HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010 Revision December 8 (A2 Secs 2,5,7, 10; A3 Secs 1,2, 3 5)
Mounds View Charter Commission By-laws December 8, 2010 Page 1
MOUNDS VIEW CHARTER COMMISSION
BYLAWS
December 8, 2010
ARTICLE I - THE COMMISSION
Section 1. Name of Commission. The name of the Commission is the “Charter Commission of
Mounds View, Minnesota.”
Section 2. Purpose. The purpose of the Charter Commission is to serve as custodians of the
Mounds View City Charter in accordance with state laws, these bylaws and rules of the Charter
Commission.
Section 3. Office of Commission. The offices of the Commission are at Mounds View City Hall
for purposes of official Commission business.
Section 4. Members. The Commission is composed of 11 members. Members shall serve during
their term and until their successors are appointed and have qualified, pursuant to Minnesota
Statutes, Section 410.05, as amended.
Section 5. Records. Each member shall receive a copy of the City Charter and the Commission
Bylaws. The current City Charter shall be kept on file at the City offices and made available for
public review.
Section 6. Review of Bylaws. The Bylaws shall be reviewed at least once every two years.
ARTICLE II - OFFICERS
Section 1. Officers. The officers of the Commission are the Chair, Vice-Chair, Second Vice-Chair
and Secretary.
Section 2. Chair. The Chair shall call the regular meetings of the Commission, prepare the
agenda, preside at all meetings, oversee the implementation of the decisions of the Commission,
forward any documents to the city for action or archive, and act as the primary liaison with City
staff. The Chair retains all the rights and responsibilities held as a member of the Commission
including the right to vote. By the December meeting each year, the Chair shall submit to the
Commission for its approval, an annual report summarizing the activities and accomplishments of
the Commission for the calendar year. The annual report to the Commission may contain the
Chair’s recommendation for Commission activities for the ensuing year.
Section 3. Vice-Chair. The Vice-Chair shall perform the duties of the Chair during the Chair’s
temporary absence, and shall perform such duties during any vacancy of that office until the
Commission elects a new Chair.
Section 4. Second Vice-Chair. The Second Vice-Chair shall perform the duties of the Vice-Chair
during the Vice-Chair’s temporary absence, and shall perform such duties during any vacancy of that
office until the Commission elects a new Vice-Chair.
Mounds View Charter Commission By-laws December 8, 2010 Page 2
Section 5. Secretary. The Secretary shall prepare the records, record the minutes and votes at each
meeting stating what was done, not what was said, and submit them to the Chair before the next
regularly scheduled meeting. On or before December 31st of each year, the Secretary shall submit to
the Chief Judge of the District Court the Chair’s approved annual report outlining the Commission’s
activities and accomplishments. The Secretary shall forward a copy of the report to the City
Administrator. The Commission may designate by majority voice vote an Assistant Secretary from
the Charter Commission membership whose duties shall be to assist the Secretary, and to perform
the duties of Secretary in the event of the absence or vacation of office by the Secretary until such
time as the Commission elects a new Secretary.
Section 6. Additional Duties. The officers of the Commission shall perform such other duties and
functions as may from time to time be required by the Commission or its bylaws or rules.
Section 7. Compensation; Expenses. The members of the Commission shall receive no
compensation, but the Commission may employ an attorney and other personnel to assist in
amending or revising the City Charter, and the reasonable compensation and the cost of printing
such charter, or any amendment or revision thereof, when so directed by the Commission shall be
paid by the City. The amount of reasonable and necessary Commission expenses shall be so paid by
the City in accordance with Minnesota Statutes Section 410.06, as amended.
Section 8. Elections. The Chair, Vice-Chair, Second Vice-Chair and Secretary shall be elected
from among the members of the Commission at the first meeting after November 1st in even-
numbered years, and shall hold office for two years or until their successors are elected and
qualified. The Chair shall conduct the election. Officers shall be declared elected and qualified by a
simple majority vote of those present and voting. Nomination for the position of Chair requires one
year of service on the commission to be eligible. No officer shall be eligible to hold more than six
consecutive terms in the same office. In filling vacancies for unexpired terms, an officer who has
served more than half of a term is considered to have served a full term in that office. Newly elected
officers shall take office at the close of the meeting in which the election is held.
Section 9. Vacancies. A vacancy in the office of Chair, Vice-Chair, Second Vice-Chair or
Secretary shall be filled by a special election by the Commission at its next meeting with the elected
successor serving the unexpired term of office.
