01-11-2007 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Charter Commission January 11, 2007 Page 4 Not approved by Charter Commission (1-17-2008) Commissioner Bor noted the group expressed concern about requesting and obtaining information. The situation could continue as it had in the recent past. Commissioner Dahl added that it confused her that the staff people in question were not the appropriate individuals to speak with. If the Commission was not aware that an attorney was necessary as well, staff should have noted to include him. Chair Warren decided to delay the vote on this issue until after the Commission addressed the Mounds View Ballot Amendment. (See page 9 for vote.) A. Mounds View Ballot Amendment The Commission and Mounds View Charter Commission representatives introduced themselves. Jonathan Thomas is the Chair and Barbara Thomas is the Secretary of the Mounds View Charter Commission. Commissioner Dahl stated she went to their Charter Commission meeting to meet them and noted their meeting was on cable. She found them very gracious and brought them to the Lino Lakes Charter Commission. Chair Warren greeted them and thanked them for coming. Mr. Thomas stated he has been the chair for the Mounds View Charter Commission for eight years. There was an original request to rewrite budgeting and taxation. The other request addressed TIF, however in their view it covered too much. They submitted eleven amendments, where two were rejected and the rest ignored by Council. The reason given was that it was in the wrong format, so Council was able to ignore them. They sought advice from an attorney because they wanted to draft a template structure. The content was if a vote was unanimous, then the amendment would be adopted, if not it would go to a majority vote. He referred to the subdivision, including a timing issue. They were told not to respond. As chair, he requested the City Attorney address the problems in the memo. In the end, two formats were drafted. Five amendments were drafted in the last three years, four of which were ordinances. All were adopted. Commissioner Storberg inquired about the number of Commissioners. Mr. Thomas answered there were 15 members, but currently only seven. Commissioner Storberg questioned if the Charter had been "watered down." Mr. Thomas responded it had been strengthened. Commissioner Storberg stated there was strong opposition to being a Charter city. Mr. Thomas answered there had been attempts to remove half of the Charter by a small group of the people on their Charter Commission. He was asked to be on the Commission as a negotiator.