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3. PRESENTATION ON CHARTER GOVERNMENT IN FLORIDA <br />KURT SPITZER, KURT SPITZER & ASSOCIATES, INC. <br />A. DRAFT OF HOME RULE CHARTER — FOR USE AS A DISCUSSION GUIDE <br />Kurt Spitzer presented an overview of the Draft Home Rule Charter. For the benefit of <br />those who were not in attendance at the first meeting on Charter he explained the meaning of <br />Home Rule. <br />Through a PowerPoint presentation Mr. Spitzer explained that prior to Home Rule, Cities <br />and Counties in Florida operated under a system known as Dillon's Rule, which states that a local <br />government has only those powers that are specifically granted by the State. Under Home Rule a <br />local government has all powers of self-government except those that are specifically prohibited or <br />pre-empted by the State. He compared Dillon's Rule with Home Rule and explained that Home <br />Rule replaced Dillon's Rule with the 1968 Florida Constitutional revisions, and non -charter <br />counties were granted all powers of self-government as provided by law. <br />Mr. Spitzer stated that under general provision it is important to remember that Charters <br />are only adopted, amended, or repealed by the voters of the county. He outlined the four (4) <br />primary areas that the Charter covers, namely: Legislative/Executive Branch, County <br />Constitutional Officers, City -County Relations, and Powers reserved to the people of the county. <br />He also compared charter and non -charter counties and cities under Home Rule. <br />Mr. Spitzer then reviewed the "Discussion Draft" of the Charter, explaining in detail all <br />revisions (additions and deletions) as recommended by the Board. <br />April 12, 2007 at 7:OOpm 2 <br />Joint Charter Workshop/City of Sebastian <br />