A point of discussion was the need to introduce a local ordinance to preserve the city’s historic districts. The committee highlighted that while some districts, like the Greektown Historic District, are recognized nationally, they lack local ordinance protection, making them vulnerable to changes that could compromise their cultural and architectural integrity. One member emphasized that such an ordinance would provide the necessary enforcement mechanisms to preserve the unique character of these areas. The committee reached a consensus on requesting the city commission to adopt a local ordinance to provide this protection.

The conversation also touched upon the absence of specific guidelines for the Greektown Historic District, which is recognized as a national district but not locally designated. This led to a discussion about the distinction between local and national historic districts and the importance of establishing local guidelines to safeguard these areas. The committee acknowledged that some national guidelines have been adopted as city guidelines in the past but stressed the need for a dedicated local ordinance to ensure comprehensive protection.

Another topic was the language and terminology used in the city charter concerning the qualifying period for city commissioner candidates. The committee engaged in a dialouge about the need for clarity in the charter’s language, particularly the phrase “prior to the qualifying period,” which some members found confusing. It was suggested that this phrase be removed and replaced with a clear statement that the qualifying time for the office of the city commissioner would be set at 30 days. This change aims to ensure transparency and avoid misunderstandings about the public notification process for upcoming elections.

In addition to these discussions, the committee reviewed the provisions related to the roles of the city manager and the commission within the city charter. There was a debate about the redundancy of certain sentences in section 13 and whether to include explicit references to the city manager to reinforce the structure of authority and responsibility within the commission. The committee also addressed grammatical changes and other minor edits throughout the charter, emphasizing the importance of balancing speed and quality in the revision process.

The topic of sidewalk improvements was also addressed, with the committee deliberating on the annual funding allocations from the general fund and the sidewalk improvement fund. There was confusion about whether the city should allow for a withdrawal of $300,000 from the sidewalk improvement fund while also requiring a matching appropriation from the general fund. The proposal discussed was to ensure the city would allocate a minimum of $100,000 per year from the general fund for sidewalk improvements while allowing up to $300,000 to be withdrawn annually from the sidewalk improvement fund until it is depleted. The committee reached a consensus on revising the timeline for the city to adopt a sidewalk improvement plan, moving the deadline from 2029 to 2027 to ensure thorough planning and implementation.

The committee also discussed the need to clarify the lease terms for the city-owned hospital property, which is leased to the Tarpon Springs Hospital Foundation. It was emphasized that the lease should clearly state city ownership to avoid any ambiguity and ensure community awareness and accountability. Concerns were raised about the hospital’s emergency services and the foundation’s establishment of additional emergency rooms in surrounding areas, prompting questions about how these services relate to the primary hospital’s operations.

Towards the end of the meeting, the committee prepared to finalize their recommendations for submission to the city attorney. They noted that the city would have 30 days to review the recommendations and provide feedback, after which the committee would need to reconvene to consider any comments or changes proposed by the city.