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Mounds View City Council October 10, 2000 Special Meeting Page 3 City Attorney Long reported if the proposal on the ballot to change the term of mayor from two years to four years passes it does not apply to whomever wins the election this time. The winner of the election this year will be elected to a two-year term and the winner of the next mayoral election will be seated for four years. City Attorney Long reported the City Charter has specific provisions as to how special elections to fill vacancies are to be run. However, state law has changed and supersedes the Charter. The Charter indicates the person with the third highest vote count would win the seat. There is a new uniform election law requiring candidates be listed and elected separately. This may require some housekeeping to the Charter to bring it in line with the new law. City Attorney Long reported on the status of the billboards at the golf course. There is a legal question involving whether, based on the fact the city owns the golf course, it is appropriate for the City to lease billboard space. He noted the matter is going to be heard before an administrative law judge in the near future. Legal Staff is recommending the City intervene in the process now before a hearing on the matter is set. Intervening as a party would allow the City to be heard and to explain their position. Legal Staff estimates legal fees to intervene at approximately $2,000 to $4,000. MOTION/SECOND: Quick/Marty. To direct legal Staff to intervene as a party on behalf of the City in the administrative hearing on the billboard issue. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. Council Member Marty stated his agreement with City Attorney Long noting if the City waited to intervene there would be a petitioning process that would be more costly for the City. He then inquired as to which City official should attend the hearing. City Attorney Long indicated he would like to wait to see what happens with the hearing and make a decision as to whom would be the best City Staff member to attend. Council Member Marty inquired if the City would be limited in the number of representatives they were allowed to send to the hearing. City Attorney Long indicated the City could use as many people as the City feels is in its best interest. He noted he believes the zoning issue is the key legal issue and said he would probably need Community Development Director Jopke to explain the City’s plan for zoning. Assistant to the City Administrator Reed reported when she circulated a memo last week regarding the resident who had expressed an interest in serving on the Airport Advisory Commission she was unaware that a representative had been appointed to that committee. She has since spoken to the representative who expressed a desire to have an alternate appointed in order to have more representation at the meeting.