HomeMy WebLinkAboutChapter 4 Markup DRAFT
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CHAPTER 4 1
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NOMINATION AND ELECTIONS 3
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SECTION: 5
4.01 Municipal General Election 6
4.02 Municipal Special Elections 7
4.03 Notice of Election 8
4.04 Filing for Office 9
4.05 Vacancy of Elected Office 10
4.06 Assumption of Duties 11
4.07 Severability 12
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Section 4.01. The Regular Municipal General Election 14
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Subdivision 1. Municipal General Elections shall be established by Council resolution to conduct the normal election 16
of Council members and Mayor. 17
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Subdivision 2. A regular municipal general election shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first-19
Monday in November of each even numbered year commencing in 1980 in compliance with MN Statute 20
205.07, as amended, and at such placespolling location as the City Council shall designate per MN Statutes. 21
At least fifteen days prior notice shall be given by the City Administrator by posting a notice thereof 22
in at least one public place in each election precinct, and by publishing a notice thereof at least once in the 23
official newspaper of the City stating the time and the places of holding such election and of the officers 24
to be elected. Failure to give such notice shall not invalidate such election. (See 4.03) Elected and qualified 25
officers provided for by this Charter shall assume the duties of office to which they were elected on the first 26
business day in January following such election. (See 4.06) 27
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Section 4.03.Subdivision 3. Consistent with the provisions of this Charter and applicable state laws, 29
the Council may by ordinance further regulate the conduct of municipal elections. Except as otherwise 30
provided by this Charter and supplementary ordinances, general state laws on elections shall apply to 31
municipal elections. 32
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Section 4.02. (Was Section 4.04) Municipal Special Election 34
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Subdivision 1. For the purpose of filling a Council vacancy, a referendum issue, or advisory issue the 36
Council shall by resolution order a special election and provide all means for holding it per MN Statutes 37
205.10 Subd 3a, 3b, and 5. 38
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Subdivision 2. A special election shall be held on one of the following: the second Tuesday of 40
February, April, May or August, or the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November per MN Statues 41
205.10 Subd 3a, 3b, 5 as,amended. 42
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Subdivision 3. Subdivision 1 and 2 apply only in the manner that this Charter specifies, per MN 44
Statute 205.02 Subd2, as such provisions specified are not in conflict with this Charter for special elections 45
and voter petition qualifications. Special elections procedures shall be consistent with general state election 46
laws, except as otherwise provided by provisions of this Charter allowed by State statue for a Charter City. 47
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Section 4.03. Procedure at Elections.Notice of Election. 49
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Subdivision 1. The Candidate Filing Period Notice shall be published in the official newspaper, at a 51
publicly accessible location at City Hall, and on the City website. Such notice will state the dates for 52
Candidate filing, and the date, time and the place(s) of the election and of the officers or issue to be balloted, 53
per MN Statute 205.13 and 205.16, both as amended, which generally state the notice shall be published two 54
weeks prior to the first candidate filing date and posted at the filing location at the same time. 55
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Subdivision 2. The City Administrator shall in compliance with MN Statute 205.16, as amended, 57
publish in the City's official newspaper for all City elections. The City Administrator will additionally post 58
in clearly readable font size for two weeks prior to Election Day the election date and polling location(s) in 59
the following places: 60
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The Council designated precinct polling location(s). 62
The City's official web site on the home/front page. 63
On the City Hall electronic message board. 64
On Long Lake Road, Silver Lake Road, County Road I and Mounds View Blvd where City 65
maintained “Welcome to the City of Mounds View” signage is posted. 66
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Additionally, the notice of election date shall be posted at City Hall from sixty days before and 68
through Election Day. This City Hall notice will include how and when voters may vote by Absentee Ballot, 69
per MN Statute 203B.081, as amended from sixty days before and through Election Day. Failure to give this 70
additional notice shall not invalidate such election. 71
