Charter referendum central

In 2007, the Pensacola City Council created a Charter Review Commission (CRC) and empowered it to execute a broad review of the city charter and to recommend revisions. The commission was composed of ten members and two alternates, all of whom were City residents.

The CRC met for nineteen months, during which they received presentations and input from a variety of organisations and individuals. The CRC drafted a new charter, proposed to replace the existing charter, adopted in 1931. The CRC’s proposed charter would completely overhaul the City of Pensacola’s governmental structure, reorganising the City under a mayor-council form of government.

A mail ballot referendum will be held on the adoption of the proposed charter. City voters should begin receiving mail ballots the week of November 4. Ballots are due back by November 24, 2009 and will be counted after 7:00 PM that evening. The registration books for the referendum will close October 26.

Political committees

Advocates both for and against passage of the proposed charter have formed political committees. The opposition to the proposed charter has formed No Boss Mayor PC, while pro-charter advocates have formed Believe in a Better Pensacola PC.

Proposed charter

The Charter Review Commission’s final revised charter document was approved at its August 19, 2009 meeting.

On September 2, 2009, a special Committee of the Whole session of the Pensacola City Council approved the charter by a 9-0 vote. The document was again approved at the regular Council meeting on September 10. Ordinance #35-09, which provided for a referendum, and for enactment of the charter if approved, was passed by Council at two readings, on September 24 and October 8. If approved in a referendum, the new charter would take effect in 2010.

City Charter Referendum Ordinance

Current 1931 charter

The City’s current charter was adopted in 1931 and has not been substantially updated or reviewed since.

City Charter

Progressive Pensacola coverage

• A brief history of our City charters
• Charter moves forward, postage to be paid
• Charter ballot language changed
• Charter ordinance, ballot language ready
• Council passes charter
• CRC restores at-large Council seats
• On the proposed charter
• Wu, Jerralds oppose strong mayor
• City Attorney’s comments on charter
• CRC chair responds to City Attorney
• Other commentary on charter
• Other coverage

Other sites

• Official CRC site: pensacolacharter.com
• City site, including videos of CRC meetings