Agenda Packets - 2023/08/14 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council July 24, 2023 Regular Meeting Page 4 1 31.001(B) of the Mound View City Code regarding the composition of the City Council and 2 establishing a Vice Acting Mayor. He explained this was an administration matter that would allow 3 the Council to appoint a Vice Acting Mayor in the event the Acting Mayor was not available. He 4 noted this language could be added to the City Charter as well, but he did not believe this was 5 necessary. 6 7 Council Member Lindstrom stated he would be interested in hearing from the Charter Commission 8 to see if they were interested in making an amendment. 9 10 Brian Amundsen, 3048 Woodale Drive, explained the Charter states in Section 203 — Council 11 Composition, that the Council shall be composed of a Mayor and four Councilmembers and that 12 in the event of a Mayor vacancy that the Acting Mayor is the Mayor. While he believed this was 13 a prudent thing to do, he believed taking action by Ordinance would be illegal or malfeasance. He 14 stated there was no position of Vice Acting Mayor within the Charter. He recommended the City 15 Council bring this item to the Charter Commission in the form of an Ordinance and that it be 16 brought forward in that matter. 17 18 Council Member Lindstrom asked how long it would take for the Charter Commission to take 19 action on the proposed Ordinance. Mr. Amundsen discussed how Council initiated language 20 changes had to be dealt with and stated this would become a ballot matter. He explained he did not 21 object to the proposed position, however per City Charter it was not allowed. He recommended 22 the Council approve a Vice Acting Mayor at a meeting, in the event Acting Mayor Meehlhause 23 was not able to attend a meeting. 24 25 Acting Mayor Meehlhause clarified for the record that staff did not bring this matter forward, 26 rather it was him. 27 28 City Attorney Riggs explained if Acting Mayor Meehlhause were incapacitated and not able to 29 perform his duties, the City have signing and other Mayoral duties that have to occur outside of 30 Council meetings.. He reported that was what this Ordinance was trying to address. He discussed 31 how Roberts Rules do not carry over from one meeting to another. He understood why the Charter 32 Commission would like to have this language included, however, he noted the Charter was silent 33 on other matters that were covered by the City. 34 35 Acting Mayor Meehlhause asked if the recommendation of staff was to move this item forward. 36 City Attorney Riggs reported this was his recommendation. 37 38 MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Cermak. To Waive the First Reading and Introduce Ordinance 1005 39 Amending Section 31.001 (B) of the Mounds View City Code Regarding the Composition of the 40 Council and Establishing a Vice Acting Mayor. 41 42 Council Member Lindstrom stated this was a tough issue. He indicated he saw the need and the 43 value of having someone in place in between meetings. However, he also understood the 44 importance of the Charter and following specific processes. He stated he would be interested in 45 looking at trying to get this matter on the ballot for the Special Election in November. 46