09/28/2009 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• SPECIALCOUNCIL MEETING September S, 2009 DRAFT 1 Council members commented. There is concern that the council should not lose the 2 ability to have a less formal forum in which citizens can come forward; the formality of 3 the council chambers (where meetings can be televised) is less appropriate for some 4 discussions. There is obviously interest in seeing charter commission meetings televised 5 also for transparency. 6 7 When asked about a process for making a change to the language, City Attorney Langel 8 explained that the amendment cannot be changed by the council, only by the commission. 9 The amendment is proposed to the section of the charter that deals with council process 10 so it isn't inappropriate to include it there and as well if the charter commission were to 11 be added, that language is appropriate to the charter document If however the desire is to 12 add advisory groups appointed by the council (Planning & Zoning, Environmental, etc.) 13 that would be appropriate in the city code. 14 15 Commissioner Sutherland suggested that supporting this amendment brought forward by 16 the commission would be a good first step in building a positive working relationship 17 between the council and the commission. 18 19 Charter Commissioner Kelly Gunderson explained the commission's recording process. 20 Since the commission has no budget left, they have been unable to continue the services 21 of a professional minute taker. She has been taking the minutes. Regarding the proposed 22 charter amendment, it is the matter at hand and it should be dealt with before proceeding 23 discussion on other things like requiring televising of other meetings. 24 25 Council comments: concem about following the process for changing rules of the city 26 and utilizing the charter (the constitution of the city) to make a legislative change more 27 appropriately done by ordinance or resolution; this is a good first step to working 28 together with the commission and the next step should be talking about how to include 29 commission meetings; some reservations when hearing that the text of the amendment is 30 somewhat flawed; the issue of transparency could be dealt with in other ways; can this 31 be proposed as an ordinance this evening? 32 33 Attorney Langel responded that the council could introduce and vote on an ordinance this 34 evening. 35 36 The council indicated that they would like to know if the commission would support a 37 change to the code in lieu of amending the charter. Commissioner Gunderson replied that 38 it isn't possible to speak on behalf of the commission; if the council wants feedback, they 39 should make an official request for consideration by the commission. 40 41 A council member directed Acting Administrator Tesch to attempt to set up a joint 42 meeting with the charter commission before second reading of the amendment, to allow 43 for discussion of a change. While the amendment process must proceed, a second track 44 to find an ordinance solution can proceed. 45