Sarasota commission to review charter changes

SARASOTA — City commissioners will decide this afternoon whether to turn over to the voters proposed changes to the city charter.

The Charter Review Committee worked for nine months to recommend changes. It completed that task April 12. If commissioners agree with those recommendations, the changes will be placed on the ballot for city residents to approve.

Those proposed changes include:

• Raising commissioners salaries by up to 100% of the amount allowed by state statute.

• Requiring at-large candidates to run for a particular at-large seat.

• Requiring a referendum to approve the public financing of sports facilities or other such large tourist attractions.

• Deleting the minimum-wage requirement that had discouraged Walmart from building a Newtown store.

Contact Robin Roy at [email protected].