TEMPLE TERRACE - The four candidates for Temple Terrace City Council are split two-to-two on proposed city charter Amendment No. 1, to change local government from five voting council members and a non-voting mayor to four voting council members and a voting mayor.
They voiced their positions in a candidates' forum Oct. 11 and in answers to a questionnaire sent by the citizens' group Re-Imagine Temple Terrace. The three candidates with the most votes will win the spots in the Nov. 6 election and will be sworn into office Nov. 20.
"I'm a soft yes on No. 1,'' said candidate Gil Schisler, who served on the charter review committee. He said on the questionnaire that while it would reduce the number of elected officials, it would not change the number officials affecting council business. It would still be five votes.
Don Statz is also in favor of the measure. He said the suggested change came about after consultation with past mayors, and "how they would really like to take the time and effort they spend on the outside and bring them to council and be able to vote on the various items.''
Candidate James Chambers, who also served on the charter review committee, said he opposed changing the council makeup and voting powers but was overruled by his fellow committee members.
"I think we have a need for a separation of the mayor doing different functions of a City Council member that votes,'' Chambers said.
Incumbent Cheri Donohue, running for re-election, said she opposes the proposed change. Donohue said the city is better represented by six people on the dais than five. She also opposes city Amendment No. 2, which would allow an individual to serve eight years on the council and then serve eight as mayor and repeat the cycle indefinitely.
All candidates favored passing Amendment No. 3, which would allow the council to correct typos and grammatical errors, update gender references and make other minor fixes to the city charter without putting them to a vote by the citizens.
Candidates answered a series of questions submitted by people in the audience at the Omar K. Lightfoot Recreation Center. Issues included the need to get work started on the downtown redevelopment area; the turnover rate in the police department; the city's reputation for working with contractors and other businesses needing permits.
City officials have been frustrated with the pace of progress after choosing Paragon Property Group to build a bank and retail stores and Richman Group to build apartments on the large swath of land south of Bullard Parkway and east of 56th Street.
"It's like everybody is on the edge of the pool, waiting for someone to jump in,'' Schisler said. He suggested that the City Council receive updates on the progress at each meeting.
Statz said it's his understanding that Paragon will start work at the site within the next 30 to 60 days.
"I'm a firm believer that activity stirs activity," Statz said.-"We have to do something. We have to do it soon. But we have to be responsible. We have to make sure what we put in there is going to be good for citizens."
Donohue said it's up to everybody to encourage business owners to check out Temple Terrace. As for downtown redevelopment, she said the city can't-"hang our hat on retail. Retail has changed.''
"I would would love to see the tall building full of workers.'' she said, noting that it would bring in more tax revenue than other projects.
Chambers said the council has to consider projects submitted and move forward on those that will provide a good return on tax revenue.
The candidates noted that Temple Terrace is behind other cities of similar size in what it provides its police officers in pay and benefits. The city is currently down 12 officers of a force of 52.
The key to solving that problem is moving steadily forward on the downtown redevelopment area, Chambers said, noting the city will be reaping a lot more tax money.
Statz said the city needs to find better insurance at better rates. He and Schisler pointed out that the city lags behind others of similar size in how long it takes a police officer to reach top salary - and needs to correct that.
In Temple Terrace, it takes 16 years for an officer to reach the top, Schisler said. "The other agencies, it's like nine or 10.''
Donohue said the City Council lowered the property tax rate in response to an increase in revenue this year from rising property values, when it should be using the extra money to catch up to other municipalities in employee pay.
"We cannot cut the budget when we need to help the employees,'' she said.
Contact Philip Morgan at pmorgan@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3435.