After a brief discussion, city leaders unanimously approved creating a domestic partner registry that grants certain medical, education and visitation rights for applicants. The City Council will vote once more on creating the registry at its June 7 meeting.

It is similar to ones already passed in Tampa and Gulfport. 

After registering with the city, the partners would have a say in decisions regarding: health care facility visitation, health care decisions including those concerning physical and mental health, funeral and burial decisions, pre-need guardian designation, and participation in education. 

The ordinance requires the clerk to maintain an online searchable database of the registered partners. Applicants will have to pay $30 to register and an additionel $5 for an extra copy of the certificate proving the domestic partnership. The cost to dissolve the partnership is $10.

Not everyone who attended the meeting was in favor of creating the registry.

Resident Joe Paige insisted that most of the rights the registry grants can be attained by designating a surrogate. 

“This is a prime example of the government getting involved in something they shouldn't get into,” Paige said.