Cogs in the Wheel
Section 9 (a) (2)
Referendum from the Lake Worth Charter
The qualified voters of the City shall have the power to require reconsideration by the city commission of any adopted ordinance and if the city commission fails to repeal an ordinance so reconsidered, to approve or reject it at a city election, provided that such power shall not extend to the budget or capital improvements program or any emergency ordinance or ordinance relating to the appropriation of money, levy of taxes or salaries of city officers or employees.
In this case, it is Ordinance 2012-30--building heights ballot issue.
Last night during discussion under Public Hearings on the building heights referendum and placing it on the March ballot (that is costing us $21,000 because this commission majority decided to limit our rights and "stick it to us" and not place it on the November ballot at no cost), Glen Torcivia, new city attorney stated that he had just received an e-mail from someone unidentified with the State Office of Economic Opportunity saying the Referendum by Respectful Planning Pac is prohibited by State Law. It was an incredible statement that further went on to say that the city should get an advisory opinion regarding building heights.
No one alive believes that someone just out of the sky blue at the last 98 seconds of the day, sent an email stating there was a legal issue to our ballot initiative citing Florida Statute 163.3167 that has to do with Comprehensive Plans.
A Comprehensive Plan is directed by politics. A Charter change is directed by the electorate. We were reminded last night by Ms. Sharpe that the Charter was changed by vote nearly 20 years ago to reflect heights in our City.
Right now I have been told that I can't get a copy of this "e-mail" under the Freedom of Information Act of the actual transmission from this unknown person in Tallahassee who is acting like some authority to our Charter process until the information clerk is back from a grievance leave, days unknown.
This group will do everything or anything to put a cog in the wheel.
