07-08-2010 Minutes (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Charter Commission July 8, 2010 Page 7 269 Mayor Reinert suggested that he is confident there is a better way to do things and he thinks a 270 subcommittee is a good way to look for that information. 271 272 Council Member Roeser noted that he is very committed to reducing the cost of government and 273 to keeping taxes down. There needs to be a way to handle road work and the concept of bringing 274 a couple of people from the Commission and Council together, using the information already on 275 the table, seems appropriate to him. 276 277 Commissioner Gunderson asked Mr. Grochala if the passage of a referendum would be needed to 278 install stoplights at Lake Drive and Main Street. Mr. Grochala said technically, yes. Mr. 279 Grochala went on to explain different scenarios of funding road reconstruction or improvement. 280 281 Commissioner Gunderson pointed out that in discussing the history of the matter it should be 282 noted that the only road project to go to referendum, West Shadow Lake Road, is somewhat 283 unique because that road is not a thoroughfare and project entails the addition of utilities such as 284 water and sewer. Therefore, is it not possible that the intent of the chapter of the Charter that 285 requires a referendum for road reconstruction is working because it has only been tested on one 286 specific road that is not equal to a majority of roads in the city. The Mayor suggested that most 287 of the roads in town fit that description however. 288 289 Council member Roeser further suggests that city staff be involved with any possible committee. 290 291 Commissioner Carlson remarked the Commission already gave the council a good proposal and 292 the Council rejected it. Then ballot question to take Chapter 8 out of the Charter was rejected by 293 the citizens. That puts all involved in a bind of how to go forward. 294 295 Commissioner Drennen said he feels it is appropriate to look forward on the matter and he hopes 296 that the commission will be discussing if and who for a subcommittee at their regular meeting. 297 298 MayorReinert suggests that if a committee is formed it should have 2 Council members, to avoid 299 the definition of a council meeting, and 4 Charter Commissioners. 300 301 Chair Dahl remarked that the discussion shouldn't be about whether or not the charter works 302 because it does. She doesn't support a subcommittee at this time because some charter members 303 are absent, the concept wasn't commission initiated, and the idea needs to be fully discussed. 304 The charter commission is doing other good work for the citizens in the meantime. 305 306 Commissioner Lyden stated that he feels the Commission cannot go forward with any work with 307 a past due bill still outstanding as well as not having a commitment on a budget going forward. 308 309 Commissioner Storberg suggested the Council review the Task Force amendment and the 310 Charter Commission's amendment and then make a recommendation of what the Council feels is 311 appropriate. 312 7