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Charter Commission <br />January 12, 2012 <br />Page 3 <br />91 <br />92 Commissioner Trehus reviewed several other amendments that the Charter Commission is in the <br />93 process of developing. <br />94 <br />95 NEW BUSINESS <br />96 Memo from the City Administrator <br />97 The memo indicated that at its December 5, 2011 work session the council discussed how to <br />98 move forward with needed street improvements in the City. At the Jan. 3. 2012 work session the <br />99 Council proposed creating a task force to review Charter Provisions related to Street <br />100 Reconstruction. The task force would be composed of two Council members; one representative <br />101 from each of the City's four advisory boards; three Charter Commission members, and Kathi <br />102 Gallup, former Council member and chair of the 2007 Citizens Task Force. The memo requested <br />103 that the Charter Commission consider appointing three members to participate on the task force. <br />104 Commissioner Sutherland noted that it could be difficult to identify three members who could <br />105 represent the body of the Commission <br />106 <br />107 Commissioner Bretoi departed at 7:25 <br />108 <br />109 Commissioner Trehus read from the memo, which stated thatthe purpose of the Council's Task <br />110 Force is to get the Charter changed. He noted that the focus was apparently not on reconstructing <br />^111 roads. <br />.12 Commissioner Storberg offered to provide some perspective for new Commissioners, stating that <br />113 the Charter does not stop the repair of existing roads. The Charter covers only the construction <br />114 of new roads. She also questioned the need for a task force. <br />115 Commissioner Gunderson noted that the issue of a task force was raised at the July 2010 joint <br />116 Commission -City Council meeting. She further commented that they have been several <br />117 opportunities to change Chapter 8 and that citizens have rejected that changes each time. <br />118 <br />119 MOTION by Commissioner Sutherland, seconded by Commissioner Turcotte, to have the Chair <br />120 draft a response thanking the Council for their request to participate and that the Commission is <br />121 respectfully declining. <br />122 Several Commissioners spoke against the motion. <br />123 Commissioner Penn indicated she would be voting against it because refusal to participate <br />124 furthers the perception of the Commission as obstructionistic. <br />125 Commissioner Gunderson noted that there is considerable likelihood that the Council will <br />126 procede with the task force without Commission involvement. <br />127 <br />128 Commissioner Trehus stated that there is a process for proposing amendments to the Charter. <br />129 The Task Force would be acting in strictly advisory capacity and would not be able to create <br />130 amendments. He also noted that there have been multiple attempts to remove Chapter 8 and that <br />131 multiple projects proposed by the City have been defeated by the residents. He also expressed <br />132 concern that the Council may have "stacked the deck" in its favor with its choice of members and <br />� 133 advisors, and by appointing 7 members versus the 3 allotted to the Commission. <br />134 Commissioner Turcotte indicated that the Task Force is not being proposed due to a road issue <br />135 but a sewer and water issue. <br />3 <br />