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Residents urge delay on votes, citing Sunshine Law; commission renews Code Red contract
Summary
Public commenters said the commission did not provide adequate advance notice of agenda items under Florida's Sunshine Law; despite objections, the City Commission renewed the Code Red emergency-notification contract and said it would address posting issues.
During public comment at the Port St. Joe City Commission meeting, two residents raised concerns that agenda items slated for votes were not properly posted in advance, invoking Florida's open-meetings requirements.
Robert Grant (speaker 7) told the commission he could not find the agenda and minutes online and urged commissioners to ensure the public has access to materials. "We're the minutes for the public to view... the public is not being informed," Grant said, calling for greater transparency.
A second resident, who identified herself as Christie/Crystal McElroy of Port St. Joe (speaker 10), warned the commission that Florida law requires public notice of agenda items 24 to 72 hours before a meeting and urged that votes be tabled until the public had been properly notified. McElroy cited Florida statute and asked the mayor to consider tabling votes so the public could participate.
City officials acknowledged the concern and said the website location could be fixed. Mayor (speaker 1) responded that staff could correct posting issues; the mayor also moved to proceed with a motion to renew the Code Red emergency-notification contract. Staff described past vendor service interruptions but recommended continuation; a commissioner noted prior service interruptions were resolved.
Despite the objections about notice, the commission voted to renew the Code Red contract (motion recorded as passed "5 and up"). The commission did not formally table the item or record legal advice on the Sunshine Law claim in the minutes at this meeting.
The commission also voted on other business that night; residents who raised the notice concern were told staff would address posting and website access. The transcript records the public's complaint and the commission's decision to proceed, but it does not include a formal finding about whether the posting met statutory requirements.
The commission's clerk or attorney was not recorded giving a legal opinion on the Sunshine Law claim during the meeting; members of the public asked that staff ensure agendas and minutes are easily discoverable online so community members can participate fully in future votes.
