July 10 Draft Letter_to_Judge_regarding_Charter_Commission Brian Amundsen Final

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All of the above manifested at the May 21, 2019 meeting during which Mr. Amundsen deliberately undermined the chair by introducing and insisting on an amended agenda without the benefit of a providing a printed version. Additionally, the amended agenda included items specific to furtherance of his importance as Secretary which resulted in the meeting being extended with several members questioning his motives. This lack of respect for others time combined with the attitude is the primary cause of the actual resignation and multiple pending resignations. The dysfunction of the Charter Commission for more than a decade continues to prohibit the Council and the City from realizing the necessary contributions of the Commission and the willing members that have stepped forward to serve the community. The Council’s analysis, observations, review and discussions lead it to the unfortunate but necessary conclusion that the removal of Mr. Amundsen is necessary for the success of the Commission and the City. The consequences of failing to take this action will result in a continuation of past Commission practice and dysfunction. The most recent events involving the Commission provide extreme clarity on this point. In closing, the Mounds View City Council has minimal desire to harm or criticize a long serving individual of the community and prefers to focus on the viability of a functioning Charter Commission body. The City’s Planning and Zoning Commission, Parks, Recreation and Forestry Commission, and Economic Development Commission are all fully staffed with community volunteers. In addition, we had twenty community volunteers serve on our Comprehensive Task Force over the past two years. All have operated with stability, a high degree of functionality and productivity. This is critical to good government and policy making. Attached to this correspondence please find the following: Chart detailing the current membership of the Commission and their length of service. Chart detailing chair/secretary and membership of the Commission since 2002 which is the point in time both Mr. Amundsen and Mr. Thomas started serving together. This chart also provides detail on when the Commission went from 15 to 11 members (2003) and then 11 to 9 members in 2017. The chart further provides the number of meetings per year (monthly until 2015 then bi-monthly) as well as the times met despite absence of a quorum and the number of meetings cancelled due to lack of quorum. The Chart also details the authorized Commission size along with the actual number of members as of December 31 of each calendar year. Email from Mr. Amundsen to Commission Members and City Staff with Mr. Amundsen giving clear direction to City Staff. Mr. Amundsen has no authority or permission to direct city staff. Email from Mr. Amundsen to City Attorney Scott Riggs giving clear direction again to undertake a specific task. Of note, this is in direct conflict with what was detailed at the Charter Commission meeting held May 21, 2019. A running history of significant events since 2002, again the point in time both Mr. Amundsen and Mr. Thomas started serving together. Memoranda from Kennedy & Graven, Chartered, provided to staff, Council and the Charter Commission related to quorum requirements for the Commission. Correspondence drafted by then Chair Thomas to Council (2003) extolling his understanding of quorums. Sampling of Charter Commission minutes over the years in which quorums were not met yet Commission continued to operate. Chart/graph produced by the Commission to aid in understanding Chapter 8 of the Charter. Transcripts of phone calls between Mr. Amundsen and Mr. Zikmund.