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Section 4.04 Special and Advisory Elections except for Elected Office. The Council shall by resolution 73
order a special or advisory election and provide all means for holding it. At least fifteen days prior notice 74
shall be given by the City Administrator by posting a notice thereof in at least one public place in each election 75
precinct, and by publishing a notice thereof at least once in the official newspaper of the City stating the time 76
and places of holding such election. Failure to give such notice shall not invalidate such election. (See 4.02) 77
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Section 4.04. Filing for Office. 79
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Subdivision 1. Pursuant to Minnesota Statute 205.13, subd. 1a, as amended, An affidavit of candidacy 81
for a city office must be filed within the time frame specified and in accordance with the MN Statute 205.13, 82
as amended, with the exception that the fee portion of the Statute shall be superseded by the following: Any 83
resident of the City qualified under state law for elective office may, by filing an affidavit and by paying a 84
filing fee of $20 or by filing a petition in compliance with MN Statute 205.13, subd. 4, as amended, to the 85
City Administrator, have their name placed on the municipal election ballot. (Amended by Ordinance 736, 86
Adopted May 10, 2004, Filed May 19, 2004; Amended by Ord. 759, Adopted June 13, 2005, Filed June 22, 87
2005; Amended by Ord. 878, Adopted Feb 11, 2013, Effective May 12, 2013.) 88
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Subdivision 2. * Term Limits. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, no person 90
may file to be a candidate for election to a term that would cause the person to serve more than eight total 91
years in the office of Mayor or in the office of City Councilmember combined. (11-8-94 Election, Effective 92
12-8-94, Filed 2-21-95) 93
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* A city charter provision limiting the term of an elected city official is unconstitutional and 95
unenforceable. See, Minneapolis Term Limits Coalition v. Keefe, 535 N.W.2d 306 (Minn.1995) 96
(Resolution 5435, 4-24-2000) 97
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Subdivision 3. Service before January 1, 1995 shall not count toward determining total length of 98
service. (11-8-94 Election, Effective 12-8-94, Filed 2-21-95) 99
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Subdivision 4. (Was Section 4.05 Subd 6) If there are insufficient numbers of candidates in a 101
regularmunicipal general or special election to fill the expiring or vacated municipal offices of that election, 102
the City Council shall fill said offices by appointment until the next regularavailable municipal special 103
election. In the case of a tie vote of the Council, the Mayor shall make said appointment. If the Mayor's 104
position is vacant the Council by resolution shall set a municipal special election for the next available 105
special election date. 106
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Section 4.05. Vacancy of Municipal Elected Office. 108
Subdivision 1. When a vacancy in an elected office of the City occurs with 365 days or more re-109
maining in the term of the vacated office, there shall be a special election held within ninety days after the va-110
cancy occurs to elect a successor to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term of the office vacated. 111
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Subdivision 2. The City Administrator shall give at least sixty days published prior notice of such 113
special election, except as set forth under Subdivision 5 of this section. 114
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Subdivision 3. The procedure at such election and assumption of duties of elected officers following 116
such election shall conform as nearly as practicable to that prescribed for other municipal elections under this 117
Charter. 118
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Subdivision 4. In the case of a vacancy where there remains less than 365 days in the unexpired 120
term, the Council shall by a majority vote appoint a successor to serve for the remainder of said term. In the 121
case of a tie vote of the Council, the Mayor shall make said appointment. 122
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Subdivision 5. When a vacancy in an elected municipal office occurs within 120 days prior to a regular 124
municipal election date, the special election to fill the vacancy shall coincide with the regular election. If the 125
vacancy occurs within sixty days prior to the regular election date, the notice of such vacancy shall be 126
published as soon as is practicable. If within the 120 day period before a regular municipal election, the 127
vacancy occurs in the office of the Mayor or in the office of either or both of the Councilmembers whose seats 128
are to be decided in the election, said vacancy shall be considered not to exist for purposes of the election. 129
However, if such vacancy occurs in the office of either of the other two Councilmembers, the seat shall be 130
filled by the candidate for Councilmember with the third highest vote total, or, in the case of two vacancies, 131
