Three proposed city charter changes to be placed on Primary ballot
Cape Coral voters decide three proposed city charter amendments in the Aug. 18 Primary – mayor pro tem, eligibility and proof of residency.
Cape Coral City Council moved all three forward Wednesday.
The referendum related to the position of mayor pro tem is mostly a housekeeping measure, clarifying when council needs to make its appointment following an election. The official ballot referendum language will state: “This proposal amends the Cape Coral City Charter to clarify that the election of the mayor pro tem shall be by the majority vote of the City Council to be held at the first regular council meeting following each City General Election.
“Shall the above described amendment to the Charter be adopted?”
Voters will vote yes or no.
City Attorney Aleksandr Boksner said there have been no further modifications since the first minor one when the ordinance was first introduced.
”It’s scheduled to go before the Aug. 18 Primary for approval by the electorate,” he said.
The second referendum addresses eligibility in the city’s charter.
The official ballot language will state: “This proposal amends the Cape Coral City Charter to require any council member candidate be a continuous permanent resident of the district for the entire calendar year immediately preceding their qualification for office, excluding candidates impacted by Section 4.04 of the city charter and establishing procedures for complying with the residency requirement for a candidate’s permanent legal residency and domicile within the district and city pursuant to the submission of a sworn statement.
“Shall the above described amendment to the Charter be adopted?”
Voters will vote yes or no.
The second ordinance received one public comment during the public hearing from Julia Ettari, who questioned the residency requirement. She said sometimes people build a house and have permit issues but may have lived in the city for 10 years and want to run for office.
“We have enough trouble getting good people up here. We shouldn’t be limiting other people running for office that may be more qualified for the seat,” she said.
Councilmember Bill Steinke said they made a decision as a council to allow the topic to go before the general public to determine if they oppose the restriction. He said the public can vote rather than not have it on the ballot as a potential referendum item.
The third referendum also addresses candidate qualifications and election.
The official ballot language states “This proposal amends the Cape Coral City Charter to require eligible candidates for the office of mayor or council member to submit a sworn statement identifying their permanent legal residency and domicile, affirming that the candidate meets the residency requirements of Section 4.02 of the city’s charter, and submission of two documents establishing proof of residency pursuant to those acceptable documents set forth within new section 4.05(c)(2) of the city’s charter.”
“Shall the above described amendment to the Charter be adopted?”
Voters will vote yes or no.
For city residents not yet registered to vote, the final date to register for the primary is July 20.