Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Agenda Process topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Advisory board narrows agenda‑setting rules, sparking split vote
Summary
After extended debate about mayoral authority and citizen notice, Panama City's charter review board approved a change allowing any single commissioner to request placing an item on a meeting agenda (with statutory notice); the measure passed 3–2 and will be drafted by counsel.
The Panama City Charter Review Advisory Board approved a contested change to how items are added to the city commission agenda, passing an amendment to section 32 by a 3–2 vote after extended debate.
The amendment reduces the threshold required to add an item: instead of needing two commissioners to require an item be placed on the next agenda, the revised wording allows any one commissioner to make such a request, provided existing statutory notice deadlines (discussed in the meeting as 48 hours for published notice and a separate seven‑day CRA requirement) are met. Counsel explained the proposed drafting: "Notwithstanding the foregoing, any one commissioner may request that a specific item be placed on the agenda for the next scheduled regular or special meeting. Upon such request, the item shall be included on the agenda occurring after the required notice deadlines." Supporters said the change creates a clear, board‑level path for elected members to have issues considered and protects citizen access to agenda placement; critics warned it could shift operational control away from the city manager and allow tactical last‑minute agenda additions.
During debate, several commissioners urged safeguards: if an item is added with inadequate notice the board agreed it should be limited to discussion (no vote) until proper notice is satisfied. Counsel and staff noted statutory constraints for special meetings and emergency exceptions and recommended that the redline language preserve existing notice deadlines. The board asked staff to prepare both a redline and a clean version of section 32 reflecting the amendment and to circulate the drafts ahead of the next meeting.
The measure passed 3–2; the board recorded it as a working change to the draft charter to be finalized by the city attorney and returned as part of the packet for commission consideration.
