HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-08-1993 MOUNDS VIEW CHARTER COMMISSION MINUTES
JUNE 8 , 1993
111
I . Call to Order
Chair Len Burgers called the meeting to order at 7 : 10 p . m.
in the Mounds View City Hall .
II . Roll Call
Present : Len Burgers , Virgil Beyer , Jerry Linke , Richard
Oman , Pat Rickaby , Laurie Schley , Julie Trude , Arlene Werdien ,
Ruth White and Ray Vandeveer .
Absent (excused ) : Lloyd Bardwell , Sue Hankner , Duane McCarty
and Bob Toborg . Absent ( unexcused ) : Dave Long .
III . Approval of Minutes
Motion by Jerry Linke , second by Virgil Beyer , to approve
the Minutes of the May 25 , 1993 meeting as submitted . Passed
unanimously .
IV . New Business
• Pat Rickaby presented the legal opinion of the Briggs and
Morgan law firm, dated 1/15/93 , from attorney Bill Burns ,
that advisory elections are not permissible unless authorized
by a city ' s charter . This opinion was given to the Senior
Center Advisory Commission . Chair Burgers noted that the
consensus of this commission ' had been to leave the authorization
for advisory elections in the charter .
Laurie Schley reviewed her proposed draft of chapter 7 and
made notes of offered suggestions . Commissioners discussed
whether there was adequate notice and opportunity for public
involvement in the budgeting process and whether more specific
action should be required to involve the community. The
city ' s practice of providing a budget summary to the public
which does not specify dollars raised and dollars spent was
discussed . The commission consensus was that this practice
did not meet the charter requirements of §7 .06 , subd . 2 and
that perhaps an advisory letter should be sent to city staff .
Don Brager ' s memorandum of June 7 reviewing Chapter 8 and
comparing it to Minnesota Statutes., Chapter 429 was distributed .
The length of the material prevented a full discussion of
the issue . There was a concern by several members that a
municipal lawyer should be consulted in the revision of this
chapter . The advantages of financing upcoming road reconstruction
projects under state law and the availability of public notice
and public involvement were discussed . Jerry Linke offered
to re-draft Chapter 8 following state law . Further discussion
was postponed until legal advice could be obtained and Mr .
Brager ' s materials reviewed .
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•
Chapters 9 & 10 were not available yet for review.
410 Julie Trude reviewed her draft of Chapter 11 . There was
a consensus to re-insert the language in § 11 . 02 requiring
rates to be just and reasonable . The public notice required
in § 11 . 06 was also discussed and agreement reached that there
should be two forms of public notice and that one of them
could be a city newspaper and the other the city newsletter
or a special city mailing .
Pat Rickaby discussed her draft of Chapter 12 . The purpose
of § 12 .07 and its wording were discussed . The consensus
was to seek legal review of its purpose and then to simplify
the language .
The publication of the city newsletter directed in §12 . 13
was discussed . The consensus of the commission was to leave
the requirement at six newsletters per year . The newsletters
are viewed as serving an important role in communicating
with the public . The survey question regarding this issue
was reviewed and discussed at this time but did not change
the commission consensus because of the wording of the question .
The proposed draft of language requiring a primary election
for council candidates when more than 4 persons file for
a given position was discussed . The commission voted with
9 ayes and 1 abstention to put the issue to the voters on
a ballot .
The proposed draft setting term limits for elected city officials
was discussed . Several commissioners favored an eight-year
consecutive term limit for any office , others were undecided .
The need to hold a public forum on the several proposed issues
to go on a city-wide ballot was discussed . Some commissioners
wanted this forum held before a _vote is taken on whether
any or all of the controversial issues (mayor ' s term , primaries ,
term limits ) would be put on a public ballot. Other commissioners
considered it important to either endorse a proposed idea
or at least provide the public with pros and cons .on each
of these issues . Further discussion was postponed to the
next meeting .
V . Agenda for Next Meeting : 6/22/93
•
The following agenda was set for the next meeting to be held •
in the City Hall at 7 p .m . on Tuesday , June 22 , 1993 .
AGENDA FOR JUNE 22 , 1993
1 . Discuss term limits
2 . Begin Review of Chapter Re-writes , 1 - 12
3 . Discuss Summer Recess
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VI . Adjournment
411 Upon the motion of Virgil Beyer , seconded by Laurie Schley ,
the commission members voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting
at 9 : 55 p .m .
Respectfully submitted
die Trude
ecretary
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