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Charter Commission <br />November 1, 2007 <br />Page 9 <br />APPROVED <br />348 Section 8.09. Taxpayer Referendum <br />349 <br />350 Subdivision 1 <br />351 There was considerable discussion regarding the 51% requirement to trigger a referendum. <br />352 <br />353 Chair Duffy stated the Commission decided to use the mayoral election in calculating the number <br />354 of votes required. <br />355 <br />356 Commissioner Trehus suggested waiting until the November 6 election next week and then make <br />357 a determination on the percentage requirement. <br />358 <br />359 Commissioner Carlson agreed that a lower number should be used, perhaps 10%. <br />360 <br />361 Commissioner Vacha suggested a 25% requirement. <br />362 <br />363 It was the consensus of the Commission to use a 25% requirement. <br />364 <br />365 Commissioner Bening stated the Charter reads 10% of registered voters. <br />366 <br />367 Commissioner Trehus stated that a recent letter to the editor indicated that the Charter <br />,68 Commission is not going to appease staff or City Council. He indicated when the Charter <br />369 Commission began its work, the goal was to make sure residents were behind the referendum. <br />370 He stated his strong belief that the referendum be kept in the document as an automatic <br />371 requirement. <br />372 <br />373 MOTION by Commissioner Zastrow, seconded by Commissioner Stockman Maher, to revise the <br />374 last sentence of Subdivision 1 of Section 8.09 to read as follows: "To trigger a referendum, the <br />375 number of valid signatures on the petition must equal or exceed 12% of the number of votes cast <br />376 for mayor in the last mayoral election." <br />377 <br />378 Further Discussion <br />379 <br />380 Commissioner Bening stated he felt the number was too low. <br />381 <br />382 Commissiner Aldentaler stated it would be difficult to get 10% right now. <br />383 <br />384 Commissioner Dahl requested that Chair Duffy call the question. <br />385 <br />386 Commissioner Trehus stated if there is a project where there is a minority that wants it, you could <br />387 require a referendum on that. He felt strongly that the City should get to weigh in on that. <br />388 <br />389 Commissioner Bor called for a point of order. <br />'\390 <br />391 Motion carried. Commissioners Trehus and Bening voted nay. <br />9 <br />