01/25/2010 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

Tel.(v -I' o,A. I 12..<1 zo i o To: City of Lino Lakes Mayor Jeff Reinert Council Member Jeff O'Donnell Council Member Kathi Gallup Council Member Dave Roeser Council Member Rob Rafferty From: City of Lino Lakes Charter Commission Re: The City Charter provided right of citizens to address the Lino Lakes City Council Date: January 14, 2010 Honorable Members of the Lino Lakes City Council: Lino Lakes City Charter, CHAPTER III, Section 3.01. Council Meetings, states: "During any of its public meetings, the Council shall not prohibit, but may place reasonable restrictions on citizen's comments and questions." The Lino Lakes City Council Meeting of January 11, 2010 was a public meeting. Section 3.01. insured the right of citizens to speak at that meeting. The reasonable restrictions put in place by council are a limit of four minutes for an individual, and, second, that if an item is listed on the agenda, citizen comments or questions be given at the time the agenda item is before the council. During the above cited meeting a member of the audience in attendance asked to please address the council on an agenda item then under discussion. He was told by Mayor Reinert that public comment was not being taken. The audience member then asked if the public did not have an opportunity to speak to the council. Mayor Reinert denied him a second time stating that it was not a public hearing. The Commission does not understand the rationale for denying public comment at that time or why a subsequent opportunity for comment was not extended to the public. The members of the Lino Lakes Charter Commission bring this matter to your attention as a courtesy. Mayor Reinert, we invite you to attend our next Charter Commission meeting on April 8, 2010 to respond to our concern, or otherwise respond as you deem appropriate. Res ectfully, City of Lino Lakes Charter Commission Chair Caroline Dahl Cc: Acting City Administrator Dan Tesch City Clerk Julie Bartell