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Eustis commissioners debate developer-meeting guidance; resolution to be discussed Thursday
Summary
Commissioners and the city attorney debated a proposed resolution offering guidance on developer meetings and Sunshine Law compliance; the item was advertised for the next regular meeting and will be presented there for discussion or tabling.
The City Commission of the City of Eustis discussed a proposed resolution addressing guidance for commissioner communications with developers and Sunshine Law compliance during the Sept. 29 special meeting. Commissioners debated whether the resolution should be pulled for a separate workshop or presented at the regular meeting on Thursday for discussion.
City Attorney Sasha said the procedure was prepared in response to feedback from multiple commissioners and framed it as a transparency measure. "It's best to have the developers come before the commission and speak publicly so that you all get the information at once, and the public gets it as well," Sasha said. She told commissioners the prepared procedure would allow one-on-one meetings within clear guidelines but favored public presentations to avoid the perception of private decision-making.
Several commissioners said they wanted more time to review the resolution or to hold a workshop before final action. One commissioner asked that Resolution 205-72 be pulled from the next meeting so the commission could further discuss it in a workshop setting; others responded that because the item had been advertised, the commission must allow the presentation and could then make a decision at that meeting to table the item or make revisions.
City Attorney Sasha explained the procedural constraint: an item that has been advertised must be presented at the meeting where it appears, but commissioners retain discretion afterward to table or amend it. She also said the resolution was prepared with input from commissioners, including requests for guidance from Commissioner Lee.
No formal vote or direction on the resolution occurred at the special meeting; commissioners agreed the presentation and public discussion will occur at the advertised meeting on Thursday, at which time they may elect to table it, revise it, or proceed. The commission did not establish a workshop date during the special meeting.