Section 10. Appointments. It is the responsibility of each individual member that is eligible for re-
appointment to submit to the judge the appropriate paper work for re-appointment consideration.
Mounds View Charter Commission By-laws December 8, 2010 Page 3
ARTICLE III – MEETINGS
Section 1. Regular Meetings. The Commission shall meet at least once during each calendar year.
The Commission shall also meet upon presentation of a petition with signatures numbering at least
ten percent of the total ballots cast for President in the most recent Presidential election, or upon
resolution approved by a majority of the governing body of the city requesting the commission to
convene, the commission shall meet to consider the proposals set forth in such petition or resolution.
All meetings shall be held in the Mounds View City Hall unless meeting notices state otherwise. All
meetings shall comply with the Minnesota Open Meeting Law (Minnesota Statutes, Section 471.705,
as amended). The meetings will be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order Newly
Revised.
Section 2. Special Meetings. The Chair or any two members of the Commission may call a
special meeting to transact any business stated in the meeting notice in accordance with state law.
Notice of the special meeting shall state the time, date, place and business to be conducted at the
special meeting. Notices may be delivered by email or any method of contact that provides an
acknowledgement of receipt of the notice. Any member that does not acknowledge receipt must
have the notice delivered in person or mailed to the member’s designated mailing address at least
three days prior to the special meeting. The business to be considered at special meetings shall be
limited to that stated in the meeting notice unless all members of the Commission are present and
vote unanimously to conduct additional business.
Section 3. Quorum. A majority of qualified and acting members shall constitute a quorum for the
purpose of conducting the Commission’s business and exercising its powers and for all other
purposes, but if unable to call to order due to a lack of quorum, a smaller number of members may
set a time to reconvene the full commission, continue to meet as a subcommittee, if desired, and
report on their discussions to the commission.
Section 4. Order of Business.
The Commission shall use the following order of business at its meetings:
1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call.
3. Approval of Minutes.
4. Citizens Comments from the floor.
5. Reports of the Chair.
6. Reports from members or committees.
7. Unfinished Business.
8. New Business.
9. Adjournment.
Order of Business may be changed at a meeting by a majority vote of the commission members
present.
Section 5. Committees.
The Commission may establish and appoint committees. Each committee must designate a Chair.
Mounds View Charter Commission By-laws December 8, 2010 Page 4
Section 6. Discharge of Members. Any member who has failed to attend four consecutive
meetings, regular or special, without being excused by the Commission, may be discharged
according to the provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Section 410.05, Subdivision 2, as amended.
ARTICLE IV - AMENDMENTS AND REVISIONS
Section 1. Bylaws Amendment Procedure. The Commission Bylaws may be amended by a
resolution, made in writing, and adopted by a majority vote of qualified and acting members at a
properly noticed meeting of the Commission.
Section 2. Charter Amendment Procedures.
The Charter may be amended by any one of the four following methods:
Method 1. The Charter Commission may by a majority vote of its members approve a
resolution recommending an amendment to the Charter by Ordinance under Minnesota Statute
410.12 subd 7. Such an Ordinance must be published in the official newspaper two weeks prior
to a public hearing on the matter and then requires an affirmative vote of all members of the City
Council.
Method 2. The Charter Commission may by a majority vote of its members approve a
resolution recommending an amendment to the Charter by requesting it be placed before the
voters under Minnesota Statute 410.12 subd 1. If there is a general election scheduled to occur
within six months the City Council shall have such an amendment prepared and placed on the
ballot at the general election. If no general election is scheduled to occur within six months the
City Council shall prepare the amendment and call a special election within 90 days after the
delivery of such amendment to the City Administrator.
Method 3. Voters equal to or greater than five percent of the total votes cast at the last State
general election may by petition require the Charter Commission to review and request an
amendment to the Charter which may then be submitted by the Charter Commission under the
same guidelines set forth under method 1 or 2 above.
Method 4. The City Council may propose an amendment by ordinance without the initial
request of the Charter Commission under Minnesota Statute 410.12 subd 5. Such an Ordinance
shall be submitted to the Charter Commission for review and the Charter Commission can by
request be granted an additional 90 days for review. After reviewing such proposed amendment
the Charter Commission shall approve or reject the proposed amendment or suggest a substitute
amendment. The Council may submit to the people the amendment originally proposed by it or
the substitute proposed by the Charter Commission.
ADOPTED: December 8, 2010