01-11-2007 Charter Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE LINO LAKES CHARTER COMMISSION Approved by the Charter Commission on January 11, 2007 TO: The Honorable Gary R. Schurrer Chief Judge, Tenth Judicial District Washington County Government Center Stillwater, MN 55082-3802 FROM: Paulette Warren, Chair, Lino Lakes Charter Commission Date: January 11, 2007 New Officers of the Charter Commission were installed at the April 13, 2006 meeting. They include Chair Paulette Warren, Vice Chair Cori Duffy, and Secretary Caroline Dahl. Full meetings of the Charter Commission were held on April 13, July 13, October 12, 2006 and January 13, 2007. Minutes of these meetings are available for your review. This report seeks to outline major activities and concerns of the Commission as discussed in Charter meetings. MINUTES The Commission is satisfied that the business service hired by the City to record Charter meetings is efficiently handling the process. In order to better facilitate review and approval of minutes, the service has now added numeric line designations to all records. The Commission strives to correct only substantive corrections to minutes at each session; and Commissioners are so prepared to address these concerns at each meeting. CHARTER EXPENDITURES The Commission remains concerned regarding assessments of City expenditures against the Charter operating budget, without involvement or prior approval of the Charter Commission. In the year ahead, the Chair recommends that the Commission seek involvement in establishing its annual operating budget and a specific process for accessing funds. CHARTER AMENDMENTS During this term, a citizen petition was presented to amend the Charter, prohibiting council members from serving on the Charter. Subsequently this amendment passed with the November election and is being enacted. COUNCIL/COMMISSION COMMUNICATIONS Communications between the Commission and the Council remain strained. The Commission has requested the Council appoint a liaison to help facilitate better understanding of the work processes and concerns that might impede citizen involvement in governance. To date, no such action has taken place. ASSESSABLE PROJECTS PROCESS The Commission is initiating a discussion with City Staff to encourage more in depth understanding of the pitfalls encountered when neighborhood improvement projects such as road reconstruction are being considered. It is the intention of the Commission to work toward a streamlined, consensus building process that will hopefully reduce planning costs while removing constraints so that projects may move forward with appropriate citizen involvement. Chair recommends this be the priority project of the Commission in the coming year, resulting in an amendment to Chapter 8 of the Charter.