Next step: naming a panel to draft Pinecrest charter

Now that Pinecrest voters have approved a city of their own, they must decide the rules they want to live by.

Pinecrest needs a city charter — but first, it needs people for the charter commission.

Leaders of the Pinecrest incorporation movement were working Thursday with Metro Commissioners Maurice Ferre and Katy Sorenson, whose districts include parts of Pinecrest, to sponsor a resolution creating the area’s charter commission. The resolution also would name five to seven people for the commission.

The resolution for the charter commission likely will go before the Metro Commission on Oct. 3.

Once the resolution is approved, it will take months for commission members to devise a city charter, said Gary Matzner, one of the Pinecrest leaders. The public also will get a chance to voice concerns about the charter. That hearing hasn’t been scheduled.

After the charter is written, a draft will be sent to residents, and area voters must accept or reject it in January.

Assuming voters approve the charter, they could choose Pinecrest’s first city officials in March.

Aventura, which voted in April for incorporation, will accept or reject its city charter Nov. 7. Aventura’s city charter calls for districts, but voting will be at-large.