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Charter advisory board removes Article 17, shifts clerk duties to city manager and renames finance officer 'comptroller'
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Summary
The Panama City charter review advisory board voted to remove Article 17 (public utilities), approved relocating the city clerk’s administrative duties under the city manager, and adopted a new charter title for the finance officer — 'comptroller.' Board members said the changes reduce redundancy with state law and clarify roles.
The Panama City Charter Review Advisory Board voted to remove Article 17, adopt broader 'powers' language, and transfer most city clerk administrative functions to the city manager, while renaming the remaining charter finance officer 'comptroller.' The board approved the package during its meeting after staff explained the proposed deletions were intended to avoid redundant or preempted language.
Staff read draft language intended to give the city broad corporate and proprietary authority, telling the board: "the city of Panama City located in the county shall have all government, corporate, and proprietary powers to enable it to conduct municipal government performing municipal functions and render municipal services and may exercise any power for municipal purposes except when expressly prohibited by law," (staff member, reading suggested language). Board members discussed overlap with an existing catch‑all provision (section 20) and whether the new text was redundant; legal staff advised that much of the older public‑utility material appears preempted by state law.
On a motion to remove Article 17, the board voted in favor. Members also debated how to present the revisions to voters — either as an "amended and restated" charter or as redline edits — and directed staff to prepare ballot presentation and supporting materials that clearly explain changes.
Separately, the board considered moving the charter’s clerk responsibilities (records, meeting agendas, public‑records custodial duties and related administrative tasks) under the city manager’s enumerated duties and creating a separate charter finance officer position. A motion to add the clerk duties under the manager and rename the charter finance officer "comptroller" carried after discussion about titles and statutory custodial requirements for records. As one member put it regarding the naming and responsibilities, the change is largely to "explain to the commission and to the public what we're doing" (chair).
Next steps: staff will prepare a consolidated draft and suggested ballot language for the board to review at upcoming meetings; the board scheduled follow‑up meetings and said it will circulate revised language in advance of the June workshop.
