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Commission approves citizen petition to place supermajority charter amendment on November ballot
Summary
The commission voted to send a citizen-initiated charter amendment to the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot that would require four votes (a supermajority) of the commission to approve planned developments or special area plans; city attorney advised it may be legally challenged after the election but is appropriate for referendum placement.
The City Commission voted to place a citizen petition on the November 3, 2026 ballot that would amend City Charter section 3.07 to require a supermajority of four commissioners to approve any planned development or special area plan.
City attorney briefed the commission on legal considerations, telling the body that Senate Bill 180 restricts more burdensome land-development regulations and that there is no controlling case law on whether a supermajority vote requirement constitutes a "more burdensome" regulation; counsel advised the referendum may be submitted to voters and could be litigated later if challenged.
Mark Hoey, chairman of the petition group, urged the commission to "let the voters decide," saying the petitioners had collected sufficient valid signatures. Several residents, including Barb Adams and others, spoke in favor of allowing a citizen referendum to proceed.
The motion to adopt Resolution 2026-06 (to certify the ballot language and direct the clerk to submit it to the Supervisor of Elections) passed on roll-call vote (three ayes, one no; Commissioner Cezanne recorded a "No"). The city clerk will certify the ballot language to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections to meet the Aug. 7 deadline for inclusion on the ballot.
