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<br />WS – Item #12 <br /> <br />WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />Work Session Item No. 12 <br /> <br /> <br />Date: August 5, 2013 <br /> <br />To: City Council <br /> <br />From: Julie Bartell, City Clerk <br /> <br />Re: Charter Amendments relating to Elections <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Background <br /> <br />In 2011, the council forwarded two proposed ch arter amendments to the Lino Lakes <br />Charter C ommission. The amendments concern two areas of the city charter that contain <br />schedules related to elections and that have been impacted by federal and state election <br />schedules. The original staff report that o utlines the amendments is attached. <br /> <br />Charter Commission Action – At their meeting on July 25, 2013, the Lino Lakes <br />Charter Commission considered and approved the two proposed amendments. The <br />amendments were approved with slight changes recommended by the Commission’s <br />attorney. City Attorney Joseph Langel has reviewed the recommended changes and <br />concurs with them. <br /> <br />Charter Amendment Procedure. The charter amendment process is governed by state <br />statute , which provides more than one method by which a hom e rule charter can be <br />amended: <br /> <br />- Charter Commission – may propose amendments to the charter for submission <br />to the voters; <br /> <br />- Petition – a petition meeting the requirements of state law can be submitted by <br />citizens and the question would be brought to the vote rs; <br /> <br />- Amendment proposed by the council – the council may propose an <br />amendment by ordinance and, after review by the charter commission, may <br />present it to the voters; <br /> <br />- Upon receiving a recommendation from the charter commission, the council <br />may enact a char ter amendment by ordinance with an affirmative vote of all <br />council members (with a post approval waiting period of 90 days).