Fort Lauderdale voters will find 10 questions on their November 3 ballot asking whether to rewrite pieces of the city's charter, the foundational document that spells out how the city makes decisions, assigns responsibilities and delivers services. The City Commission has already approved changes to 21 sections of that charter, but nothing takes effect unless residents themselves vote yes at the polls.
Two of the most consequential questions would restructure who oversees the police and fire departments. Mayor Dean Trantalis pushed for elevating both the police chief and fire chief to charter officer status, reporting directly to the City Commission instead of the city manager, according to a statement from the City of Fort Lauderdale. Charter Amendment No. 9 would create the charter police chief position under Section 4.15, while Amendment No. 10 does the same for the fire chief under Section 4.16.
What Happens to the Current Police Chief
If Amendment 9 passes, sitting Police Chief William Schultz would automatically become the official charter police chief without any job search being triggered, as reported by Florida Politics. The measure would also require that whoever holds the job live within Fort Lauderdale city limits for the duration of their employment. Supporters have framed the change as giving elected officials, rather than an administrator, direct oversight of public safety leadership decisions.
The commission reviewed a total of 25 proposed charter amendments on April 7, 2026, and later added the two charter-officer position items to the package on June 19, 2026. Those 25 recommendations originated with a citizen Charter Review Board, whose ideas were then reviewed and reshaped by the commission before landing on the final 10-question slate, the city's statement notes.
Park Land Gets a Higher Bar for Long-Term Deals
Proposed Charter Amendment 8, covering Section 8.21, would require a unanimous vote of the entire City Commission before the city could sell, transfer, lease, license or otherwise commit parks-zoned land to a use agreement lasting more than a year. The same unanimous threshold would apply to any effort to strip land of its parks zoning designation. The measure was crafted in direct response to public backlash over past long-term concessions, including a 50-year lease for a pickleball stadium at Snyder Park and a 50-year rent-free lease for Inter Miami's Chase Stadium, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
A separate measure, Amendment 7, covers non-park municipal property. Under Section 8.02, any sale or lease of city property to another government agency or public body for a public purpose would need a resolution approved by at least four of the city's five commissioners. Section 8.09 would set up tiered approval requirements for leases, licenses, concessions and use agreements exceeding one year, while Section 8.07's provisions would be folded into the revised Section 8.02. Section 8.01 would also simplify how the city sells personal property such as vehicles, furniture and equipment, doing so under ordinance. Section 8.04 continues to require a resolution finding that any sale, exchange or conveyance of real property serves the city's best interest.
Longer Residency, Court Fights Over Candidate Eligibility
Charter Amendment No. 1, which touches Sections 3.03, 3.05, 3.09, 3.10 and 4.04, would double the continuous residency requirement for municipal candidates from six months to 12 months prior to qualifying, per the Broward County Supervisor of Elections. Section 3.03 would also update candidate qualification rules around city elector status, redistricting provisions and residency documentation. Section 3.05 would set the timing for designating a vice mayor at the first commission meeting after newly elected commissioners take office, and annually after that. Section 3.09 would update when the oath of office is administered, tying it to the first regular commission meeting following certification of results by the Broward County canvassing board. Section 3.10 would be deleted outright, with its subject matter folded into Section 3.09, and Section 4.04 would simply drop the hyphen from “vice mayor.”
Amendments 2 and 3 both touch Section 3.04, which would add a clerk to conduct ministerial review of candidate documentation while stripping the City Commission of its former role as canvasser. The commission would also lose its ability to receive affidavits alleging candidate charter violations or disqualification. Under Amendment 3 specifically, disputes over candidate eligibility would no longer be adjudicated by the commission at all — challengers would instead have to file a formal lawsuit in court, according to Florida Politics, removing what had been a potential conflict of interest for sitting commissioners during campaign season.
Meeting Notice Rules and a Newspaper Requirement Goes Away
Charter Amendment No. 4 covers Section 3.12, establishing a formal baseline of 72 hours' advance notice for special commission meetings while allowing emergency meetings to proceed with as much advance notice as practicable under the circumstances, per Spotlight FTL.
Amendment 6 spans Sections 4.06, 4.08, 6.02, 7.16 and 10.03. Section 10.03 would repeal the old requirement that public hearing notices be published in two physical newspapers, a change Florida Politics notes reflects a broader statewide move away from print-notice mandates and would help the city cut advertising costs. Section 7.16 would delete outdated language referencing a primary election, while Sections 4.06, 4.08 and 6.02 clean up terminology — distinguishing an interim city manager, appointed during a resignation or termination, from an acting city manager, appointed during a temporary absence, and updating other references accordingly.
Amendment 5 covers Section 6.04, updating the civil service board's appointment and election process while removing the board's former role in reviewing job class specifications.
Where to Weigh In Before Election Day
Residents looking to follow the debate in person will need to adjust their routine: starting August 18, 2026, all City Commission regular and conference meetings were temporarily relocated to the community room at Fort Lauderdale Police Department Headquarters while civic facilities undergo transitions, according to a video posted by the City of Fort Lauderdale. Every one of the 10 charter questions requires voter approval to take effect, and Fort Lauderdale's charter election is set for November 3, 2026.
