01-10-2002 Charter Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

Charter Commission January 10, 2002 Page 3 REPORT OF COMMITTEES Clerk/Treasurer Amendment—Leap_ue of Cities Opinion (Commissioner Trehus)— Commissioner Trehus distributed a copy of a letter he sent to Duke Addicks, League of Minnesota Cities regarding a legal opinion on this matter. Commissioner Montain referred to Section 12.11 Ordinance to Make Charter Effective. He stated he believes the City Council should make a determination regarding this matter. Commissioner Trehus stated he has spoke to the attorney and he indicated he is concerned about making changes to the Charter and making changes that will possibly only be effective for ten years. Mr. Addicks indicated he needs more time before he can give the Commission his opinion. Commissioner Bening stated Section 12.11 can be read as the Council can make the Charter effective without changing the Charter. This item was tabled until the April 2002 meeting. Five Year Plan Review (Vice-Chair Montain)—Chair Sullivan advised that as he read the minutes from the past Council meetings, there has been no talk about a Five Year Plan, only City finances. Commissioner Montain stated he spoke to the Finance Director regarding this issue and indicated the Commission is very disappointed with the progress on the Plan. Mr. Rolek indicated City Staff is currently only working on the CIP,which is only a part of the Five Year Plan. Mr. Rolek also indicated he needs information from the Department Heads and some of those people do not feel the Five-Year Plan is necessary. The Commission is going to have to demand at the joint meeting with the Council that a Five-Year Plan must be completed. The Council will either have to direct Staff to complete the Plan or the Council will have to make the determination that the Plan is not effective and another plan should be utilized. Chair Sullivan stated the Council has to be pushed and the Commission may need a legal opinion about what the Commission can do if a Five-Year Plan is not done. Commissioner Montain stated this issue needs to be discussed at the joint Council meeting. The Council needs to be told they have to hold Staff responsible to develop a Five-Year Plan. It is possible that a two-year or three-year plan may be more effective. If that is the case,the Council must tell the Commission that. Commissioner Rafferty asked how the Charter can be changed to make the requirement a three- year plan. Commissioner Montain explained the two ways that the Charter can be changed including a vote by residents or a 2/3 vote by Council and the Commission. 3