04/06/2005 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION APRIL 6, 2005 APPROVED • 1 Ms. Retzer went over the three ways to appoint a charter commission, noting there is no 2 longer a term limit for commissioners. The function of the charter commission is to 3 frame and amend the charter as needed. The commission must also entertain petitions 4 from citizens. Ms. Retzer noted it is very important for Councils and commissions to 5 work together in terms of advocacy and finances. She cautioned the Council regarding 6 the difference between advocacy and information in terms of the Charter Commission. 7 8 Ms. Retzer advised there are five ways to originate an amendment to the charter: 1) 9 proposal by charter commission; 2) citizen petition; 3) proposal by Council; 4) 10 recommendation by commission to the Council for an ordinance change (does not go to 11 the voters); and 5) Council proposal in cities of populations less than 10,000 (does not 12 have to be submitted to the commission). 13 14 Ms. Retzer advised only three cities within the state have abandoned their home rule 15 charter since 1989. She referred to the handouts distributed that included a charter survey 16 and their Model Charter for Minnesota Cities. 17 18 Ms. Retzer noted if a city is concerned with who is appointed to the charter commission, 19 the Council and/or Charter Commission can make recommendations for appointments. 20 21 In response to questions regarding the role of the charter commission, Ms. Retzer again 22 noted the only function set forth in state statutes in relation to the function of the charter 23 commission is to frame and amend the charter as needed. The charter commission is not • 24 an advisory board and should not take an advocacy role within the City. The commission 25 should remain neutral on political issues and does not have the authority to set policy or 26 take policy positions. However, a charter commission member may express personal 27 opinions in relation to City issues, as long as he or she is not representing the entire 28 charter commission. 29 30 The Council directed staff to obtain information regarding the City's insurance policy in 31 relation to coverage of the Charter Commission. 32 33 City Administrator Heitke indicated he would be asking for more direction from the City 34 Attorney regarding future discussions held between the City Council and Charter 35 Commission in relation to advocacy concerns in response to the information provided by 36 Ms. Retzer. 37 38 Ms. Rylee indicated to the Council they may call her or e-mail her if there are any 39 additional questions. 40 41 Mayor Bergeson called for a short break at 6:55 p.m. 42 Mayor Bergeson reconvened the meeting at 7:02 p.m. 43 44 I -35E CORRIDOR (ALTERNATIVE URBAN AREAWIDE REVIEW (AUAR) - 45 JOHN SHARDLOW 46 • 47 Mr. John Shardlow, Dahlgren, Shardlow and Uban, Inc., advised he would be going 48 through the different development scenarios section by section. He reviewed the various