The Palm Coast Charter Review Committee met on Nov. 3, 2025, to continue reviewing proposed changes to the city charter, focusing on election procedures, appointment terms, budget language, and city attorney qualifications.
The committee made progress on several key proposals during the meeting, with Vice Chair Matrono leading the session in the absence of Chair Donald O’Brien, who was excused.
Limiting Appointed Terms
The committee discussed proposals to limit how long appointed officials can serve without facing voters. Under the current proposal, if a vacancy occurs on the city council, an appointed person could serve for a maximum of one year before having to run in an election.
The proposal states that if there is no scheduled election within one year of the vacancy, a special election must be called within 30 days. However, if a regular election is scheduled within that year, the appointed person would run in that election, whether it occurs in three months, six months, or eleven months.
“We don’t want someone appointed, and they could sit there for three years,” one committee member said. “They can only serve for a max a year before they have to get voted in.”
The proposal aims to save money by avoiding special elections when regular elections are already scheduled, while ensuring appointed officials face voters within a reasonable timeframe.
City Attorney Qualifications
The committee agreed to add specific language requiring the city attorney to have experience in municipal law and be in good standing with the Florida Bar. This proposal aims to ensure the city attorney has the necessary expertise for the position.
Budget Language
The committee continued discussing budget-related provisions, including keeping the current requirements for resolutions when amending budgets. Members discussed clarifying language around the $15 million and 36-month budget provisions, with some exploring whether these could be converted to percentages of the budget. The committee is waiting for additional legal information on these matters.
Public Comment
During the public comment period, resident Jeannie Dwarte expressed concerns about the charter review process, suggesting it should be delayed until 2028 when newly elected officials take office. She also raised questions about whether the city council could reject the committee’s recommendations.
Committee member Mike Miller responded that the committee does not have the authority to place items directly on the ballot, and only the city council can do so.
“We’re trusting the city council to take our recommendations, and they can accept them. They can totally reject them,” Miller said. “But I believe you know at present the only power we would have if they decided to reject what we were doing, then we would vote them out.”
Another committee member emphasized the importance of the committee’s work.
“Our goal is to make those suggestions that make the change so that when the next charter review is due, they have some guidance,” the member said. “We have to stay united. That includes you all there in the audience, not to fight us and us to fight you. I’m here to work.”
Next Steps
The committee will meet again on Nov. 17 to continue its review. Additional meetings are scheduled for Dec. 1 and Dec. 15. Dr. Dumont, who is facilitating the process, indicated the committee should complete its first review of all charter language before the holidays, with a strike-through and underline version of proposed changes available as a reference.
The committee’s recommendations will eventually be presented to the city council, which will decide whether to place them on the ballot for voters to consider.
