HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-17-2008 Minutes\1
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37 MOTION by Commissioner Dahl, seconded by Commissioner Drennen, to approve the agenda
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40 OPEN MIKE
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42 No one was present for open mike.
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DATE
TIME STARTED
TIME ENDED
MEMBERS PRESENT
MEMBERS EXCUSED
MEMBERS UNEXCUSED
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT
GUESTS PRESENT
APPROVED
CITY OF LINO LAKES
CHARTER COMMISSION
July 17, 2008
6:37 P.M.
9:06 P.M.
Aldentaler, Bretoi, Carlson, Dahl, Drennen, Duffy,
Gunderson, Lyden, Minar, Stockman Maher,
Storberg, Trehus, Vacha, Williams, Zastrow
None
None
None
Deb Barnes, The Citizen (press)
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Chair Duffy called the meeting of the Lino Lakes Charter Commission to order at 6:37 p.m. on
July 17, 2008.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Commissioner Zastrow asked if the Commission can vote for or against the amendment this
evening.
Chair Duffy requested the addition of two items under New Business (agenda item #7): (1)
discussion of the July 16, 2008 email from City Administrator Heitke, and (2) discussion of the
open meeting law and communications between Charter Commission members.
Chair Duffy also requested the addition of one item under Old Business (agenda item #6B) to
discuss the recent Citizen article regarding the Legacy Project.
as amended. Motion carried unanimously.
Charter Commission
July 17, 2008
Page 2
APPROVED
44 APPROVAL OF MINUTES — JUNE 18, 2008
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46 Commissioner Bretoi requested lines 72 and 73 be amended to read "Commissioners Gunderson
47 and Bretoi prefer to vote in favor of something versus petitioning against something."
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49 MOTION by Commissioner Zastrow, seconded by Commissioner Bretoi, to approve the June 18,
50 2008 Charter Commission meeting minutes, as amended. Motion carried unanimously.
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52 OLD BUSINESS
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54 A. Update on Charter Exempt Zones
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56 Chair Duffy presented the email correspondence from Ms. Marty dated July 16, 2008 regarding
57 Q&A on Charter Exempt Zones, and the memo from Michael Grochala, Community
58 Development Director, dated July 7, 2008 in response to questions submitted to him by
59 Commissioner Trehus on June 24, 2008.
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61 Commissioner Trehus stated he asked Mr. Grochala if he had had any conversations with
62 residents in exempt zones regarding the Charter amendment; Mr. Grochala replied he had not.
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64 Commissioner Minar arrived at 6:51 p.m.
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66 Commissioner Lyden suggested that letting the exempt zones go would be a viable option to
67 pursue.
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69 Commissioner Trehus stated he could not think of any way those residents in the exempt zones
70 would be detrimentally affected and this would give them the same rights as all other residents.
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72 Commissioner Lyden expressed some concern regarding the impact to property values of the lots
73 that would lose their opt out rights based on the response given by Mr. Grochala to question #4.
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75 Commissioner Carlson suggested that rather than putting this on the ballot, the Commission
76 could request an ordinance change.
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78 Commissioner Trehus concurred and stated there are only a few properties involved. He added
79 there are currently three exempt zones in the City and a provision was placed in the Charter that
80 specifically applies to them that indicates they do not have to pay assessments until such time as
81 they hook up; these properties would then be under the same Charter as everybody else in the
82 City.
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84 MOTION by Commissioner Zastrow, seconded by Commissioner Carlson, to send a proposal to
85 the City Council to approve by ordinance the elimination of Section 8.07 from the existing
86 Charter. Motion carried unanimously.
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Charter Commission
July 17, 2008
Page 3
APPROVED
/••'1
88 B. Ballot Measure
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90 Chair Duffy presented a 1995 article written by Kristi Belcamino in the Quad with the headline
91 "Charter amendment wasn't understood; anti -voters lauded for their effort." She noted the article
92 stated nothing could be done unless residents agreed to be assessed for repairs.
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94 Discussion ensued regarding the pavement management plan and the contents of the 1995 Quad
95 article.
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97 Commissioner Vacha stated the Charter Commission has spent a considerable amount of time
98 working on the amendment and felt it was important to proceed with the ballot measure.
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100 Commissioner Lyden stated the Charter Commission's goal should be to put something on the
101 ballot that can get approved.
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103 Commissioner Dahl stated she wants to see something approved that works for the residents and
104 added she did not feel the Council's amendment is the best thing for the residents. She stated it
105 will be difficult for residents to distinguish between the two proposals.
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107 Commissioner Drennen stated the voters are going to have to review two complicated versions of
108 the amendment; the Charter Commission is attempting to accomplish the referendum and protect
X09 that right for the citizens. He stated the germaine discussion should be how the Charter
110 Commission can best accomplish this.
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112 The Charter Commission discussed two options:
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114 Option A: Oppose the City amendment and offer no Charter Commission alternative at this
115 time (status quo)
116 Option B: Oppose the City amendment and offer a Charter Commission alternative
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118 The Charter Commission discussed the pros and cons of each option.
