On February 8, 2000 a primary election will be held in which all candidates from all six districts and the Mayoral Candidates from at large will run. In addition ballot questions will be asked. Here is a brief description and the ballot questions.

PERPETUAL GOLF COURSE USE OF CITY-OWNED LAND CURRENTLY USED AS GOLF COURSES:

This proposal would restrict to perpetual golf course use the land currently used as golf courses at Orangebrook Golf and Country Club, Hollywood Beach Golf and Country Club, and Eco Grande Golf Course; provided that the restrictions would not apply to any encroachment on Eco Grande Golf Course by the adjoining wastewater treatment plant, and provided further that the restrictions could be terminated only by a majority of voters in a subsequent referendum election.

This amendment would require the Hollywood City Commission to meet regularly at least twice in each of eleven (11) months of the calendar year. Currently, the Commission is required to meet regularly at least twice in each month.

Should the City Charter be amended to require the City Commission to meet regularly at least twice in each of eleven months of the calendar year?

This amendment would change the number of registered voters who must sign an initiative or referendum petition from 30% citywide to 15% in each of 4 districts and 15% citywide. An initiative petition requires the City Commission either to adopt an ordinance or to submit it to a vote of the electors. A referendum petition requires the Commission either to repeal or amend a measure or to submit it to a vote of the electors.

This amendment would require one (1) appraisal for the sale of city property which is estimated to have a value between $25,000.00 and $150,000.00. It would decrease from three (3) to one (1) the number of appraisals required for the sale of city property estimated to have a value between $100,000.00 and $150,000.00.

This amendment would require an election if a vacancy in the office of mayor occurs when more than 180 days of the former mayor's term remains. It would also require an election if a vacancy in the office of city commissioner occurs when more than one year of the former city commissioner's term remains. Currently, in all situations, the remaining commission members fill the vacancy within ten days, or, failing that, an election is called.

This amendment would require each mayoral candidate to have been a duly qualified elector of the city for at least six months prior to qualifying for such office. It would require each candidate for city commissioner to have been domiciled within the district from which he/she is elected at least six months prior to qualifying for such office. Currently, the residency requirements for such candidates apply only at the time of qualifying for office.

This amendment would clarify that the mayor shall be recognized by the governor as the official head of the city for the purpose of emergency management. It would also clarify that, in the event of a vacancy in the office of mayor, the vice-mayor shall serve as mayor only until such vacancy is filled as provided elsewhere in the Charter

This amendment provides for a 5-day supplemental qualifying period for candidates for city commission if a candidate for city commission is removed for any reason more than 26 days prior to the primary election and such removal results in only one candidate remaining on the ballot for that office. State law requires that the city, by ordinance or charter provision, provide procedures for filling such a vacancy in candidacy.

The current charter requires a four-fifths vote of the city commission to appoint a member to the civil service board, dispose of city property, or lease city property for ten years or longer. In March 2000, the city commission will expand to seven members. This amendment would require a five-sevenths vote to appoint a member to the civil service board, dispose of city property, or lease city property for ten years or longer.

This amendment would clarify that the charter requirements for the sale or lease of city property apply only to real property.

This amendment would require approval by ordinance of any purchase by the city of real property in an amount in excess of $250,000. Currently, such a purchase requires city commission approval but not necessarily by ordinance.

This amendment would amend the city charter by deleting obsolete provisions, correct grammatical errors, and remove gender-specific references.

STRAW BALLOT - CAFE ZONE ALONG THE BROADWALK:

This ballot asks whether Hollywood voters generally support the creation of a café zone along the publicly-owned Broadwalk. The City currently has an ordinance which permits and regulates sidewalk cafés in certain areas of the City. While sidewalk cafes have been permitted along the Broadwalk, they have been permitted on a temporary basis. The City Commission wants to find out whether the voters support sidewalk cafes along the Broadwalk.