Correction: An earlier version of this article mischaracterized the purpose of the November 18 document reviewed by the Charter Review Committee. The document is a staff-generated summary of past actions taken by the previous Charter Review Committee and by the Commission prior to the last election. Its purpose is to brief the newly appointed Charter Review Committee as it begins its work this cycle. The committee has not yet finalized any recommendations and has not submitted proposals to the Commission. The Gazette regrets the error.
By Coral Gables Gazette staff
Coral Gables has entered a new phase of its charter review process as the recently appointed Charter Review Committee (CRC) begins evaluating a staff-produced document summarizing past actions taken by the previous committee and the City Commission. The summary, dated November 18, obtained by the Gazette, is intended to brief the new CRC as it starts work on potential amendments for future voter consideration.
The document compiles the outcomes of prior deliberations—what the earlier committee adopted, what the Commission accepted or declined during the last cycle, and which items remain unresolved. Its function is informational: to provide the new CRC with a clear starting point as it determines whether to adopt, revise, rescind, or build upon the work completed before the most recent election.
A new committee, beginning fresh
The charter review cycle resets with each new committee appointment, and the current CRC has the authority to revisit every aspect of the charter. Members may reaffirm earlier recommendations, modify them or advance entirely new proposals. The November 18 summary is therefore a baseline, not a blueprint, offering historical context rather than prescriptive guidance.
Over the coming months, the committee will study each article of the charter, take public input, consult with legal staff, and vote on draft language. Nothing in the November summary has been advanced to the Commission, and nothing in the document signals present-day preferences of the elected body.
What the summary contains
The document aggregates several categories of prior action:
• Items the previous CRC supported.
These include structural cleanups, technical corrections, updates aligned with state law, and procedural refinements adopted during last cycle’s review.
• Items the previous CRC considered but did not advance.
These reflect debates that occurred in public meetings but did not result in formal recommendations.
• Items the City Commission acted upon.
Following the last CRC cycle, the Commission accepted some recommendations, adjusted others, and declined several. The summary notes these dispositions to provide transparency to the new committee.
• Items left unresolved.
Some topics lacked consensus or were deferred for additional review. The summary captures these as open questions for the new CRC.
What the summary does not do
The document does not:
- Present a new Commission draft for charter changes.
- Indicate Commission preferences during the current cycle.
- Reflect the new CRC’s work or recommendations.
- Show divergence or alignment between the committee and Commission today.
The summary predates the new committee’s deliberations and serves solely as a historical reference tool.
Why this matters to residents
The City Charter shapes the structure of government in Coral Gables: how elections function, how powers are distributed, and how administrative systems are organized. Any change ultimately requires approval from voters through a referendum.
As the new CRC begins its work, residents will have opportunities to follow discussions, attend meetings, and submit public comment. The November 18 summary is expected to help the committee establish a coherent starting point so it may make informed, transparent decisions as it moves toward formal recommendations.
Once the CRC completes its deliberations, it will prepare a set of proposals for the City Commission. The Commission may adopt, revise, or decline those recommendations, and only approved amendments will move forward to the ballot.
What happens next
The Charter Review Committee will continue reviewing articles of the charter in upcoming public meetings, beginning with foundational administrative sections. Members will evaluate the relevance of past work captured in the summary and decide which items warrant further study.
After the committee finalizes its recommendations, the city attorney will draft formal ballot language for Commission review. The Commission will then determine which amendments, if any, advance to a future election for voter consideration.
As Coral Gables approaches its centennial era, this charter cycle offers an opportunity to reaffirm or refine the city’s long-term governance structure. The November 18 document is one tool in that process—but the work of shaping the city’s governing charter now rests entirely with the newly seated committee.
This Post Has 2 Comments
Unfortunately, you have misinterpreted the document to which you refer in this article. It is not a new set of recommendations to the Commission it is an old document that preceded the last election and was never finalized. “November 18th” is the date that the City Attorney prepared a review of the former Committee’s actions for the new committee’s review and further discussion. It would be appropriate for the Gazette to correct this mistake. Thank you, Don Slesnick, Chair, Coral Gables Charter Review Committee.
The key problem with the Charter Review Committee (“CRC”) is how long it is taking to complete its assigned task. The current CRC was created on September 13, 2023, via Ordinance 2023-267 and held its first meeting on December 18, 2023. The current CRC has held 11 meetings with meeting # 12 to be held this Thursday. Compare that to the 2015 CRC that was chaired by Mayor Valdes-Fauli. It was created on May 12, 2015, per Ordinance 2015-80 and completed its work on November 14, 2015, in 5 meetings held over 6 months. Chair Slesnick references “an old document that preceded the last election.” Does an election eliminate the work done by the CRC prior to such election? And is that a reason why the current CRC leadership is taking 4 times longer than the 2015 CRC to complete the same task – review and update the Charter? The current CRC held 2 townhall meetings and 1 joint Commission meeting and received over 20 comments and/or emails from residents or elected officials. If the CRC is starting over, it would be appropriate for the CRC Chair to acknowledge this unimaginable odyssey and apologize to those residents who took time to participate and provide comments that are now being reviewed and discussed by a new CRC. That did not happen in 2015 because that CRC leadership timely completed its task.