A Disturbing Trend
July 21, 2020
Over the last 3 months, Mayor Woods has introduced several new agenda items at the beginning of the City Council meetings that have NOT been publicly noticed, nor has the Public had an opportunity to provide Comment – other than those members of the Public he specifically invited to speak in support of his proposals. This is a disturbing practice and should be stopped.
Since being selected Mayor by the Council in April 2020, Carl Woods has done things a little differently. That’s not necessarily bad. We were happy when one of his first actions was to move Items of Resident Interest and Board Committee Reports, to the end of City Council Meeting agendas every month.
When Resolution 37, 2020 was added at the beginning of the May, 2020 meeting entitled “Creating the Economic Recovery Act (ERA) Grant Fund” establishing the Small Business Relief Fund and the Unemployed Resident Fund, it was clear that the North County Chamber, together with the PGA Corridor and the City Manager wanted to act fast to help those impacted by the current shutdown. The Public was NOT able to see these proposals in advance, but fast action seemed appropriate. And the proposal was the work output of the presenters.
A last-minute agenda item was added at the June, 2020 meeting – Resolution 45, 2020 – the creation of the Food Services Stabilization Fund under the City’s existing $1 million Economic Recovery Act. And once again the Public was NOT able to see the proposal in advance – and again – one could overlook the fact that speakers were lined up by the Mayor – PGA Corridor and North County Chamber – if anyone else had an issue with or support for the proposals – there would have been no opportunity for them to have any advance knowledge. But time was of the essence.
But in last week’s July, 2020 meeting – Mayor Woods ‘struck again’ – having City Attorney Lohman draw up in advance Resolution 49, 2020 to name City Hall the Ronald M Ferris Municipal Complex. This was NOT publicly noticed, not seen by the remainder of the Council prior to introduction, and once again Woods orchestrated developers and civic leaders to speak on behalf of his proposal. There was no need to rush, there was no need to leave the public out of the discussion, and no opportunity for anyone to object – had there been objections. Mayor Woods, during the same meeting, once again quoting ‘unheard’ support by the business community and public, introduced a proposal to move the City Council Meetings to 6pm. The motion was introduced, and passed with no Public input.
These actions are legal (see a long standing FL Atty General Advisory Legal Opinion written by then FL AG Charlie Crist. However there is a trend by our Mayor to flaunt the intent of Sunshine laws when in the same opinion it was written:
“The purpose of the notice requirement of the Sunshine Law is “to apprise the public of the pendency of matters that might affect their rights, afford them the opportunity to appear and present their views, and afford them a reasonable time to make an appearance if they wished.”[17] In the spirit of the Sunshine Law, the city commission should be sensitive to the community’s concerns that it be allowed advance notice and, therefore, meaningful participation on controversial issues coming before the commission.”
Perhaps Mayor Woods is unaware of such sensitivities – but especially in light of the current situation in which the Public may not be able to be present at the current Council Meetings and it may take longer to submit public comment in advance, springing un-noticed business on both the Council and Public is unwarranted and presents an unwelcome trend.
Please desist!