mayor and commissioners are limited to two consecutive four-year terms. If voters agree in November, they would be eligible to serve three consecutive four-year terms.

Eight issues are on the ballot in Hallandale Beach. One deems the mayor the official city spokesperson, particularly during a disaster. The second issue revises “the grounds for forfeiture of office.” Previously, a commissioner could be booted for failing to attend three consecutive months of regular commission meetings. Now they could be removed from their job for missing 10 meetings over a 12-month period. Remote attendance is considered attending.

Another question clarifies the process how to fill a vacancy on the commission, including public notice. A fourth issue allows the charter to include legal provision for appointments to more than one city board. Another question requires the city clerk, who is the city’s official records custodian, work for the city commission, and not the city manager. Yet another issue deals with the charter review committee, including giving them a budget and requires they be city residents. A seventh question requires a “supermajority” vote of the commission to fire officers such as the city clerk, manager and attorney for cause, and for those employees to have an employment agreement. The final issue updates the charter regarding the city auditor’s hiring to confirm with state law.

Voters in Southwest Ranches will have three issues to ponder in November. One issue will require the mayor to be a town resident at least four years before an election. Currently there is a two-year residency requirement. The second issue allows a special election for a council member vacancy if the council doesn’t appoint somebody as a replacement within 120 days from when the vacancy occurs. The third issue requires a charter review every 10 years, longer than the current four years.

In Margate, voters will decide whether they want to elect their mayor themselves. Currently, the mayor is chosen from the ranks of fellow commissioners.

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Plantation voters will decide whether to replace the original city charter with an updated one. The updated charter adds language that the mayor doesn’t get a vote unless there is a council member absent, or there is a tie.

Tamarac voters have seven issues to take on. They’ll be asked a series of housekeeping issues, and a question asking voters to require a city commission candidate has lived in the city at least a year before qualifying to run for office. Two more questions require a “supermajority” vote to fire the city manager and city attorney; that means if the commission has all five members present, four votes would be required.

In West Park, voters have two issues to vote on. One would change the charter to allow a salary increase for the mayor from $400 a month to $900 a month. Commissioners would get a bump from $300 a month to $800 a month. A second charter question eliminates any references to “compensation” in the charter. This means future benefits would be voted by the commission at a public meeting, and not voter referendum. City leaders also get a city cellphone, and a laptop or tablet. They get health insurance, a pension, and a $3,200 annual expense account.

The city of Wilton Manors has three housekeeping items in November. Voters will be asked to strip away a Civil Service Board (a board that’s been called if employees have issues) and the power of the city clerk to be a tax collector, deeming the roles “obsolete.” Human Resources would deal with any issues going forward; the civil service unit has only been used about twice in 15 years. Voters will also be asked to amend the city charter to provide three four-year term limits for commissioners; and six two-year term limits for mayors. There are no term limits now. The third and final issue takes away a requirement that the mayor and commissioners must be forced to forfeit their seat on their own if they don’t meet qualifications or violate ethics rules. Until now, a mayor or commissioner would have to “forfeit their office” if they lack the qualifications required by the charter or violate “any standard of conduct or code of ethics established by law for public officials.” The same question has a second question within it that clarifies the rules on how to deal with vacant seats.

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In Broward County, four district commission seats are up for grabs. Voters will also decide on two referendum issues. The first issue updates the charter to abide by Amendment 10, passed by voters in 2018, which means Broward must have an elected tax collector. That person will be chosen by the voters in 2024 and take office in 2025.

In the second question, voters will be asked to approve the consolidation of the current five examining boards into a single board, which will register and license certain construction trades such as plumbers, mechanical contractors and electricians. The referendum question also eliminates the petroleum natural gas trade from county regulation.

Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sunsentinel.com or 954-572-2008. Follow on Twitter @LisaHuriash