Panama City Charter Review Process Reaches Major Milestone

Panama City's Charter Review Advisory Board has completed its comprehensive review and revision of the City Charter as of June 2026, marking a significant milestone in the effort to modernize the City's governing document. While the existing charter has remained compliant with state and federal laws, City leaders recognized that it no longer fully reflected Panama City's modern operations, growth, and long-term needs.

Panama City's Charter Review Advisory Board has completed its comprehensive review and revision of the City Charter as of June 2026, marking a significant milestone in the effort to modernize the City's governing document. While the existing charter has remained compliant with state and federal laws, City leaders recognized that it no longer fully reflected Panama City's modern operations, growth, and long-term needs. The Charter Review Advisory Board, appointed by the City Commission in 2025, consisted of five members: Brandon Burg (Chairman), Ron Danzey, Cecile Scoon, Brandon Henderson-Hansenius, and JP Ferreira. Over the course of numerous public meetings, the board conducted an in-depth review of the charter, which had not been fully revised since 1963. The board examined the City's governmental structure, including the roles and relationships of the mayor, city commissioners, city manager, and other key offices, with the goal of creating a charter that better aligns with Panama City's present-day operations and future vision. Throughout the review process, residents were encouraged to participate by attending meetings, submitting comments, and sharing suggestions. Public input played an important role in shaping the board's discussions and recommendations. Board Completes Mission Following months of research, deliberation, and public engagement, the Charter Review Advisory Board has fulfilled its responsibilities under Resolution 202550708.1 and finalized its recommended revisions to the City Charter. In addition to updating outdated language and organizational provisions, the board carefully evaluated which matters should remain within the charter and which are more appropriately addressed through City ordinances and policy decisions. As part of its work, the board reviewed municipal charters from across Florida while considering Panama City's unique history, governance structure, and community needs. The result is a proposed charter designed to provide a clear and effective framework for local government in the years ahead. Next Steps The Panama City Commission voted unanimously to place the proposed Charter amendments on the ballot following its review of the Charter Review Advisory Board's recommendations. The next step in the Charter review process is for Panama City voters to consider these proposed amendments at the upcoming General Election The proposed amendments fall into three primary categories: Government Structure and Elections: Modernizing the City's governance by extending the Mayor's term from two years to four years, clarifying qualifications for elected officials, aligning municipal elections with state and federal election cycles, updating the election process for competitive races, and renaming the City Clerk-Collector position to City Comptroller. Administration and Operations: Improving the efficiency and accountability of City government by updating the responsibilities of Charter officers, authorizing the City Manager to appoint a lead administrator for police and fire services, establishing provisions for acting Charter officers, extending the timeframe for filling Commission vacancies, and refining procedural requirements. Charter Modernization and Compliance: Updating the Charter to remove obsolete provisions that have been superseded by state or federal law, ensuring compliance with current anti-discrimination laws, improving clarity through non-substantive language revisions, and requiring a comprehensive Charter review every 10 years to keep the document current. By casting their ballots, residents will determine whether these updates become part of the City's governing document and help shape the future of Panama City's government. The 2026 General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. For voting information, please visit the Bay County Supervisor of Elections website.