WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. — A bill filed in the Florida House by a local representative has raised concerns among residents and city leaders in Winter Springs.
What You Need To Know
House Bill 4083 was filed by Rep. Rachel Plakon, representing part of Seminole County
The bill raised concerns among residents and city leaders about the structure of local government
If passed by voters, HB 4083 would give the mayor the power to vote and remove a commission member
Plakon said in a statement that the bill is “no longer needed” after it was temporarily postponed in a subcommittee session this week
House Bill 4083 was filed by state representative Rachel Plakon, representing District 36, last month.
According to the text of the bill, if passed by voters in the upcoming November election, the city commission would be reduced from six members to five — removing a commission member and giving the mayor the power to vote.
If the mayor were to become a voting member, he or she would no longer have veto power.
Ken Spalthoff, a longtime resident who ran for mayor in 2018, brought the bill to many people’s attention on social media.
“There’s dozens of posts from the residents to elected officials on this, which I think helped spark people’s interest in it as to what it actually is and what it actually means,” Spalthoff said.
Spalthoff took issue with the state trying to force change for Winter Springs.
“There’s nothing wrong with the system we’ve had in place for over 40 years,” he said. “It works.”
But the state may no longer be forcing the issue. During a Wednesday state House subcommittee meeting, the bill was “temporarily postponed.”
Spectrum News received this statement from Rep. Plakon regarding HB 4083:
“This bill accomplished its purpose, so it is no longer needed. After 16 years without a charter review, the city is finally taking action. My priority has always been accountability and giving residents a meaningful say in their government structure. Now that the city has committed to reviewing its charter, I’m stepping back to allow that process to work.”
It’s a relief to residents like Spalthoff and city leaders like Mayor Kevin McCann.
“This is not something that has come up. I have a great deal to benefit from this, but the wording of that ballot initiative was terrifying,” McCann said.
The mayor said residents make up the charter review committee, not elected officials.
“Our residents will make a decision, and they will bring those recommendations to the city commission, and we will deal with them at that time,” he said.
The structure change is a decision ultimately decided by Winter Springs residents.
“If the residents have support, we will put it on the ballot, let the residents vote on it,” McCann said.