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5Charter Commission August 20, 2009 6Page 2 7 45 2. FTE's vs. population going back to 1997. 46 3. Invoices from Commission's attorney. 47 4. Invoices regarding Charter Business. 48 5. Additional page is the City Attorney's invoice for reviewing the Charter submitted 49 amendment for passage by ordinance. 50 51 Commissioner Trehus stated that the Charter Commission has been budgeted an average of 52$4,000 each year going back to the mid -1990's. Most years, the commission did not use all the 53funds budgeted and any unused funds were returned back to the General fund of the city budget. 54 55Commissioner Storberg added that in some years, the Commission was budgeted up to $8,000. 56 57Councilmember Reinert stated that there were two things at question: 1. Funds for legal advice 58and 2. General charter operations. 59 60Councilmember O'Donnell would like two discussions of the Commission's budget needs: 1. 61 Regular Charter Operations and 2. Amendments. O'Donnell asks if the Commission and Council 62begin to look forward and work together. 63 64Commissioner Storberg states that both entities worked well together before referendum to 65amend the Charter happened. A compromise to amend the street financing referendum of the 66charter was worked out and the Council put a petition -initiated ballot question instead. 67Councilmembers Reinert and O'Donnell agreed. 68 69Commissioner Zastrow stated that the Council and Commission historically met together. Now 70separate attorneys are needed. Commissioner Drennen stated he believes that two attorneys 7lbetween the City and Commission end potential conflicts of interest. 72 73Commissioner Gunderson states that the Commission needs funds for the remaining two 74scheduled meetings of 2009. Costs include publishing meeting notices and possible continuance 75of the audit. Commissioner Sutherland states that approximately $3,000 is needed for 2010. 76Commissioner Lyden states the Commission needs the professional legal service it has used in 77the past in order to get accurate minutes out on time. 78 79Chair Dahl asks Councilmember O'Donnell if two separate lines in the Charter Commission's 80budget of "business" and "legal advice" would help. 81 82Councilmember O'Donnell states that currently the city budget has one line for the Charter 83Commission and that he would be open to having two lines. Councilmember Reinert agrees. 84Councilmember Reinert states the Commission is currently broke and not through abuse, but due 85to an audit ordered by the Council. 86 87Chair Dahl states she does not favor adding a second line to the city budget for the Commission, 88but wanted to make the suggestion to help the discussion. 8 2