the third and fourth highest vote totals. Where two vacancies exist, the candidate with the third highest total 132
shall fill the vacancy in the office having the longest unexpired term. 133
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Subdivision 1. Vacancy in Council. A vacancy in elected Council office occurs if: 135
A) A Council member submits a resignation of office. Such vacancy shall be considered effective on 136
the date the resignation is delivered to the City Administrator or date specified in the resignation 137
letter. The Council shall by resolution, at its next meeting declare the vacancy and move to fill the 138
vacancy according to Subdivision 2. Or 139
B) Council member is absent from Council Meetings for any reason for 90 continuous calendar days. 140
The Council shall by resolution, at its next meeting, after the 90 day absence, declare the vacancy 141
and move to fill the vacancy according to Subdivision 2. Or 142
C) Council member for any reason no longer qualifies as a voter in Mounds View, as certified by the 143
City Administrator. The Council shall by resolution, at its next meeting, declare the vacancy and 144
move to fill the vacancy according to Subdivision 2. 145
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Subdivision 2. Procedure for filling Vacancy in Council. The Council shall follow these procedures 147
when filling a vacant council office. 148
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A) Vacancy with 545 days or more remaining in the term of vacated office. When a vacancy in an 150
elected office occurs with 545 days or more remaining in the term of the vacated office the Council shall 151
pass a resolution to conduct a municipal special election at the next available special election date, following 152
all necessary procedures, to elect a successor to serve the remainder of the term of the vacated office. 153
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A.1) Vacancy for a Term with more than 545 days occurring with Less Than 182 Days and 155
More than 126 days before a scheduled Municipal General Election. If a vacancy occurs with more than 545 156
days remaining in the term but with less than 182 days and more than 126 days before a municipal general 157
election in the office of either of the two Council members whose seats are not up for re-election, the seat 158
shall be filled by the candidate for Council member with the third highest vote total, or, in the case of two 159
vacancies, the third and fourth highest vote totals of the scheduled municipal election. Where two unexpired 160
term vacancies exist, the candidate with the third highest total shall fill the vacancy in the office having the 161
longest unexpired term. 162
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A.2) Vacancy of a Term with more than 545 days occurring with Less Than 126 days before a 164
Municipal General Election. If a vacancy occurs with less than 126 days before the municipal general 165
election date, or if there are insufficient candidates to fill all vacancies, the Council will issues a resolution 166
setting a municipal special election for the next available special election date. 167
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B) Vacancy with Less Than 545 Days remaining in term of vacated office. If a vacancy occurs when 169
less than 545 days remain in the term, with the exception of C) below, the Council shall by a majority vote 170
appoint a qualified voter to serve until the next available municipal election date. In the case of a tie vote of 171
the Council, the Mayor, or Acting Mayor if the Mayor position is vacant, shall appoint a qualified voter to 172
the office before 90 days expire after the office became vacant. 173
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C) Vacancy in Expiring Term with Less Than 126 Days before a Municipal General Election. If a 175
vacancy occurs with less than 126 days before a municipal general election to fill the expiring term the 176
vacancy shall be considered not to exist. 177
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Section 4.06. Assumption of duties. 179
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Subdivision 1. For a Municipal General Election the elected and qualified officers shall assume the 181
duties of office to which they were elected on the first Monday of January following such election, per MN 182
Statute 205.07, as amended. 183
Subdivision 2. Municipal Special Election 184
A) Candidates filingfilling a vacancy shall take office at or before the next regularly scheduled 185
Council meeting following election certification. (Amended by Ordinance 748; Adopted September 27, 186
2004; Filed October 13, 2004). 187
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B) Special Advisory or Referendum Elections shall take effect immediately upon the County 189
Auditor certification of the election results, unless otherwise stated in the ballot question. 190
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Section 4.07. (was Section 4.02 Subd 4) Severability. 192
If any part of this sectionChapter shall be declared unconstitutional by the court(s) of Minnesota, all 193
others shall remain in full force and effect. (11-8-94 Election, Effective 12-8-94, Filed 2-21-95) 194