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The Honorable Chief Judge John H. Guthmann <br />August 12, 2019 <br />Page 2 <br />any time.' Absent an active and functioning Commission, the residents of Mounds View are <br />deprived of a critical, statutorily -created body intended to address significant issues related to the <br />City's ability to govern and effectively operate under the Mounds View City Charter (the <br />"Charter"). <br />During the Hearing, Mounds View City Administrator Nyle Zikmund testified that the Charter, <br />which was originally adopted in 1979, lacks clarity and is in desperate need of revision. For this <br />reason, the City has long urged the Commission to address various issues via the charter <br />amendment process contained in state law.2 During his tenure with the City, one of Mr. Zikmund's <br />principal goals has been to work with the Commission to facilitate revisions to the Charter. Those <br />efforts have been futile due to the inefficiencies of the Commission caused by Mr. Amundsen. <br />One example cited specifically by Mr. Zikmund is the Commission's efforts to address <br />deficiencies contained in Chapter 8 of the Charter, which relates to public improvements. <br />Mr. Zikmund stated that the Commission has discussed possible amended language for Chapter 8 <br />of the Charter at 69 different meetings, and those meetings span a time period of eight years. To <br />date, those discussions have been fruitless and Chapter 8 of the Charter still remains unchanged <br />due to Mr. Amundsen's excessively -belabored discussions. <br />Commission member Brandon Clawson also testified during the Hearing and indicated that he <br />does not intend to remain on the Commission beyond his current term. Mr. Clawson described <br />Commission meetings as a waste of time because nothing is accomplished, again due to <br />Mr. Amundsen. A specific example cited by Mr. Clawson was Commission discussions related to <br />Chapter 4 of the Charter, another section of the Charter that warrants revision. Mr. Clawson was <br />first appointed to the Commission in January 2017 and testified that, despite meeting on numerous <br />occasions throughout the duration of his tenure, the Commission has accomplished nothing. Due <br />to these inefficiencies and lack of any accomplishments, which Mr. Clawson and Mr. Zikmund <br />attributed directly to the actions of Mr. Amundsen at meetings, Mr. Clawson stated that he will not <br />seek reappointment in the future, absent changes to the Commission's membership. <br />Mounds View City Councilmember Gary Meehlhause also testified during the Hearing. <br />Mr. Meehlhause has been a member of the Mounds View City Council for approximately seven <br />years and, the City's petition, although signed by the mayor, was filed with the Court on behalf of <br />the entire City Council. During the Hearing, Mr. Meehlhause testified specifically about his <br />involvement in recruiting Commission members over the years. Mr. Meehlhause has also attended <br />Commission meetings during his multiple City Council terms and, like Mr. Zikmund and <br />Mr. Clawson, has observed first-hand how Commission meetings are conducted. According to <br />Mr. Meehlhause, recruiting Commission members has become increasingly more difficult based <br />'See Minn. Stat. § 410.12, subd. 1. <br />'- Minn. Stat. § 410.12 (providing the various ways in which a Charter amendment can be accomplished and the <br />Commission's role related to said amendments). <br />605223v4MU210-271 <br />