04-12-2012 Charter Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

Charter Commission July 8, 2010 Page 2 46 UNFINISHED BUSINESS 47 48 Charter Amendments. Commissioner Trehus reviewed the background on the two 49 amendments submitted to City Council on July 28, 2011. Since neither amendment request 50 received council support, at the Oct. 13, 2011 meeting Commissioners voted to have the 51 Commission's attorney review the opinions that had been obtained by the Council's legal 52 experts. Ms. Marty's response had not been obtained until Jan. 12 and was distributed at the 53 meeting. Her position differs significantly from the opinions obtained by the council in that she 54 recommends that the amendments proceed as originally drafted. Commissioner Trehus noted an 55 additional review may be required to determine how changes in State law affect the charter. 56 57 MOTION by Commissioner Trehus, seconded by Commissioner Sutherland, requesting Chair 58 Dahl to write to Ms. Marty asking for an estimate of the fees required to review the draft ballot 59 language. Upon receipt of the estimate, the Chair is further directed to write to the Council 60 requesting another review. 61 Motion passes unanimously. 62 Commissioner Storberg requested clarification as to whether Ms. Marty disagrees with the 63 opinion rendered by the City attorney Joseph Langel. Commissioner Gunderson asked whether 64 there is a firm or a single attorney representing the City. 65 As Council Member Rafferty was in attendance he clarified that Mr. Langel is under contract 66 with the City. Commissioner Storberg asked Council Member Rafferty why the City changes 67 attorneys when new attorneys may have to start from scratch in gaining knowledge and 68 background about the issues about which they are providing Council. Council Member Rafferty 69 indicated that decisions about engaging outside counsel were made to be mindful of economics. 70 Commissioner Trehus recommended that the Commissioners vote at this meeting to have the 71 amendments placed on the ballot for the November 2012 election. 72 MOTION by Commissioner Lyden, seconded by Commissioner Sutherland, to have both 73 amendments with the existing ballot language place on the ballot. 74 Motion caries. Opposed: Commissioner Timm. Abstaining: Commissioners Helgemoe and Penn 75 76 77 NEW BUSINESS 78 Memo from the City Administrator 79 The memo indicated that at its December 5, 2011 work session the council discussed how to 80 move forward with needed street improvements in the City. At the Jan. 3. 2012 work session the 81 Council proposed creating a task force to review Charter Provisions related to Street 82 Reconstruction. The task force would be composed of two Council members; one representative 83 from each of the City's four advisory boards; three Charter Commission members, and Kathi 84 Gallup, former Council member and chair of the 2007 Citizens Task Force. The memo requested 85 that the Charter Commission consider appointing three members to participate on the task force. 86 Commissioner Sutherland noted that it could be difficult to identify three members who could 87 represent the body of the Commission 88 89 Commissioner Bretoi departed at 7:25 90 2