04-10-25 - Charter Commission Agenda Packet

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To: From: Cc: Date: Re: Lino Lakes Charter Commission Kristin C. Nierengarten Lino Lakes City Council April 9, 2025 Conversion to Even -Year Municipal Elections Squires Waldspurger & Mace, P.A. The City Council asked that I share information with the Charter Commission about the procedure for moving municipal elections from odd -numbered years to even - numbered years. Section 4.01 of the Charter provides that any "regular municipal election shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of each odd numbered year." This is the only Charter provision that regulates municipal election dates and would need to be amended to make the move to even -year municipal elections. Any amendment to change the timing of municipal elections would also need to address short- term impacts on Council member terms (four years, staggered) and the Mayor term (two years) to get them on an even -year election cycle. This would be accomplished by either temporarily shortening or lengthening the terms. There are four procedural options available to amend the Charter. One of these options involves a voter petition proposing an amendment that then goes to the voters for approval. Another involves a proposed amendment initiated by the Council that then goes to the voters for approval. This memo focuses on the remaining two methods of amending the Charter, which are processes initiated by the Charter Commission. I. Charter Commission Recommends Council Enact Amendment By Ordinance The quickest option available to amend the City's Charter would be for the Charter Commission to recommend that the Council enact a charter amendment by ordinance. Minn. Stat. § 410.12, subd. 5. This option primarily involves actions by the Charter Commission and City Council and does not require an election to enact a charter amendment. An election, however, may be required if the proposed amendment is challenged by a voter petition. To pursue this method of amending the City's Charter, the following would need to occur: