The Tallahassee City Commission is moving ahead with a review of the city’s charter. The process will unfold in time for a vote in the November 2024 election.
Tallahassee residents want a say in the size of the city commission, the method of election, and whether the commission seats should be full-time jobs. That’s after 29 surveys were returned as part of the charter review. Commissioners Jeremy Matlow and Jack Porter said the survey process should be extended to include more participants. But Mayor John Dailey disagreed.
“No decisions are being made until any recommendations might come out of a charter review commission…that any recommendations that might come out of a charter review commission that we decide to put on a ballot for referendum," he said. "And then everyone – full democracy – has the opportunity to participate.”
Matlow said the process should include ideas about restructuring the office of the mayor, as several surveys had suggested. Or adopting some of the proposals the Independent Ethics Board has been recommending.
“I don’t understand why the ethics proposals are being removed, I don’t understand why the changes to the office of the mayor aren’t being considered when they were requested in the survey," said Matlow. "It seems we’re picking and choosing a very set function to focus. So, either let’s expand this thing, let’s have true public input and let the board be able to take ideas along the way.”
Dailey, Mayor Pro Tem Dianne Williams-Cox and Commissioner Curtis Richardson prevailed. The commission is now accepting applications to sit on the Charter Review Commission. Those members will be appointed on December 13th.
