NSB Residents Invited To Learn More About Proposed City Charter Revision

New Smyrna Beach, FL – New Smyrna Beach residents have an additional item on their ballot that involves revisions to the City Charter. To help citizens understand what the revision means, the city is inviting them to a voter information event on Thursday, Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. in the Brannon Center at 105 S. Riverside Dr. The city created a 37-minute-long video summarizing the committee’s recommendations.  The video will premiere in an offline setting and members of the Charter Review Committee will field questions on the historic referendum. Watch the video now on the city’s YouTube channel. Here is the 75-word ballot question created by the City Commission with recommendations from the Charter Review Committee: Shall the City of New Smyrna Beach adopt a revised Charter incorporating a preamble, reorganizing existing language, removing obsolete language, revising election procedures, revising qualifications and duties of members of the City Commission and Charter officers, adopting provisions related to sustainability, including limitations on the transfer of ownership or lease of certain lands, establishing requirements for financial management, providing for citizen participation, including an initiative and referendum process, and requiring regular reviews of the Charter? Some proposed changes include: making language gender-neutral doubling the residency requirement to run for office from 6 to 12 months requiring the mayor to deliver an annual State of the City address strengthening city standards on sea-level rise and flooding preserving the scale and character of city neighborhoods preventing the sale or lease of certain lands without a unanimous 5-0 vote and much more. “With so much on the 2020 general election ballot from the federal level on down, we strongly encourage voters to set aside a dedicated block of time to study and really understand what they’re voting on,” said Public Information Officer Phillip Veski, the city’s spokesperson. “Here at City Hall, it’s our goal to make this easy for residents through our explainer video and, for those who are eager to ask questions in-person or with limited internet access, at live events like this.”