Ocoee officials green-light final language for city charter amendments

Ocoee voted Tuesday to approve the final language for amendments to its city charter. They will be added to the March 19, 2024, ballot for voters to decide if they'll be incorporated into the charter. 

The amendments were developed by the seven-person Charter Review Commission (five members,  two alternates) after election vulnerabilities were discovered during the March 2023 municipal election.

The Charter Review Commission initially presented 11 amendment proposals to the city commission Aug. 1. Commissioners had 45 days to review the proposals. The Charter Review Commission then fine-tuned the amendments and re-submitted them to the city commission Sept. 28 for first and second readings and adoption.

Some amendments simply clarify language to make the charter more easily understood, codify procedures already in practice and implement best practices that other cities use. Other amendments address the 2023 election issues, such as instituting a 12-month residency requirement for candidates seeking commission seats. That’s to prevent a repeat of the situation in which an Orlando-based candidate ran in Ocoee's District 3.

Two more amendments were added to the original 11,  bringing the total to 13. One requires a background check for all candidates for office; another codifies that the mayor and commissioners' positions as part-time, with salaries that reflect that. 

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To help you when it comes time to vote, we are printing the amendments here exactly as they will appear on the ballot in March. You can find additional background along with a mark-up of the amendments that shows which language got deleted and what got added, here.  

Print these amendments, clip them, stick them to your fridge. Get familiar with the proposed changes before you go to vote.

Question #1

Amendment of § C-8, City of Ocoee Charter, to liberally construe the city’s powers to effect their intended purposes.

Section § C-8 of the City of Ocoee' s Charter shall be amended to provide that the City of Ocoee's powers be liberally construed in favor of the city to effect their intended purposes.

Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?

___YES

___NO

Question #2

Amendment of § C-8, City of Ocoee Charter, to provide for the exchange of property as an enumerated municipal power.

Section § C-8 of the City of Ocoee's Charter shall be amended to provide that the City's enumerated powers shall include the right to acquire or dispose of property, including real property, by exchange.

Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?

___YES

___ NO

Question #3

Amendment of § C-11, City of Ocoee Charter, to establish one (1) year residency requirements for candidates for mayor and city commissioner; providing that each candidate shall furnish proof of residency as prescribed by ordinance.

Section § C-11 of the City of Ocoee's Charter shall be amended to provide that candidates for mayor shall reside in the City of Ocoee for at least one (1) year before qualifying as a candidate and to require candidates for city commissioner to reside in the district they seek to represent for at least one (1) year before qualifying as a candidate; candidates shall provide such proof of residency as may be prescribed by ordinance.

Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?

___ YES

___ NO

Question #4

Amendment of § C-11, City of Ocoee Charter, to provide that each candidate for mayor and city commissioner shall consent to a background check to verify the candidate’s qualifications to hold office; and providing that no candidate shall be barred from running for office without notice, a hearing, and clear and convincing evidence that the candidate is not qualified to hold office.

Section § C-11 of the City of Ocoee's Charter shall be amended to provide that each candidate for mayor and city commissioner shall consent to a background check to verify the candidate' s qualifications to hold office; and no candidate shall be barred from running for office without notice, a hearing, and clear and convincing evidence that the candidate is not qualified to hold office.

Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?

___ YES

___ NO

Question #5

Amendment of § C-16, City of Ocoee Charter, to provide that salaries of the mayor, mayor pro tem and commissioners shall be commensurate with the part-time nature of the duties of the office.

Section § C-16 of the City of Ocoee's Charter shall be amended to provide that the salaries of the mayor, mayor pro tem, and commissioners shall be commensurate with the part-time nature of the duties of the office.

Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?

___ YES

___ NO

Question #6

Amendment of § C-17, City of Ocoee Charter, to provide for the successor to the office of mayor or commissioner to be elected at the next regular or general city election, if held within twelve (12) months of the vacancy.

Section § C-17 of the City of Ocoee's Charter shall be amended to provide that the successor to the office of mayor or city commissioner shall be elected at the next regular or general city election, if held within twelve (12) months of the vacancy.

Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?

___ YES

___ NO

Question #7

Amendment to § C-18, City of Ocoee Charter, to authorize the city commission to designate an accountant or accounting firm in accordance with the procedures set forth in Florida Statutes 218.391 annually or for a period not to exceed five (5) years.

Section § C- 18 of the City of Ocoee' s Charter shall be amended to authorize the City Commission to designate an accountant or accounting firm in accordance with the procedures set forth in Florida Statutes § 218.391 annually or for a period not to exceed five ( 5) years.

Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?

___ YES

___ NO

Question #8

Amendment to § C-21, City of Ocoee Charter, to authorize the city commission to reasonably extend the requirement for the city manager to become a resident of the city of Ocoee upon the city commission’s unanimous approval.

Section § C-21 of the City of Ocoee' s Charter shall be amended to authorize the City Commission to reasonably extend the requirement for the City Manager to reside in the City of Ocoee within one (1) year of beginning employment upon the Commission' s unanimous approval.

Shall the above -described amendment be adopted?

___ YES

___ NO

Question #9

Amendment to § C-28, City of Ocoee Charter, to clarify that the city clerk’s salary is subject to the city commission’s budget approval.

Section § C-28 of the City of Ocoee' s Charter shall be amended to clarify that the city manager shall determine the city clerk' s salary, subject to budget approval by the city commission.

Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?

___ YES

___ NO

Question # 10

Amendment to § C-45, City of Ocoee Charter, to define “regular,” “special,” and “general city elections.”

Section § C-45 of the City of Ocoee' s Charter shall be amended to define "regular elections" as those held at regular intervals for the election of mayor and city commissioner; "special elections" as those held to fill a vacancy in the office of mayor or city commissioner, for a citizen initiative to approve of an ordinance, or a referendum to repeal an ordinance; and "general elections" as any other municipal election.

Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?

___ YES

___ NO

Question #11

Amendment to § C-45, City of Ocoee Charter, to provide for the swearing-in of a newly elected mayor or city commissioner.

Section § C-45 of the City of Ocoee' s Charter shall be amended to provide that any person elected to the office of mayor or city commissioner shall be sworn into office immediately prior to commencement of the next regularly scheduled city commission meeting held after the Canvassing Board declares the election results.

Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?

___ YES

___ NO

Question #12

Amendment of § C-49, City of Ocoee Charter, to authorize the city commission to set the dates of elections and candidate qualifying periods by resolution or ordinance.

Section § C-49 of the City of Ocoee's Charter shall be amended to authorize the city commission to set the dates of elections and dates of qualifying periods for candidates by either resolution or ordinance.

Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?

___ YES

___ NO

Question #13

Amendment of § C-50, City of Ocoee Charter, to appoint the city clerk and citizens to the City of Ocoee Canvassing Board.

Section § C-50 of the City of Ocoee's Charter shall be amended to appoint the city clerk to the City of Ocoee' s Election Canvassing Board in addition to two (2) citizens and two (2) citizen alternates appointed by the city commission.

Shall the above-described amendment be adopted?

___ YES

___ NO