04-09-1998 Charter Minutes (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Charter Commission April 9, 1998 Page 11 Commissioner Sullivan asked for verification regarding liaisons in the bylaws of the Charter. Commissioner DeMotts read the bylaws of the Charter. Commissioner Turner stated that she believed the Commission should explore all of these types of issues. She added she did not feel that Council Members being on the Charter Commission was a problem unless they became the majority. She felt that the Charter Commission did have good representation. Commissioner Dahl explained that she felt this was personal, so she did some research on her own and then read the following letters: Wayzata city staff has no knowledge of this issue ever coming up at a Charter Commission meeting in the last 15 years. We do not have a problem with current State Statute and in fact would have preferred to have a current council member sit on the Charter Commission during the last few years to improve communication between the City Council and Charter Commission. Dave Frischmon, Director of Finance and Administration City of Wayzata You requested information on whether or not a City Council Member can sit on the city's Charter Commission. This has, in fact, occurred in the past. However, at the present time, no Council Member has a seat on the Charter Commission. It has presented problems and concerns in the past for the members of the Charter Commission or the City Council. However, as far as I am aware, in the recent past, no attempts have been made by the Charter Commission or the City Council to change the charter to prohibit Council Members from serving on the Charter Commission. Also, to my knowledge, no attempt has been made to make a change in the state statutes to disallow Council Members from serving on the Charter Commission. If you have any further questions, please call. Walter Fehst, City Manager of Columbia Heights MOTION by Commissioner Trehus, seconded by Commissioner Sullivan, to dismiss this issue. Motion carried with Commissioner Bening and Commissioner DeMotts voting no. Chair Montain briefly addressed the Comprehensive Plan and how the representatives were elected. SET JULY 9, 1998 AGENDA 11