By Agrippina Fadel
Tamarac voters will have seven referendum questions on their ballots during the general election on Tuesday, November 8, including the process of removing a city attorney and city manager.
1. Official City Map and Boundaries
The city charter requires Tamarac to maintain an official city map and set the city’s boundaries. Residents are asked to decide in November if the charter should be amended to include a legal description of the city as part of that official map.
2. Removal of City Manager
Voters will decide if the removal of the city manager should require a supermajority vote (four votes out of five) of the city commission or if the current simple majority rule (three votes out of five) should remain in place.
3. City Manager’s Authority
According to the current charter rules, Tamarac’s city manager appoints and supervises assistant city managers, department heads, and the city clerk — but with the city commission’s approval.
Voters can give the city manager complete authority on these appointments without the commission’s approval.
4. Candidate Residency Requirement
Currently, the city charter does not have a minimum residency requirement to qualify as a candidate for the office of mayor and commissioner. Voters can pass a one-year residency requirement.
5. Procurement Procedures
The city charter’s procedures for procuring an independent auditor and certain professional services are inconsistent with State law. Voters can decide if sections of the charter need to be amended to comply with Florida laws and make certain city agreements and contracts for goods and services subject to annual appropriation of funds.
6. Removal of the City Attorney
Like the city manager removal procedure, voters decide if the removal of the city attorney should require a supermajority vote (four out of five) of the city commission or if the current simple majority rule (three votes out of five) should remain in place.
7. Clarification and Update of City Charter
In its current state, the city charter has multiple obsolete sections. Voters can decide to make extensive necessary changes to it, including edits made for style, clarity, consistency, and gender neutrality, deleting obsolete provisions, providing new definitions, updating the charter to conform with State law provisions, and removing matters covered by city ordinances.
Voting
Election Day is Tuesday, November 8, and polling locations are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Residents are encouraged to register or check their voter status in advance. The deadline to register as a first-time voter is October 11.
Tamarac has 24 polling locations. To find yours, visit www.browardvotes.gov.
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