HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo to Council - May 3, 2010
Item No: 1
Meeting Date: May 3, 2010
Type of Business: Work Session
Administrator Review: ____
City of Mounds View Staff Report
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council
From: James Ericson, Clerk - Administrator
Item Title/Subject: Joint Meeting with the Charter Commission Regarding Chapter 8
Introduction:
The Charter Commission has been discussing potential changes to the Charter in Chapter 8 relative to Special Assessments and Local Improvements. The Commission feels that the Chapter
no longer functions as it was originally drafted and requires substantial revisions to re-establish mechanisms to petition against a city project.
Discussion:
Members of the Commission have stated that since the City has found a way to pay for the street improvement program through methods OTHER than special assessments, the street projects
are longer “petitionable” and thus the Charter needs to be rewritten to allow for this to occur. In addition, the Commission believes that the scope of the Charter should be expanded
to allow residents to petition for projects REGARDLESS of whether assessments are used. Staff asserts that Chapter 8 works as it was originally intended and that there is no need to
rewrite the chapter or enhance the scope of the rights afforded to the residents. The Commission feels that the “project by assessment” financing methodology will never be used again,
which is not true. While the City has been fortunate to be able to finance the present street program without assessments, the financing is one-time only money and future reconstruction
projects would likely necessitate direct assessments. It would seem unnecessary to revise the Charter because seven projects have been financed without assessments.
Recommendation:
Discuss with the Charter Commission its proposal to rewrite Chapter 8 to allow residents to petition AGAINST projects regardless of whether special assessments are used and to expand
the Charter to allow residents the right to petition FOR projects regardless of whether special assessments are used.
Respectfully submitted,
________________________
James Ericson
Clerk – Administrator