CITY CHARTER

APRIL, 1993
REVISED TO INCLUDE THE AMENDMENTS
ADOPTED ON JANUARY 19, 1991, 
ADOPTED ON APRIL 3, 1993,
REVISED ON November 2, 2004, AND
REVISED ON November 7, 2006

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE I. HOME RULE GOVERNMENT 1

Sec. 1. Incorporation. 1

Sec. 2. Annexation. 1

Sec. 3. Form of Government and Council. 1

Sec. 4. Initiative and Referendum. 1

ARTICLE II. CITY COUNCIL 5

Sec. 1. Membership and Term. 5

Sec. 2. Election Procedures. 5

Sec. 3. Runoff Elections. 6

Sec. 4. The Mayor Pro Tem. 7

Sec. 5. Disability of Mayor. 7

Sec. 6. Mayor's Veto Power and General Powers. 7

Sec. 7. Compensation. 8

Sec. 8. Judge of Elections. 8

Sec. 9. Restrictions Upon Council Members. 8

Sec. 10. Rules of the Council. 8

Sec. 11. Removal. 8

Sec. 12. Vacancy in Office of Mayor. 10

Sec. 13. Vacancies in Office of Council Member. 10

Sec. 14. Meetings of the Council. 10

Sec. 15. Contract Before Election. 12

Sec. 16. Interference. 12

Sec. 17. Investigation. 12

Sec. 18. Council Responsibility. 13

Sec. 19. Power of Recall. 13

Sec. 20. Filing, Examination and Certification of Petition. 14

Sec. 21. Recall Election. 14

Sec. 22. Recall Ballot. 14

Sec. 23. Results of Recall Election. 14

Sec. 24. Limitation on Recall. 14

Sec. 25. City Secretary. 15

Sec. 26. Municipal Court. 15

Sec. 27. Independent Audit. 15

Sec. 28. Internal Audit. 15

ARTICLE III. CITY MANAGER 16

Sec. 1. Appointment; Qualifications; Term; Removal;

Compensation. 16

Sec. 2. Powers and Duties. 16

ARTICLE IV. ADMINISTRATION 18

Sec. 1. Creation of Departments. 18

Sec. 2. Fiscal Year; Budget Submission, Contents, and

Adoption; Appropriation. 18

Sec. 3. Interdepartmental Transfer of Funds. 18

Sec. 4. Revenue in Excess of Total Estimated Income. 19

Sec. 5. Money Drawn from City Treasury. 19

Sec. 6. Accounts Maintained. 19

Sec. 7. Funds in Treasury. 19

Sec. 8. Money Deamed in Treasury. 19

Sec. 9. Obligation Contrary to Preceding Sections Void. 20

Sec. 10. Legal Department. 20

Sec. 11. Special Police. 21

ARTICLE V. PLANNING 22

Sec. 1. Purpose and Intent. 22

Sec. 2. Organization of Planning Commission. 22

Sec. 3. Powers and Duties of Planning Commission. 22

Sec. 4. The Comprehensive Plan. 23

Sec. 5. Legal Effect of Comprehensive Plan. 24

Sec. 6. Platting Property. 24

ARTICLE VI. BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. 25

Sec. 1. General. 25

Sec. 2. Appeals to City Council. 25

ARTICLE VII. EMPLOYMENT REGULATIONS 26

Sec. 1. Classified Service. 26

Sec. 2. Civil Service Board. 26

Sec. 3. Non-Discrimination. 26

Sec. 4. Participation in Political Activity. 26

Sec. 5. Officers and Employees, Candidacies. 27

Sec. 6. Removal. 27

ARTICLE VIII. TAXATION AND BONDS 28

Sec. 1. Taxation. 28

Sec. 2. Authority to Issue Bonds. 28

ARTICLE IX. PUBLIC UTILITIES, FRANCHISES AND LEASES 30

Sec. 1. Inalienability of Public Property. 30

Sec. 2. Power to Grant Franchise or Lease. 30

Sec. 3. Ordinance Granting Franchise or Lease. 31

Sec. 4. Transfer of Franchise or Lease. 31

Sec. 5. Regulation of Franchises and Public Utilities. 31

Sec. 6. Regulation of Leases. 33

Sec. 7. Effect on Existing Contracts. 33

Sec. 8. Leases of Land or Interests in Land for Oil,

Gas or Minerals. 33

Sec. 9. Power of Eminent Domain. 34

Sec. 10. Public Utilities. 34

Sec. 11. Water Supply Contracts for Sale of Untreated

Water. 34

ARTICLE X. GENERAL POWERS AND PROVISIONS 35

Sec. 1. General Powers. 35

Sec. 2. Contracts. 37

Sec. 3. Action by Citizens. 38

Sec. 4. Certain Restrictions of Vehicular Access to the Gulf Beach 39

Sec. 5. Existing Ordinances. 39

Sec. 6. Printed Ordinances as Evidence. 39

Sec. 7. City Not Required to Give Bond. 39

Sec. 8. Public Property Exempt from Execution Sale. 39

Sec. 9. City Inhabitants, Freeholders or Taxpayers

not Disqualified. 40

Sec. 10. Notice of Personal Injuries Required. 40

Sec. 11. Assessment and Improvement Districts. 40

Sec. 12. Council Action Validated. 41

Sec. 13. Construction of Charter. 41

Sec. 14. Judicial Notice. 41

Sec. 15. Separability Clause. 41

Sec. 16. Rearrangement and Renumbering. 41