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120 Commissioner Drennen stated if the Commission determines it will not offer an alternative at
121 this time, it will be important for the Charter Commission to explain to residents the reasons for
122 its decision, including the fact that the Charter Commission does not want to take the risk of
123 confusing voters on this very complicated issue and that the Charter Commission is pulling back
124 at this time to focus on the issue before the residents, i.e., would you like to have a vote if
125 something impacts you or not? He stated the paramount goal of the Charter Commission is to act
126 on behalf of the residents.
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128 MOTION by Commissioner Trehus, seconded by Commissioner Carlson, to reject the City
129 Council's proposed City Charter amendment. Motion carried (Commissioner Vacha abstained).
.-1130
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Charter Commission
July 17, 2008
Page 4
APPROVED
X31 MOTION by Commissioner Bretoi, seconded by Commissioner Gunderson, to offer no Charter
132 Commission amendment proposal at this time.
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134 Further Discussion
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136 Commissioner Bretoi stated there was an assumption when Commissioner Trehus made his
137 motion that it included refraining from submitting an alternative amendment at this time. He
138 stated he will withdraw his motion based on the understanding that by having accepted
139 Commissioner Trehus's motion to reject the City's proposal, the Charter Commission is not
140 going to offer an alternative proposal at this time.
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142 Motion and second withdrawn.
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144 The Charter Commission discussed the recent article regarding the Legacy Project and use of
145 public funds.
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147 C. Communication Plan
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149 Discussion ensued regarding the communication plan and the importance of stressing to voters
150 that the issue before them is very complex and the Charter Commission does not want to confuse
151 voters.
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153 Commissioner Lyden stated the Charter Commission should consider submitting an editorial
154 regarding the Charter amendment.
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156 Chair Duffy stated the Charter Commission could also submit an article for publication in the
157 City newsletter. She added it may be helpful to have two articles run side by side with
158 information about the amendment and Q&A. She added the Charter Commission cannot
159 advocate a position one way or the other and the article should simply state the facts.
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161 It was the consensus of the Charter Commission to submit articles for publication regarding the
162 amendment and to include Q&A.
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164 Commissioner Storberg arrived at 8:21 p.m.
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166 Commissioner Gunderson suggested scheduling a meeting with the Quad press to make sure the
167 Charter Commission gets equal time and suggest to the Quad the inclusion of a split page article.
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169 Commissioner Drennen stated the Charter Commission should review its communication plan
170 and determine the estimated cost for the plan. He offered to work on the communication plan;
171 Commissioners Trehus, Dahl, Lyden, Zastrow, Gunderson, and Duffy also agreed to work on the
172 communication plan. He also suggested sending out a press release.
"-N173
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Charter Commission
July 17, 2008
Page 5
APPROVED
X74 Commissioner Lyden suggested including information on the City's website and/or on public
175 television.
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177 It was the consensus of the Charter Commission that the first priority for the communication plan
178 subcommittee is to prepare a cover letter to the City Council and to submit an article for the City
179 newsletter.
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181 MOTION by Commissioner Bretoi, seconded by Commissioner Minar, to empower the
182 communication plan subcommittee to submit a communication on behalf of the entire Charter
183 Commission without having to come back to the entire body for approval. Motion carried
184 unanimously.
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186 D. Statement of detailed expenses incurred up to July 2008 and Charter Budget
187 Balance
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189 Chair Duffy presented the statement of detailed expenses through June 2008 and noted a balance
190 of $3,422.46. She added there will be some additional expenses incurred for TimeSaver Off Site
191 Secretarial and Marty Law Firm, resulting in a remaining balance of approximately $3,000.
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193 Commissioner Dahl stated the Charter Commission will need to give consideration to its budget
194 request for 2009.
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196 NEW BUSINESS
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198 Chair Duffy presented the July 16, 2008 email from City Administrator Heitke inviting her to
199 provide an update at the August 4, 2008 City Council work session regarding the Charter
200 Commission's review of the Citizen's Task Force/Council-initiated amendment.
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202 Commissioner Drennen suggested that Chair Duffy attend the August 4, 2008 City Council work
203 session and respectfully decline to offer any information whatsoever.
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205 A. Next meeting date to be decided
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207 It was the consensus of the Charter Commission to meet on Monday, September 15, 2008, at
208 6:30 p.m. The next regular meeting of the Charter Commission is scheduled for October 9, 2008.
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210 B. Set next meeting agenda
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212 It was the consensus of the Charter Commission that the September 15, 2008 meeting agenda
213 will include discussion of the communication plan and ballot question language.
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Charter Commission
July 17, 2008
Page 6
APPROVED
L15 Miscellaneous
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217 Chair Duffy stated that Chief Judge Gary Schurrer's term ended on June 30th and Timothy
218 Bloomquist is now the Chief Judge.
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220 Open Meeting Law
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222 Chair Duffy stated she discussed the open meeting law with the attorney and Ms. Marty has
223 assured her that everything sent thus far via email does not violate the open meeting law. She
224 reviewed the provision contained in the handbook from the League of Minnesota Cities regarding
225 use of technology and reminded all Commissioners to remain cognizant of the open meeting law.
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227 ADJOURN
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229 MOTION by Commissioner Dahl, seconded by Commissionar Minar, to adjourn. Motion carried
230 unanimously.
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232 Respectfully submitted,
233
234 Barbara Hughes
235 TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.
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