NEWS

Ziffer seeks end of $25 rebate

Sean Rossman
Democrat staff writer

Two months after it started, City Commissioner Gil Ziffer wants to put the kibosh on the city's $25 campaign rebate program.

Ziffer asked his fellow commissioners at Wednesday night's commission meeting to support putting a referendum on the November ballot asking voters to rescind the program. City Attorney Lewis Shelley will bring the commission more information on the option.

The rebate was approved by voters in a 2014 charter amendment that also established the city's ethics board and office. The program gives contributors to city campaigns the option of receiving up to $25 of their contribution back through a rebate that is paid out of city coffers. It was designed to include more people in the political process and to counter the influence of well-funded special interests.

City candidates have complained the program puts a burden on campaigns, which must dole out receipts for the program.

Ziffer emphasized that he was and still is in support of the ethics office and board and only wishes to do away with the rebate program. Based on conversations with city staff, Ziffer said few people are taking advantage of the rebate.

"I have issues with it. I don't think it's doing anything," Ziffer said. "It has nothing to do with ethics and it has not proven to be the tremendous fix that some people saw."

A majority vote of the commission would be needed to put the referendum on the ballot, Shelley said.

The commission took up a number of other issues on Wednesday:

— Commissioners approved $50,000 for a State Historic Preservation matching grant for restoration of the historic Water Works building on the edge of Cascades Park. The commission also directed city staff to ask the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) for an additional $250,000 in matching grant funds. The renovations would be done in accordance with the Knight Creative Communities Institute's plan for the building, which includes a"flexible, multi-use space that can accommodate a plethora of activities and events" such as retail, cultural programming, exhibits, food and drink and tourist information among others.

— The commission granted a $134,000 loan to the Bethel Community Development Corporation to build a single-family home in south Tallahassee that will be sold to a low-income home buyer.

— The commission did not take up a $325,000 settlement for the family of 18-year-old Duane Strong, who was killed by Tallahassee Police officers in a 2014 incident outside a west Tallahassee nightclub. Shelley deleted the item from the agenda, saying he needed more time. The settlement will be considered at the commission's next meeting.

— The commission OK'd an agreement that would allow the CRA to demolish the former site of The Shelter and the Frenchtown Renaissance Community Center on West Tennessee Street. The CRA wants to redevelop the 1.5-acre parcel.

— The commission approved penalties for the city's Ethics Board to impose when state and local ethics codes are violated. The penalties range from an oral reprimand, to community service and a fine up to $1,000.

City Commissioner Gil Ziffer wants the Tallahassee Police Department to present its plan of action if an incident similar to the shooting in Orlando occurred in Tallahassee.

— Commissioners voted to eliminate what is called the stray period, a 6-day span an unidentified cat or kitten must be held at the Tallahassee-Leon County Animal Service Center before it is able to be adopted.

Contact Sean Rossman atsrossman@tallahassee.com or follow@SeanRossman on Twitter.