12-30-2025 VC SP-A with attachment
VILLAGE OF NORTH PALM BEACH
SPECIAL SESSION AGENDA
VILLAGE HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2025
501 U.S. HIGHWAY 1 4:00 PM
Deborah Searcy Lisa Interlandi Kristin Garrison Susan Bickel Orlando Puyol
Mayor Vice Mayor President Pro Tem Councilmember Councilmember
Chuck Huff Leonard G. Rubin Jessica Green
Village Manager Village Attorney Village Clerk
INSTRUCTIONS FOR “WATCH LIVE” MEETING
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ROLL CALL
COUNCIL BUSINESS MATTERS
1. RESOLUTION – Declaring a vacancy on the Village Council, announcing the date of the Special
Election, establishing the qualifying period, and requesting that the Supervisor of Elections conduct
the election.
ADJOURNMENT
If a person decides to appeal any decision by the Village Council with respect to any matter considered at the Village Council meeting,
he will need a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose he may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made,
which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based (F.S. 286.0105).
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person who may require special accommodation to participate in this meeting
should contact the Village Clerk’s office at 841-3355 at least 72 hours prior to the meeting date.
This agenda represents the tentative agenda for the scheduled meeting of the Village Council. Due to the nature of governmental duties
and responsibilities, the Village Council reserves the right to make additions to, or deletions from, the items contained in this agenda.
VILLAGE OF NORTH PALM BEACH
VILLAGE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
TO: Honorable Mayor and Council
THRU: Chuck Huff, Village Manager
FROM: Leonard G. Rubin, Village Attorney
DATE: December 30, 2025
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION – Declaring a vacancy on the Village Council, announcing the date of the
Special Election, establishing the qualifying period, and requesting that the Supervisor
of Elections conduct the election.
Due to the resignation of Kristin Garrison, a vacancy exists on the Village Council. Pursuant to Article
III, Section 5(a) of the Village Charter, the remaining Councilmembers must formally declare the vacancy.
Additionally, because more than six months remain in the unexpired term and no regular Village election
is scheduled within six months, Article III, Section 5(c) of the Charter requires the Village Council to
schedule a Special Election not sooner than 60 days nor more than 90 days following the occurren ce of
the vacancy to fill the seat for the remainder of the unexpired term (through March 2027).
Staff has been in communication with the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections (SOE), and the
SOE has informed the Village that it can conduct the Special Election on March 24, 2026, concurrently
with the general election to fill the vacancy for the District 87 Florida State House seat (formerly held by
Mike Caruso). The entire Village is located within the geographic boundaries of District 87. While Section
10-5 of the Village Code prescribes the qualifying period for a Special Election (during the ten days ending
three weeks before the Special Election), the SOE has informed the Village that it will need the names of
the candidates by January 15, 2026. Therefore, in order to meet the overall intent of the Village Code,
staff is recommending a qualifying period beginning on January 5th and ending on January 15th.
The attached Resolution:
Declares the vacancy on the Village Council;
Establishes March 24, 2026 as the date for the Special Election (with a run-off election, if
necessary, on April 7, 2026);
Establishes the qualifying period (January 5th through January 15th);
Requests that the SOE conduct the election; certify the accuracy of the tabulation equipment; and
handle, canvass, and certify all ballots, including absentee ballots; and
Designates the County Canvassing Board as the Village’s Canvassing Board.
The attached Resolution has been prepared by this office and reviewed for legal sufficiency.
The Village had included $50,000 in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget to cover the costs of the Village’s
general municipal election, if necessary. Those funds will be utilized for the Special Election, which is
estimated to cost less than the budgeted amount because it is being held in conjunction with the general
election for the vacant seat in the Florida House of Representatives.
Recommendation:
Village Staff requests Council consideration and approval of the attached Resolution declaring a
vacancy on the Village Council, announcing the date of the Special Election to fill the vacancy,
establishing the qualifying period, and requesting that the Supervisor of Elections conduct the
election in accordance with the Florida Election Code and Village policies and procedures.
Page 1 of 2
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-___
A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF NORTH
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, DECLARING A VACANCY ON THE VILLAGE
COUNCIL AND ANNOUNCING THE DATE OF THE VILLAGE SPECIAL
ELECTION AND RUN OFF ELECTION, IF NECESSARY; PROVIDING FOR A
QUALIFYING PERIOD; REQUESTING THAT THE SUPERVISOR OF
ELECTIONS CONDUCT THE ELECTION; AUTHORIZING THE SUPERVISOR
OF ELECTIONS TO CERTIFY THE ACCURACY OF THE TABULATION
EQUIPMENT AND HANDLE, CERTIFY, AND CANVASS ALL BALLOTS,
INCLUDING ABSENTEE BALLOTS; DESIGNATING THE CANVASSING
BOARD; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Article III, Section 5(a) of the Village Charter, the office of a
Councilmember shall become vacant upon resignation, with such forfeiture to be declared by the
remaining members of the Village Council; and
WHEREAS, due to the resignation of Kristin Garrison, the Village Council seeks to formally declare
the vacancy, and because more than six months remain in the unexpired term and no regular Village
election is currently scheduled within six months, Article III, Section 5(c) of the Village Charter
requires the Village Council to schedule a Special Election not sooner than sixty days nor more than
ninety days following the occurrence of the vacancy; and
WHEREAS, the Village is located within the boundaries of Florida State House District 87, and in
coordination with the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections, the Village Council wishes to
schedule the Special Election concurrent with the scheduled general election for the Florida State
House Representative for District 87; and
WHEREAS, while Section 10-5 of the Village Code also prescribes the qualifying period for a Special
Election (during the ten days ending three weeks before the Special Election), the Supervisor of
Elections has informed the Village that such timing is not sufficient to meet the Supervisor’s legal
obligations regarding ballot distribution and that she will need the names of the candidates by January
15th; and
WHEREAS, the Village Council wishes to: formally announce the date of the Special Election (and
run-off election if necessary) and the voting locations; establish the qualifying period; request that the
Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections conduct the election, certify the accuracy of the
tabulation equipment and handle, canvass, and certify all ballots, including absentee ballots; and
designate the Village’s canvassing board; and
WHEREAS, the Village Council determines that the adoption of this Resolution is in the best interests
of the Village and its residents.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF
NORTH PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, as follows:
Section 1. The foregoing recitals are hereby ratified and incorporated herein.
Section 2. The Village Council hereby declares a vacancy for Group 4 on the Village Council.
Section 3. The Village Council hereby schedules a Special Election to fill the Village Council
vacancy on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, with a run-off election, if necessary, to be held on April 7,
2026. The qualifying period for candidates shall begin on Monday, January 5, 2026 and shall end on
Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. The Village Clerk shall provide notice of the Special
Election in accordance with Section 10-4 of the Village Code.
Section 4. The precincts for the Village Special Election shall be the same as those designated by
Palm Beach County.
Section 5. The Village Council requests that the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections
conduct the Village Special Election, including the Run-Off Election, if necessary. The Supervisor
of Elections shall conduct a Logic and Accuracy Test for the tabulation of all ballots, including
absentee ballots, and the Village Clerk or her designee shall be present during such testing.
Section 6. The Village Council authorizes the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections to
distribute, canvass, and certify all ballots for the Village Special Election, including absentee ballots,
in accordance with the Florida Election Code and the Village Code of Ordinances. The Village
Council further delegates all canvassing duties, as defined by Florida Statute and the Florida
Administrative Code, to the County Canvassing Board.
Section 7. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this _____ day of ____________, 2025.
______________________________
MAYOR
(Village Seal)
ATTEST:
________________________________
VILLAGE CLERK