BCC Minutes 11/23/1987 S
Naples, Florida, Nov..ber 23, 1987
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, that in accoLdance with action taken on
October 6, 1987, the Board of County Commissioners in and for the
County of Collier met in 8PECIAL 8E88IO. on this date at 7:00 P.M. in
Building "F" of the Collier County Government Center, East Naples,
Plorida, with the fOllowing members present:
CHAIRMAN: Arnold Lee Olass
VICE-CHAIRMAN: Burt L. Saunders
John A. Piator
Max A. Haeee, Jr.
Anne Goodnight
ALSO PRESENT: Beverly Kueter, Deputy Clerk: Neil Dorrill, County
Manager; and Ken Cuyler, County Attorney;
AQUDA
DISCUSSION REGARDING SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS
8IIIGU ....n DI8TJlIC'l' QaBrlIO. - T'O liB PLACED O. IIARCJI I, 1'" BALr.o1'
Legal notice having been published in the Naples Daily News on
Noveaber 17, 1987 a. evidenced by Affidavit of Publicati~n filed with
the Clerk, public hearing was continued from October 6, 1987 to ~on-
eider a special election for .ingle-member diøtricts.
Chairman Olass stated that this meeting is being held to hear the
public views on the question of single-member districts Cor the Board
of County Comnissioners and requested that anyone wishing to speak
aign up and be non-repetitious.
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NOVEMBER 23, 1987
The following people spoke in favor of placing the question of
five single-member districts on the March 8, 1988 ballot:
Rev. Clayton Hodge
Alma Cambridge
Jerry Pri.us
Charles Purdy
Howard Allen, Sr.
Albert Lee
Lucy Or ti z
Duane Billington
Chuck Moh lke
Joseph Matthews
Ira Evans
Juan Antonio Hedina
Skip Riffle
John Witchger
Annie Mae Perry
Don Goodr ich
Sister Pat stemen
The following people spoke in favor of placing the question of
five 81ngle--.mber districts and t,~ at-large on the March 8, 1988
ballot,
Me. ion DeForest
Wesley Leon
Gina DeMartin Hahn
Mr. George Keller stated that he is in favor of placing the
question on the ba llot, however, he would prefer it be placed on the
November, 1988 ballot. He stated that there is not enough ti.. to
educate the general public on this issue before March 8th and there
would also be a better voter turn out for the November election.
The following people spoke in opposition to single-member
districts and requested that this question not be placed on the
ballot,
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NOVEMBER 23, 1987
Col. John E. Beebe, Jr.
Pat Barton
John Keschl
eo..l..ioner Pi.tor atated that he 1S not concerned about placing
the .ingl.··....ber dletr ict question on the ballot, since every com-
.i..ion .ust operate under the rules of the legislature and cannot
.erve the people of just one district. He stated his feeling that
this ..tter is better decided by the electorate than a judicial court.
H. .tated he would like to put the question of a five single-member
district on the ballot.
Comaissioner Saunders stated his feeling that there are certain
decisions that are the right of the people, and one of those questions
is the structure of government they will be living I.:nder. He stated
that because of this hie pereonal view on the issue is unimportant.
He also stated that h~ believes the comment m~de about "ward politic."
.ay be a real concern and if Collier County goes to .ingle-me.ber
dl.tricts the press will be MOre important than ever, to .ak. oure the
COØIØIi.sioners are helping all of the ~ople.
Conai.sioner Goodnight etated that her personal views on the issue
are unimportant and that she believes the electorate should have their
cholce. She suggested the que~tion of five single-memb.r districts be
placed on the. ballot and her personal views will be placed in the
ballot box.
COmmis.ioner Hasse stated his concern on single-member dl.trict.
not being conscious of the needs of the overall County.
He stated,
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NOVEMBER 23, 1987
however, that the public should have the final say on the outcome of
the .ingle-~ber district question. He said he is in favor of
placing the question of five single-member districts on the ballot.
Chalrman Glass stated that the forum tonight shows that the prin-
cipals being used do work and people can come together and talk. He
atated that he believes the action from the Board of County
eo..l.s1oners tonight will be positive.
. Cbair..n Class stated there are two questions which the
Constitutional Amend..nt allowsl
1. In a County in which a Board of County Commissioners is cae-
posed of. five ...bers, each to be elected fro. a single-
member district, the wording on the propositional ballot
shall be as follows:
"Shall the five members of the Board of County
Commissioners of Collier County, Florida, be elected to
office ~rom single-member districts by the electors
residing in each of those districts only? Yes or No
A "Yes" vote in that question would be an affir.,ative and it
would be so. A "No" vote would be a vote for as it is today,
a negative vote would result in status quo.
2. The second v~lid question that could be selected is ae
follows:
"Shall the Board of County Commissioners of Collier
County, Florida, be increased from 5 members to 7 .em_
bers with 5 of the 7 members to be elected to office
from eingle-"mber districts by the elected residing in
each rye those districts only with two remaining memters
being elected by all of the electors in the County at
la¡'ge? Yee or No
Yes will be an affirmative for the change and No being a
r..ainder of the status quo.
oo.a!ssioner Pistor noved, ..conded by Co..i..iouer G004niqht and
oarried uneni.ously, that the public h..ring be closed.
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NOVEMBER 23, 1987
co..!..ioDer Pi.tor ao.ed, seconded by Coaais.lon.r B.... to pl.c.
. proposition on the Karcb I, 1'" b.llot statinq'
"Ib.ll tbe fiy. aeaber. of tb. Board of countr Coaa1s.10n.r.
of COllier County, Florida, be el.cted to off c. froa
sinqle-aeaber di.trict. by tbe elector. r..ldiDq in eacb of
tbo.e di.trict. only? r.. or .0
1JpoD roll c.ll the yot. waa,
Coaais.loner P1ator Aye
CoaaJ.s.loner B.... Ay.
Coaais.loner 8.under. ~ye
Coaai..ion.r Goodnigbt Ay.
C0IIa1..10n.r al..s Ay.
Coaals.ioner Pi.tor 1IOYe4, seconded by Coaai..i·:)ner R.... and
oarri.d UDaniaou.ly, tbat tbe County Attorney be direoted to prepare
tb. appropri.t. doauaentation on tbe above action.
. . .
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by
Ord.r of the Chair - Time: 8:30 P.M.
BOARD OF COUNTY CCNtISSIONERS
AftES'rt. ,
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. '\.,··..These ~~~utis approved by the Board
.iI..#9¡:.è.ntéd..·.;·~~ or as corrected
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ARNOLD LEE GLASS, CHAIIU'.AN
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