City commissioners have approved all but one of seven ordinances that collectively outline dozens of recommended changes. Aside from the minor changes recommended by the charter committee, commissioners suggested two other changes that would require a vote.

The first change deals with how the city’s utility board members are appointed; the second adds “In God We Trust” to the charter. A proposal to add the God reference to the city caused controversy last year, with no action taken on the issue.

Changes to the KUA charter

The seventh ordinance, yet to be approved for a first reading, involves changes to the Kissimmee Utility Authority’s charter, which – because the utility company used to be run by the city – is contained within the Kissimmee charter.

In actuality, the proposed ordinance amounts to only a few word changes. Commission approval of the ordinance was delayed, however, when Commissioner Art Otero at the end of the commission meeting Tuesday recommended changing how KUA board members were appointed.

Currently, the KUA board interviews applicants and recommends new members. Otero said he would prefer commissioners interview applicants themselves and make the appointment, bringing the process more in line with how Toho Water Authority board members are appointed.

“I feel that we are responsible to constituents,” Otero said. “We should be in control on who’s going to be on that board.”

Because the mayor had to leave and because commissioners said they needed more time to consider the proposal, the entire ordinance regarding changes to the KUA charter was continued until the May 4 meeting.

Before Tuesday’s commission meeting, staff had recommended four small changes to KUA’s charter. The first clarifies that KUA board members have five-year terms, the duration of which was implied in wording and has been the followed standard for the board. Two of the changes are single-word corrections, one clarifying that members are appointed, not elected, while the other fixes what amounts to a spelling error.

The final proposed change extends the maximum time required for a copy of the KUA board minutes to be given to the city commissioners, from seven days to 14.

In God We Trust

Commissioner Jerry Gemskie also recommended Tuesday adding “In God We Trust” as a city motto into the charter. Mayor Jim Swan seconded the motion, saying the people should be allowed to decide.

City Attorney Don Smallwood said he could find a place to add the motto into the charter. A new ordinance reflecting the suggested amendment will be drafted and advertised for a public hearing.

The rest of the charter changes

The other six ordinances that will make the many amendments to the city charter are in various stages of approval. The first, approved April 6 to be added to the Aug. 24 ballot eliminates the need for the boundaries of the city to be described in the charter. Changes to the charter otherwise would be too frequent, as city limits often change due to annexation, staff said.

The commission passed two more ordinances Tuesday, adding about a dozen more changes to the ballot, including the elimination of references to the defunct offices of municipal judge and city prosecutor, a clarification that the city would have to sell the entire municipal electricity system, not just part of it, and grammatical corrections.

Among more noteworthy changes: the residency requirements for commissioner would increase six months as a city resident to 12 months. In a different section, a quorum is defined as three commissioners, eliminating a loophole that currently allows two commissioners to vote in favor of an item should only three of the commission be present, and one commissioner abstain from the vote.

Two other charter-changing ordinances are scheduled for a final reading May 4. The first proposed ordinance allows the commission to waive a requirement for the city manager to live within the city and eliminates the implication that the manager must be male. It also deletes references to a city collector and tax assessor, both functions currently provided by county government.

The second proposed ordinance defines city election day as the day of the Florida primary elections, clarifies that Kissimmee elections are nonpartisan and updates financial regulations.

Finally, commissioners ap-proved Tuesday the advertisement for the sixth charter-changing ordinance. It would make minor corrections to ordinances governing city insurance and pension, building regulations and zoning, mostly bringing the regulations up-to-date. It also would add two sections to the charter, one that provides enforcement of the charter and another disallowing building permits for buildings that would be in violation of zoning ordinances.

All changes to the charter, even minor spelling corrections, must be approved by a majority vote of city residents. The various changes were grouped into the seven ordinances based on the order they appear in the charter.

How all the changes will be worded on the ballot in August is yet to be determined, the city attorney’s office reported.

For a complete list of proposed changes to the charter, click here.