COUNCIL MEETING - The City of Satellite Beach

COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 13, 2012
Pursuant to Public Notice, Mayor Ferrante convened the special meeting of the City Council on
Thursday, September 13, 2012, at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers. Those present were
Mayor Joseph Ferrante, Vice-Mayor Scott Rhodes, Council Member Gregg Billman, Council
Member Sheryl Denan Council Member Lloyd French, Interim City Manager Ayn Samuelson,
and City Clerk Leonor Olexa. City Attorney James Beadle was unable to attend the meeting.
Council Member Lloyd French led a moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance.
DISCUSS STATUS OF THE BEACHCASTER (TIME: 5:31 P.M.)
Interim City Manager Samuelson provided a detailed summary of the final draft:
Beachcaster contents:
Upcoming Elections Information from the Supervisor of Elections
Mayoral and Council Candidates
Political Forums
Council Comments
Community Redevelopment Agency and Board
Departmental (Police, Fire. City Hall, Recreation, Public Works, and Building and Zoning)
Ocean Reef and Beach Festival
Founders Day and Market Place
Concerns related to Florida Statute:
Political Candidate inserts/articles (F.S. 106.113)
Prohibited expressed advocacy; phrases referred to as magic words (e.g., vote for, elect,
support, cast your ballot for, vote against, defeat, oppose and reject)
Council had the following discussion:
Mayoral and candidate inserts
Legal issues with candidates having Council comments and election inserts. [Interim City
Manager Samuelson stated that according to Attorney Beadle this does not pose any legal
issues as they are two separate entities.]
Incumbents [Franking privileges; free mail.]
Is there a potential for a lawsuit? [Mayor Ferrante and Interim City Manager Samuelson stated
as per City Attorney Beadle this is unfounded.]
Advertisements
Mayor Ferrante asked for public comments; the following individuals addressed Council:
‣ John Fergus, resident, stated the Beachcaster has never had more than one Council column.
‣ Dee Anderson, resident, addressed unfair political advantage for incumbents because of
additional candidate column inserts.
‣ Steve Headley, resident, concerned about the current legal opinion provided by Attorney
Beadle.
Council had the following comments:
There has never been a large lapse of the Beachcaster publishing until recently.

COUNCIL MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 PAGE 2
The City previously tried to revive the Beachcaster with volunteers assisting.
Current Council Members have not had the opportunity to voice their comments in the
publication.
Candidates should also have their articles in the Beachcaster, just as in previous election
years.
ACTION: Council Member Denan MOVED, SECOND Council Member Billman to approve the
Beachcaster with all Candidates and all Council members’ articles.
Council Member French felt it was best to abstain/recuse from voting as he felt he would stand
to benefit by having his Council and candidate article in the Beachcaster.
Council debated on the need for recusing themselves from voting.
Vice-Mayor Rhodes recused himself from the vote due to being a candidate and a Council
Member.
VOTE: THREE AYES (Billman, Denan, and Ferrante); TWO ABSTAINED (French and
Rhodes). MOTION CARRIED.
Mayor Ferrante adjourned the meeting at 5:53 p.m.
Leonor Olexa, CMC
City Clerk
The public can listen to the audio portion of the meeting at:
http://www.satellitebeachfl.org/Pages/TransparentSatelliteBeach.aspx
or can be viewed online at: http://www.youtube.com/user/CityofSatelliteBeach