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Mounds View City Council January 23, 2017 <br />Regular Meeting Page 7 <br /> <br /> <br />Mayor Mueller agreed and recommended staff proceed with the hire of Ms. Kane. <br /> <br />3. Review Charter Commission Questions RE: Charter Section 4.05. <br /> <br />City Administrator Ericson reviewed several questions from the Charter Commission regarding <br />Charter Section 4.05, which was the portion of City Code relating to the filling of a vacant seat <br />on the City Council. He discussed the Charter requirements in further detail noting the City <br />would have to have hold a Special Election, which would cost roughly $10,000, in order to fill <br />the vacancy. Another for the Council to consider would be to appoint a Mounds View resident to <br />the vacancy if the opening was for less than two years. <br /> <br />City Administrator Ericson stated the Charter Commission was seeking clarifying information on <br />several questions. These questions were read in full to the Council and staff requested feedback <br />on how to proceed. <br /> <br />Council Member Gunn discussed the pros and cons of holding a Special Election. She <br />commented on the great amount of staff time that would be spent on this election and how low <br />the voter turnout would be. She supported a Special Election not being held unless there were <br />two years remaining on a term. She understood other cities have appointed City Council <br />members and this has worked out quite well. <br /> <br />Council Member Hull agreed with Council Member Gunn’s comments and stated he supported <br />the proposed changes to the Charter. <br /> <br />Council Member Meehlhause was in favor of holding a Special Election for seats that had over <br />two years remaining. He discussed the Special Election process, along with the staff time and <br />cost involved. He did not believe it made sense to hold a Special Election when an individual <br />would serve for less than a year or 15 months. He described his sons experience with the City <br />Council in Bemidji. <br /> <br />Mayor Mueller stated she did not know the history of those who wrote the Charter. She <br />understood there were some contentious times at the Council dais over the years and for this <br />reason, a Council appointment could assist in advancing a personal agenda. While she hoped <br />this would never happen in the City of Mounds View, she understood the reason for the Charter <br />being drafted as is. She supported a Special Election being held for seats with an opening more <br />than 365 days. She understood there were Council’s that did not work well together and it was <br />her hope Mounds View could avoid this situation at all cost. She did not want to see a Mayoral <br />appointment become controversial or an area of contention for the City. She knew there would <br />be staff time and cost savings if the Special Election were eliminated, however she supported the <br />Charter as written. <br /> <br />City Attorney Riggs advised the Council on the other Charter cities he represented noting each <br />had a two-year time period for Special Elections, except for Mounds View. He reported this was <br />the requirement for statutory cities with the State as well.