Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutOctober 20, 2005, Charter Minutes OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE CHARTER COMMISSION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2005 7:00 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS CITY HALL Call to Order The meeting was called to order by President Joseph Sturdevant at 7:02 p.m. Roll Call Members present: Bob Buboltz, Nicole Druckrey, Barb Gertsema, Mike Hartel, Jim Johnson, Katy Korday, Scott Kyseth, Carolyn Laine, Mike Patiuk, Lori Ritzko, Joe Sturdevant, Joseph Sturdevant, Dan Vogtman Members absent and excused: None Members absent and unexcused: Nancy King, Clare Schmidt Council Liaison, Mayor Gary Peterson, was not present. Also present: Jim Hoeft, City Attorney; Bruce Nawrocki, Councilmember; Carole Blowers, Recording Secretary; Citizen Harold Hoium Approval of Minutes of July 21, 2005 Motion by Commissioner Hartel, seconded by Commissioner Sturdevant, to approve the minutes as submitted for the July 21, 2005, meeting. Motion passed unanimously. Joint Meeting with the City Council/Charter Commission Scheduled for Tonight The following is the sequence of events leading up to tonight’s meeting: ?? Following a motion made at the July Charter Commission, a request was immediately made to the City Manager and Mayor for a joint meeting with the City Council and the Charter Commission regarding wards/districts. ?? After various attempts to set a date, Charter Commission President Sturdevant got the date of th October 20 agreed upon as the date for a joint meeting. ?? On September 26, 2005, the City Council established a joint meeting of the Charter Commission and City Council for Thursday, October 20, 2005, at 7 p.m. ?? Agenda packets for this joint meeting went out Wednesday, October 12, 2005. ?? The Recording Secretary, City Manager, and Mr. Sturdevant were notified by the Mayor late on Monday, October 17, 2005, that at least two city council members could not make the joint th Charter Commission/City Council meeting of October 20. The Mayor felt that since not all council members could attend this meeting, a joint meeting should not be held, and he was canceling the council’s part of the meeting. Therefore, the regular meeting of the Charter Commission would still be held. President Sturdevant stated he felt the joint meeting still could have been held with just three members of the city council. (Note: The City Council work session scheduled for October 20, 2005, at 5:30 p.m. was also cancelled.) Old Business Discussion on Districts/Wards This topic is ongoing from the past several commission meetings. President Sturdevant asked if there Charter Commission October 20, 2005 Page 1 was further information that needed to be discussed regarding this topic from the agenda material provided to members. th Commissioner Johnson stated that he was in favor of the map that showed Central Avenue and 44 Avenue as the dividing lines. Using this map, the population by quadrant would be as follows: NW- 4,550; NE-4,115; SW-4,911; and SE-4,994. This map brings the population figures more into line for each quadrant. He also stated that he was in favor of using either the word “district” or “precinct” rather than “ward”. The City Attorney stated that input from the city council was desired on this subject, and that is why the joint meeting scheduled for tonight was asked for. There was discussion again about the Council Liaison to the Charter Commission, Mayor Peterson, not being present at the meetings. Some members wanted to know how liaisons were picked. President Sturdevant stated that the Mayor and Councilmembers decide amongst themselves who wants to be liaisons to what boards/commissions each year. Since Councilmember Nawrocki was present at the Charter Commission meeting tonight, President Sturdevant asked him for his comments on this topic. Nawrocki stated that this is not a new subject; it was discussed several years ago. He stated that he was in favor of this change years ago. For a candidate, he could see where this would be desirable. However, he feels with council positions being at large, councilmembers are more answerable to the whole city, and it does not make the council less responsive. Citizens can call or write to five people with a concern. Commissioner Buboltz also brought up the issue of expanding the council. Commissioner Hartel stated he could see the council expanded by at least two more people. Commissioner Laine stated we could have four districts and have two members running at large, plus the Mayor at large. President Sturdevant stated that the Mayor’s term should stay at two years, since that position is in control of the Police Department. He felt councilmember terms should stay at four years. Many felt three positions could be elected one year and four the next. Commissioner Vogtman stated there are pros and cons to this issue. If someone does not run in a precinct or ward, a write-in person could win with just 5 or 10 votes. He cited that it would be costly to redistrict due to changes in population, and population changes will continue to happen for years with the development/redevelopment going on in the city. We could have an increase of 800 people in one year. (We realize that a specific percentage in population differences between wards is allowed per state statutes.) He felt that a lot of human energy and money could be spent on this issue and questioned if this would this be the best use of both. Perhaps working on blighted areas of the city would be more important. He also wants to vote for the most qualified people who are running for council. In hearing additional comments from commission members, he felt he would be in favor of adding more people to the city council. This was after consideration of some councilmembers running at large as well as by district. He also realized that having wards would be better for candidates that run because it would be less expensive for them. Commissioner Hartel stated that we have made several changes to the charter over the years, and we have even had things on the ballot. All these things take a lot of time, work, and money, but this is what we are here for—to propose changes as needed or wanted. Charter Commission October 20, 2005 Page 2 Commissioner Johnson felt more people would vote if there were districts. He asked Councilmember Nawrocki if he ever lost in his own precinct, to which he stated yes. Johnson also inquired if Nawrocki ever carried every precinct. President Sturdevant stated that the number of places to go vote would go down from eight to four. Right now, there are some instances where two precincts are held in one building. Dividing the city into wards/districts will not make it any further distance for people to go vote. Councilmember Nawrocki stated that what really gets people out to vote is the Presidential race. In all other