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Charter Commission
July 9, 2009
Page 1
DATE
TIME STARTED
TIME ENDED
MEMBERS PRESENT
MEMBERS EXCUSED
MEMBERS UNEXCUSED
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT
OTHERS PRESENT:
FINAL
CITY OF LINO LAKES
CHARTER COMMISSION
121
July 9, 2009
6:38 P.M.
8:46 P.M.
Dahl, Gunderson, Carlson, Storberg, Williams, Minar,
Bretoi, Trehus, Drennan (arrived at 6:45pm), Stockman
Maher (arrived at 6:52pm), Sutherland (arrived at
6:57pm)
Zastrow, Vacha, Lyden, Aldentaler
None
None
None
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Chair Dahl called the meeting of the Lino Lakes Charter Commission to order at 6:38 p.m. on
July 9, 2009
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Commissioner Trehus added item 7C: Discussion on City tax limits and provisions on Charter
Commission. Commissioner Carlson added 7D: Consideration of Charter amendment by
ordinance by the City Council. Commissioner Storberg suggests that the new items be added to
next meeting's agenda.
Chair Dahl deleted item 6B: discussion of road maintenance.
MOTION by Commissioner Trehus, seconded by Commissioner Minar, to adopt the amended
agenda. Motion passes with Commissioner Storberg voting no.
OPEN MIKE
No one was present for open mike.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION by Commissioner Trehus, seconded by Commissioner Minar, to approve the minutes
of April 9, 2009. Motion passes unanimously. Commissioner Trehus notes that the name
"Holtz" is highlighted and should be in normal text.
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Charter Commission
July 9, 2009
Page 2
X15
46 OLD BUSINESS
47
48 A. Audit Update
49 Chair Dahl updated the commission on the audit. The Commission's attorney, Ms. Karen Marty
50 wrote a response to the findings of the audit of the Charter Commission. Ms. Marty noted to
51 Chair Dahl that the audit reports by Dougherty and Ms. Marty are legal opinions.
52
53 Commissioner Bretoi asked if it was appropriate to publish Ms. Marty's response. MOTION by
54 Commissioner Minar, seconded by Commissioner Bretoi, that the Commission publish the
55 response to the audit by Ms. Marty on the Charter website as well as other media. Chair Dahl
56 and Commissioners Drennen and Minar suggest that the Commission's Communication
57 Subcommittee handle the task. Motion passes unanimously.
58
59 C. Chair's Report to Judge
60
61 Chair Dahl is currently working on the report, noting that since a new judge has been assigned to
62 the Commission and the audit recently completed, a more comprehensive report is in order.
63 MOTION by Commissioner Trehus, seconded by Commissioner Minar, to table to the next
64 meeting. Commissioner Drennen asked if there are any problems with delaying the report.
65 Commission agrees that previous reports to the judge have been delayed. Motion passes
^66 unanimously.
67
68 D. Discussion of Commissioner Sutherland's Presentation
69
70 The Communication subcommittee met previous to the Charter Commission meeting.
71 Commissioner Drennen stated that the subcommittee decided to table any initiative to use social
72 networks for the Commission. Commissioner Sutherland agrees that the item should be tabled
73 for future discussion.
74
75 Commissioner Trehus suggests to the Chair that all commissioners receive a copy of the letter
76 from Ms. Marty of the response to the audit.
77
78 E. Update from Commissioner Trehus on Ballot Question, Newsletter, Language and
79 Related Funding.
80
81 Commissioner Trehus states he would have an update at the next Commission meeting.
82 Commissioner Bretoi expresses appreciation to those commissioners who have spent their time
83 on this agenda item.
84
85 NEW BUSINESS
86
87 A. Status of Commercial Zones
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Charter Commission
July 9, 2009
Page 3
/Th8 Commissioner Trehus reviewed the history of this action. The Commission sent approval of an
89 Ordinance proposal to the City Council. Chair Dahl read from a note from city staff that the
90 council has not discussed this proposed amendment since receiving approval from the Charter
91 Commission.
92
93 B. Appointments
94 Chair Dahl reminded the Commission that those Commissioners, who term expires in December
95 2009, need to reapply.
96
97 C. City Tax Limits & Possible Addition of Charter Provisions
98 Commissioner Trehus researched that some cities have provisions in their Charters to limit their
99 city's tax levy. Commissioner Trehus presented examples of Mounds View, West St. Paul and
100 Fridley. Commissioner Minar stated that the State of Minnesota also has a provision on how
101 much cities can raise their tax levy. Commissioner Trehus suggested that the Commission look
102 into a Charter amendment capping the city tax levy. Commissioner Minar suggests that if the
103 Commission investigates a Charter Amendment, perhaps a mandatory percentage of the city
104 budget on road maintenance. Commissioner Drennen asked about looking into comparative data
105 of other cities. Commissioner Gunderson asked about a time line for a ballot question.
106
107 MOTION by Commissioner Drennen seconded by Sutherland, to form a subcommittee to
108 discover and report the tax position of Lino Lakes versus similar cities in Minnesota.
,09 Commissioner Storberg discusses on time constraints of putting a question on this year's ballot.
10 The Chair calls the question. Motion passes unanimously. Commissioners Trehus, Sutherland
111 and Stockman Maher agree to serve on the subcommittee.
112
113 MOTION by Commissioner Gunderson, seconded by Commissioner Trehus, to hold a special
114 meeting of the Charter Commission on Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 7:OOpm. Motion passes
115 unanimously.
116
117 Commissioner Trehus discusses adding two provisions to the Charter. The first is to give
118 Commission all powers to protect and preserve the Charter. The second is to give the City all
119 responsibility for Data Practices.
120
121 MOTION by Commissioner Bretoi, seconded by Commissioner Trehus, that wording is drafted
122 on these provisions for presentation at the July 23rd meeting of the Charter Commission. Motion
123 passes unanimously.
124
125 D. Amendment for Passage by Ordinance
126 Commissioner Carlson presented language for an Amendment to the Charter, to be sent to the
127 City Council for passage by ordinance.
128
129 "To increase Lino Lakes city information available to citizens and to promote transparency in our
130 local government, the Lino Lakes Charter Commission is recommending the Lino Lakes City
'—`131 Council amend the Charter by ordinance following Minnesota Statutes 410.12, Subd. 7.
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Charter Commission
July 9, 2009
Page 4
133 The following amendment would be added to Chapter 3, Section 3.01 of the City Charter.
134
135 'All regular open council meetings; the open mike portion and council work sessions shall be
136 televised. Should the City Council determine it is necessary to exempt a given council meeting
137 or council work session from this procedure, they may do so by motion."
138
139 MOTION by Commissioner Bretoi, seconded by Carlson, to forward Commissioner Carlson's
140 drafted language to City Council for passage by ordinance. Motion passes with Commissioner
141 Minar voting no.
142
143 The next meeting of the Charter Commission will be Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 7:OOpm.
144
145 ADJOURN
146 MOTION by Commissioner Minar, seconded by Commissioner Drennen, to adjourn the meeting
147 at 8:46p.m. Motion carried unanimously.
148
149
150 Respectfully Submitted,
151
152 Kelly Gunderson
x-453 Secretary
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