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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-15-1993 Charter AgendaAGENDA LINO LAKES CHARTER COMMISSION Wednesday September 15, 1993 7:00 P.M. 1. Review public comments taken at public meeting, Tuesday, September 14, 1993 MINUTES LINO LAKES HOME RULE CHARTER COMMISSION September 1, 1993 LINO LAKES CITY HALL Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:15 PM by Chairman Pat Smith. Roll Call Present were Robert Doocy, William Houle, Rolf Iverson, Raymond Johnson, Sally Kuether, Al Ross, Joyce Scharpen, Pat Smith, and David Storberg. Also present was Brian Wessel of the Economic Development Authority Advisory Board. Old Business The minutes from the last meeting were read and approved Names submitted to fill expiring terms have been submitted to the 10th District Court Chief Judge. He agreed to delay new appointment until September 30, 1993 as request by the Charter Commission. The invoice from Holmes and Graven for the services of the City Bond Attorney was presented. It was moved and approved to pass the invoice to the City Administrator to see if a fee reduction could be negotiated. The Quad Community press has formally requested copies of all Charter Commission proceedings. A work session was held on August 11, 1993 to clean up the files. A work session was held on August 18, 1993 to review the Commission letter to the community and set the agenda for the Community Meeting to be held on September 14, 1993. The Commission letter announcing the Community Meeting was approved. The agenda for the Community Meeting was approved. Brian Wessel will present the EDAAB proposal. Stan Peskar, League of Minnesota Cities, will discuss the differences between the Chater and the proposal. Dave Gontarek of Lino Lakes will moderate the meeting. Members Smith, Storberg, Doocy, Houle, and Kuether and EDAAB Chairman Wessel will meet with Mr. Gontarek prior to the September 14 meeting. Printed material at the meeting will be the comparison and summary sheets used in the original Charter Election process in 1981/82. New Business None. The next Charter Commission Meeting will be held on Wednesday September 15, 1993 at 7:00 PM at the Lino Lakes City Hall. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 8:15 PM. Respectfully submitted, Rolf Iverson, Secretary CHARTER CHAPTER 1. Name, Boundaries, Powers and General Provisions 2. Fbrm of Government 3. Council Procedure 4. Nominations and Elections 5. Initiative, Referendum, Recall 6. Administration 7. Taxation and Finance 8. Public Improvements and Special Assessments 9. Eminent Domain 10. Franchises 11. Public Ownership and Operation of Utilities 12. Miscellaneous and Transitory Provisions BE INFORMED LINO LAKES HOME -RULE CHARTER PRESENT CITY GOVERNMENT COMPARED TO CHARTER PRESENT CITY GOVE1 E T Ordinances effective immediately City Council fills vacancies on Council None the same UNDER CHARTER the same — Effective 30 days after publication Voters fill vacancies by election if balance of term greater than 1 year Right to initiate new laws Right to repeal council action Right to recall officials the same- 1 year financial plan Council or petition initiates Council orders study Public hearing Council votes for or against 5 year financial plan -1- Council or petition initiates -2- Council orders study -3- Public hearing -4- Affected property owners petition for or against the same No hearing and no vote by the people Limited communications Public hearing and election held about the same - Requires new procedure for better communications to the citizens and a method of gathering information from the citizens PUBLIC MEETINGS WHY Tb hear the Charter explained and ask questions. WHEN December 3rd. and December 17th. WHERE Lino Lakes City Hall TIME 7:30 P.M. SUMMARY of CHARTER FOR LINO LAKES The Charter was drafted by a commission organized under a procedure provided by Minnesota statute 410. The Lino Lakes Home -Rule Charter Commission was formally created by a court order signed by Chief Judge James T. Knutson as a result of a petition to the court. This charter closely followed a model charter provided by the League of Minnesota Cities with ideas and thoughts tailored to the unique needs of the citizens of our community, Lino Lakes. A draft was submitted to the League of Minnesota Cities and the Lino Lakes City Council for comments. A summary of the charters twelve chapters follows. Chapter 1: This chapter designates the boundaries and powers of the City as allowed under Minnesota law. It is the same boundaries as exists in Lino today. Chapter 2: This chapter on the form of government is the same as Lino Lakes has today. Chapter 3: This chapter details the general Council procedure in order for it to operate in an effective manner. Chapter 4: Covers nominations and elections for council office. The major change from current practice is that a vacancy in the City Council would be filled by a special election rather than appointment by the City Council if the term of the vacant office has more than one year to run. Chapter 5: This chapter contains the new rights of Initiative, Referendum and Recall that the voters will have under the new charter. Initiative is the right of citizens to petition for new ordinances. Referendum is the right to petition for a vote on an ordinance passed by the City Council to either support or suspend the ordinance. Recall is the right to petition for recall of an elected official for misconduct in office. CHAPTER 6: Covers the administration of the city. The Council has the overall responsibility with the City Administrator .appointed to act for the Council in the day-to-day activities. This is the current method of operation in the city. CHAPTER 7: This important part of the charter calls for a long term (five year) financial plan for the city. The League of Minnesota Cities suggests a plan of this type. This plan will help the council and concerned residents formulate a desireable direction of growth for the city. The plan will be published annually. CHAPTER 8: This chapter covers public improvements and special assessments. The charter provides an inexpensive petition procedure for those affected by the proposed special assessments. The language is somewhat complicated but the result is that the majority for or against the proposal wins. In addition to this feature there is a provision allowing the general public to vote for or against a project when the public shares in the cost of a project. CHAPTER 9: Covers eminent domain. Allows the city to acquire real property and follows State or other applicable laws in exercising this right. CHAPTER 10: Covers franchises. Establishes a procedure that allows the City Council to grant franchises for the private operation of a public utility. This procedure requires a public hearing prior to the granting of a franchise. CHAPTER 11: Covers public ownership of utilities. Establishes a procedure that allows the city to own and operate a public utility and prior to the setting of rates, a public hearing is required. CHAPTER 12: This chapter is the catchall for miscellaneous items for the city operation, ie; requirements for oath of office and employee bonds, vacation of streets, implementation of existing ordinances, etc. The charter commission recognized that Lino Lakes is served by more than one newspaper and is so widespread that the official publication is not received by the majority of people, therefor, the charter designates the Council to set up an additional means of communications. This additional means will allow a better informed public and an opportunity for positive input back to the Council. The charter as drafted contains the necessary information to currently operate the city effectively, however, it is a working document and as time passes, may need to be revised to make it better. After initial passage, the charter can be revised or revoked by a vote of the people of Lino Lakes. The Charter allows you, the people, to have a voice in city government between city council elections.