elections (from state on down to city level), fewer and fewer people turn out to vote. He also stated that most of the issues that come before the council relate to large areas of the city, not specific areas. Commissioner Laine stated that if you have money, you can run. If you don’t, it makes it more difficult or impossible. The concern of not every having every area of the city represented is still a common comment. President Sturdevant asked commission members if they wished to proceed on this issue or not. That is what must be decided. Motion by Commissioner Buboltz, seconded by Commissioner Johnson, to direct the City Attorney to prepare proposed language for a charter change to reflect: ?? adding two at-large councilmembers th ?? dividing the city into four quadrants using dividing lines of 44 Avenue and Central Avenues and ?? keeping the Mayor’s term at large and for two years. More discussion ensued. Concern was expressed about the growing population in certain sections of the city. With development in the SW quadrant (the Industrial Park area), an increase in population from very little to possibly 200 to 400 new homes could make a big difference in that quadrant. Population totals could also rise anywhere from 380-400 people in the NE quadrant due to the addition of The Lofts. There are other possible sites that could change quadrant totals slightly. Some commission members felt that dividing these lines to adjust for these increases in population could become political. It is realized that there would also be parts of the existing charter that would have to be amended or added to relating to elections, the division of the city into four sections, the addition of two at-large city council members, and the staggering of those terms. Commissioner Hartel suggested that an addition to the above motion would be to include that the Charter Commission will oversee the redistricting boundaries if and when needed. Commissioners Buboltz and Johnson both agreed to this amendment. It was then questioned about the locations in the city where all Charter Commission members live. President Sturdevant stated that our commission members are scattered through the city, and they are appointed by the Chief Judge. Councilmember Nawrocki asked how this charter change would be implemented, and would it be taken to the vote of the citizens. Charter Commission October 20, 2005 Page 3 Commissioner Laine wondered how would the terms be staggered: would all at-large candidates be voted upon one year and all regular candidates from wards voted upon at once or what? Would all at-large candidates be voted on during the years of presidential elections to get more people to vote or what? She rd also questioned if we would have to move the boundary to 43 Avenue to get a better balance in certain quadrants based on projected increases in population of some areas of the city. Commissioner Vogtman stated a transition schedule would be needed. To get more input on these types of things, perhaps the City Council would be willing to meet jointly with the Charter Commission in January. President Sturdevant called the question and asked for a roll call vote: Voting yes: Buboltz, Druckrey, Gertsema, Hartel, Johnson, Korday, Kyseth, Laine, Patiuk, Ritzko, Sturdevant, Sturdevant Voting no: None Abstain: Vogtman Absent: King and Schmidt Motion passed. Commissioner Hartel stated that with the city council canceling out on tonight’s meeting, it showed no respect to the Charter Commission. We put forth a good faith effort; a meeting was set and approved by the council; and at the last minute they cancelled out. Commissioner Buboltz stated that even if only three councilmembers could have met with the Charter Commission, the joint meeting could have been held. The attendance and comments of Councilmember Nawrocki tonight were appreciated by the Charter Commission members. Other Topics of Discussion Status of Chapter 7, Section 72, of the City Charter Pertaining to Bonded Debt/Debt Limit The Recording Secretary stated that on August 8, 2005, the City Council held its first reading on Ordinance No. 1492, amending Chapter 7, Section 72 of the City Charter pertaining to bonded debt and debt limit. On September 12, 2005, the City Council held its second reading on the above ordinance. The change will become effective 90 days from then. Annual Board/Commission Recognition Dinner The annual board/commission recognition dinner will be held on Wednesday, December 14, 2005, at Murzyn Hall. Hors d'oeuvres will be served at 6 p.m., and dinner is planned for 6:30 p.m. Invitations will be sent in the near future. Inappropriate Behavior at Council Meetings/Elsewhere th Commissioner Laine brought up the last city council meeting of October 10 where the Mayor read a letter about the inappropriate behavior of a councilmember outside of a council meeting. Her concerns were about the city being sued for a hostile/abusive work environment. The City Attorney stated problems with a hostile/abusive work environment are handled by state and federal laws, not at the Charter Commission level. He stated that behavior at some of our council meetings may be disrespectful, but it is not abusive or hostile. Other cities have councils that display a lot Charter Commission October 20, 2005 Page 4 worse behavior than ours. As the Mayor and Councilmembers are considered “employees”, they are covered by the city’s personnel policies that are in place. The letter referred to above was written about the President of the HRA. The Mayor read a portion of the th letter at the October 10city council meeting. The letter basically states that the managing company of Parkview Villa (Walker) wrote a letter to the Community Development Director, stating that they are not getting enough money for their services, and that they felt there was mistreatment of their employees by the President of the HRA. Commissioner Vogtman called for a point of order, as this item is not in the realm of this commission. th Councilmember Nawrocki stated that the Mayor read a part of that letter on October 10, and then he adjourned the meeting without him being able to say anything. He stated there were inaccuracies in the letter which will be discussed at an upcoming HRA meeting. He commented that the Walker manager did not have prior experience in working with senior citizens. He wants our residents at Parkview being treated properly. Regarding their complaint on not getting enough money for their services, they bid on this contract themselves, and Nawrocki stated he actually voted for them to get the contract. Next Meeting Date The next regular Charter Commission meeting date is January 19, 2006, at 7 p.m. at Murzyn Hall. Adjournment Motion by Commissioner Hartel to adjourn the meeting at 8:27 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Carole J. Blowers, Recording Secretary Charter Commission October 20, 2005 Page 5