Bartow CRA Advisory Committee members named: City Commission picks 7 of 11 applicants
Concerns expressed at a previous Bartow City Commission meeting about whether enough applications would be received to fill the seven-member CRA Advisory Committee proved unfounded at the commission’s Oct. 19 meeting, as 11 people responded.
Prior to the vote, however, City Manager Mike Herr made a proposal that commissioners consider combining the Citizens’ Advisory Committee with the proposed Community Development Advisory Committee. The reason for this, according to Herr, was that there was some overlap in responsibilities. Another reason was that the Citizens’ Advisory Committee meets only once per year. By consensus, commissioners approved the proposal.
As score sheets were distributed, City Attorney Sean Parker reminded commissioners how the ranking process functioned: top choices would be those with the lowest scores.
“Hopefully we won’t have any ties,” Parker jested, but then said he expected the opposite, adding that he could almost guarantee a tie.
One of the applicants drew Commissioner Trish Pfeiffer’s attention, that of Patricia Collins.
“I mean, we can rate it, but I don’t think she’s going to be here,” Pfeiffer said.
Once the commissioners all handed their score sheets to Parker, he and City Clerk Jacki Poole tallied the scores and announced the following had been selected (as their names appeared on the score sheets):
- Craig Burke
- Rugina Castillo
- Jerome Corbett
- Danny Kushmer
- Ian Legg
- Carly Reifenrath
- Symone Wilson
(The other four candidates were Patricia Collins, Hunter Locke, Amber Screen and Alvin B. Smith Jr.)
Following Parker’s advice, the commission approved those selected on a voice vote.
Before moving on to the next topic on the agenda, Commissioner Leo E. Longworth asked what the committee’s responsibilities would be, though not for discussion at that point.
“What would their roles be?” Longworth asked.
Steve Steiner can be reached at [email protected].
Sources: City of Bartow City Commission Regular Meeting agenda, Oct. 19, 2026, item 12.b.2, New Business; Individual Ranking Form for CRA Advisory Committee; City of Bartow City Commission meeting video transcript, Oct. 19, 2026; City of Bartow City Commission meeting video transcript, Oct. 5, 2026; City of Bartow Board Descriptions.
