Valerie Amundsen public testimony Mounds View Council Meeting February 14

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Valerie Amundsen public testimony Mounds View Council Meeting February 14, 2022 8:29 This afternoon on behalf of the 500 Mounds View citizens, a letter from a well-respected Twin Cities Attorney, Zach Perry was delivered to the City Council. It’s a long 12 pages of full legal reasons why Minnesota Law was not followed when declaring the petition is inadequate. Mr. Perry believe, as do we, that the petition is in fact, sufficient and meets all statutory requirements under which it was submitted. I must say I was quite amazed at the lack of discussion you had a week ago at the February 4th meeting when deciding the find the petition insufficient. You did it so easily without talking about the merits and voices of our citizens. It certainly seemed like you came with your minds already made up and discussion, there was none, but there was no information in the packet, are you having discussions beforehand, outside of the public view; or just not discussing such a very important issue. Where is your concern for the citizens and where is the concern for following the law. Did you even know the form is not required for the petition to be sufficient, did you even know that the elections office did not evaluate the petition based on statute? They weren’t even familiar with 410.12, when we spoke to Emily, an hour, for a whole hour, immediately after that meeting. And did you know that back in 2005 a City petition was accepted with a similar format to this one, it was accepted. So you denied the petition because of a technicality, it wasn’t on the right form, supposedly, but that is not sufficient grounds for insufficiency under Minnesota state law, it met the statutory requirements so the ordinance is automatically suspended and that is the law in Minnesota, and it has been determined in other cases. I want you to know that this Council, this council I want you to know that I have been denied being provided proper number to make this sufficient when I asked it of Nyle and Ryla – Rayla, this week. I am astonished, and the Mounds View Citizens should be astonished too. If any citizen wants a copy of the Attorneys letter, message me or call me and I will provide it. I want you to listen to the citizens, you need to follow the law. 11:13