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Mounds View City Council December 13, 1999 Regular Meeting Page 34 Mayor Coughlin stated this item was discussed at some length at the previous Council Work Session. MOTION/SECOND: Thomason/Mart To Waive the Readin and A rove Resolution 5396 a Y g pP Resolution Requiring Cable Broadcasting of City Business Conducted at Open Public Meetings. Council Member Stigney stated as the Council was aware, all of the commissions and committees that are appointed by the Council are currently being braadcast on cable television, therefore, the only body that is really affected by this item is the Charter Commission. He commented that there has been some friction between the Charter Commission and the City Council, and it has been pointed out that the Charter Commission meets in separate subcommittees, which makes the broadcasting of meetings an awkward process, and he was uncertain how it could be handled. Council Member Stigney stated the Charter Commission is not a commission appointed by the Council, but rather a body appointed by a Ramsey County Judge. He explained that this is a separate body that directly represents the residents of the community, and as such, they have a vote in terms of whether or not they wish to have their meetings broadcast. Council Member Stigney stated because of the way they are structured, and the information they have to present to the community at this time, the Charter Commission has held off broadcasting, requesting broadcasting, and accepting the request to be broadcast on cable television. He stated their vote should be honored, and they should not have to answer to the Council. He stated the • proposed resolution is simply a means to show authority, therefore, he does not support it. Council Member Marty stated when he ran for office, he pledged to provide as much City information to the citizens as possible. He stated he is also a member of the Charter Commission, and he was originally reluctant with regard to this policy, for similar reasons as those indicated by Council Member Stigney, however, the decisions of the Charter Commission can also affect every citizen in the City. He stated he did not view this matter as a power play, but rather as information that could be germane to every citizen in the City. He advised that if citizens wish to view the Charter Commission meetings, which are open meetings, they should have the opportunity to do so. Council Member Stigney stated he believes the Charter Commission would be more that happy to advertise and gain as much publicity as they can, to support the changes they are proposing to make to the Charter. He explained however, it would be awkward to attempt to broadcast the meetings when there are two subcommittees meeting in separate places simultaneously. He explained that when the discussions have been formalized, the Charter Commission as an entirety, would likely request the City to broadcast the meetings, so that they can disseminate some information, and would wholeheartedly support it at that time, however, the decision should be theirs. Mayor Coughlin stated this policy resolves a variety of issues, and certainly attempts to provide information to the residents, which is something he campaigned upon heavily. He indicated that he has attempted to distribute as much of this information as possible through cable broadcasting, to provide an opportunity for those who are not able to attend the meetings to learn what is occurring from the initial stages nght through to the final product.