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Mounds View City Council August 28, 2000 <br />Regular Meeting Page 16 <br /> <br />Willard Doty, Vice Chair of the Charter Commission, explained that the Charter Commission <br />Chair is unable to attend due to a family obligation and the Charter Commission Secretary was <br />also unavailable after the July 13th meeting. He stated they should have changed the date on the <br />document and initialed it but that mistake was not caught. Mr. Doty explained a decision was <br />made at the July 13th meeting to request an extension. He stated this is a serious ordinance that <br />changes the City from being a Clerk Administrator to a City Manager form of government. He <br />advised that some Charter Commissioners are not opposed to a City Manager form of <br />government but believe the present proposal needs some work between the Council and Charter <br />Commission. He urged the Council to consider this careful since they represent the residents and <br />handing over all the administration of the City to an individual must be carefully looked at. He <br />stated this consideration before the Council is disputable but does not negate the situation that the <br />Charter Commission had unanimously passed an extension. <br /> <br />Acting Mayor Stigney stated it appears there is a technicality of the date on the document <br />submitted when it was actually approved in the prior meeting. Mr. Doty stated that is correct. <br /> <br />Acting Mayor Stigney stated it is being proposed to give the Charter Commission an opportunity <br />to look at this amendment, and to determine if this is the way to move or if it is documented fully <br />enough. He stated it would also give residents an opportunity to review proposed amendments <br />prior to being on the ballot and provide a process where someone else besides the Council has <br />reviewed it. <br /> <br />Mr. Doty stated it is typical for the Council and Charter Commission to work together on issues <br />like this prior to going on the ballot. He stated he assumed the City Attorney put this ordinance <br />together. <br /> <br />City Attorney Long stated he did draft the Charter amendment after looking at a number of city <br />charters that incorporated charter provisions along with a City Manager form of government. He <br />stated this was not a statutory Plan B form but similar to a city charter in Albert Lee with other <br />provisions not provided for in the State Statutes. <br /> <br />Mr. Doty asked if the Council provided input into the ordinance. City Attorney Long stated the <br />Council asked them to prepare it and then the Council voted on it. <br /> <br />Council Member Quick stated this is not a question and answer time for the person at the dais <br />with the City Attorney, noting that Mr. Doty has made his comments. <br /> <br />Mr. Doty stated this is a situation where they had applied in time but the form was dated wrong, <br />as has recently occurred with City staff on other issues. He suggested this is a “heavy issue” and <br />not one the Council would just want to pass. He suggested the Council and Charter Commission <br />should look at this together. <br /> <br />Acting Mayor Stigney stated he supports allowing the Charter Commission to have an <br />opportunity to look at this and believes there was inadequate discussion at the Council level. <br />