05-31-2012 Charter Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

CITY "' `O F INC) KE Christopher Lyden, Chair SENT VIA U.S. MAIL and Lino Lakes Charter Commission DELIVERED VIA MESSENGER 6275 Holly Drive W March 13, 2012 Lino Lakes, MN 55038 RE: Proposed City Charter Amendment Dear Chair Lyden, The Lino Lakes City Council has been considering a proposed amendment to the City Charter, Chapter 8 regarding Public Improvements and Special Assessments. The amendment is based on the charter amendment proposal prepared in 2007 by the Citizen's Task Force to Review Charter Provisions Pertaining to Public Improvements (the"Task Force Amendment"). Historically the Task Force Amendment was referred to the Charter Commission in 2007 and in response the Charter Commission submitted a substitute amendment to Chapter 8 (the "Charter Commission Amendment"). After careful review, the council determined to submit neither the Task Force Amendment nor the Charter Commission proposed amendment to the voters. Rather on March 24, 2008 the Council approved the first reading of a new ordinance amending Chapter 8 (the "2008 Council Amendment") and referred it to the Commission for required review. The only difference between the Task Force Amendment and the 2008 Council Amendment is that the latter repeals Section 8.07 of the City Charter that establishes certain rules for certain geographical areas of the city commonly known as the "exempt zones". Before the Charter Commission review period on this amendment ended, a citizen generated petition was submitted calling for an amendment to Chapter 8. Once the petition was certified it was required, under state statute, to go to the voters and thus the Council decided to send only that one question forward. As previously noted, the Council has currently been reviewing the Task Force Amendment. Through deliberations, the council has determined that the following additions to the Task Force Amendment are appropriate: 1. Section 8.02, Subd. 5 provides that if any portion of the project is to be paid from property taxes, registered voters may file a petition requesting a vote on the improvement. Such petition must be received within 30 days of the City Council ordering the improvement and be signed by registered voters equal to at least 12 percent of the votes cast in the last general municipal election. Based on 2011 election this number would be 517 signatures. In such case, the city may only proceed after obtaining approval of a majority of the voters voting on the question. 600 Town Center Parkway, Lino Lakes, Minnesota 55014-1 182 Phone: 651-982-2400 • Fax: 651-982-2499