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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 20, 2006, Minutes OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CHARTER COMMISSION THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2006 7:00 P.M. KEYES ROOM MURZYN HALL Call to Order The meeting was called to order by President Mike Hartel at 7:05 p.m. Roll Call Members present: Bob Buboltz (7:43 p.m.), Nicole Druckrey, Mike Hartel, Jim Johnson, Carolyn Laine, Mike Patiuk, Lori Ritzko, Joe Sturdevant, Joseph Sturdevant, Dan Vogtman Members absent and excused: Barb Gertsema, Nancy King, Katy Korday Members absent and unexcused: Scott Kyseth Council Liaison, Tami-Ericson Diehm, was unable to attend; however, Councilmember Bruce Kelzenberg attended on her behalf. Also present: Jim Hoeft, City Attorney; Carole Blowers, Recording Secretary Approval of Minutes of February 16, 2006: Motion by Commissioner Sturdevant, seconded by Commissioner Laine to approve the minutes of February 16, 2006. Motion passed unanimously. Correspondence The Recording Secretary stated that numerous e-mails had been sent to commission members advising rd , them of the work session which was held on April 3the results of that meeting, and upcoming charter commission meetings (regular and special). Old Business Discussion on Districts/Wards President Hartel stated that the purpose of this meeting tonight was to consider the proposed amendments to Chapter 2 with a transition/implementation schedule as a first reading on the commission level. President Hartel was asked to recap the events of the work session of April 3, 2006, where our proposed ordinance was discussed. President Hartel stated that the city council asked the Charter Commission about having a transition/implementation plan for dividing the city into wards and how the elections would allow for filling the positions in the wards. In further discussions and thought on this subject, it was determined that it would be imperative for changing both the wording to divide the city into wards and add two councilmembers at large, AND have wording in the charter on how this was all to be implemented in one ordinance. Thus, President Hartel asked the City Attorney to come up with implementation language to add to the changes previously discussed and passed at the Charter Commission level. Commission members were provided tonight with wording put together by the City Attorney’s office reflecting proposed changes to date as well as wording for a transition/implementation schedule. The wording discussed tonight Charter Commission April 20, 2006 Page 1 suggests adding two new councilmembers and implementing the ward system in 2008. Other scenarios were discussed. The seats of councilmembers Tami Ericson-Diehm and Bruce Kelzenberg are up in 2006. They have four year terms. The seat of Mayor is also up in 2006. The Mayor’s seat is for a two year term. It was asked if we could start the ward system in 2006? President Hartel stated the city council would need time to establish the wards. It was questioned if we would need language addressing the boundaries of the wards in the first reading. The maps the commission has looked at are based on the best information we have at the time. After that, the city council will review the boundaries on an ongoing basis. Jim Hoeft reminded the commission members that this new language would go to the city council at a th work session (the next one is tentatively set for May 18 at 7 a.m.) and would require two readings on the part of the city council and one public hearing. It was asked if we could put the referendum on a primary election. (Note: The primary election will be September 12, 2006.) President Hartel stated that our proposed wording changes and the implementation schedule should be forwarded to the City Council all at one time. The Charter Commission needs to also hold two readings on this latest version presented tonight. We do have 53 days prior to the election to provide the wording to the county. If the city council does not act on our proposal, we can put it on the ballot. The language tonight considered is as follows: PROPOSED CHANGES TO CHAPTER 2 FORM OF GOVERNMENT (Note: Underlined material indicates new language; crossed out material indicates current language to be deleted.) Section 6. FORM OF GOVERNMENT. The form of government established by this charter shall be known as the "Council-Manager Plan." Section 7. ELECTIVE OFFICES. The council shall be composed of a the mayor, elected at-large, two councilmembers elected at-large, and four council members, each of whom who shall be qualified electors, and who shall be elected from a separate ward as established or amended pursuant to this charter. at large in the manner hereinafter provided. The mayor and councilmembers shall be qualified electors. Each councilmember elected from a ward shall be a resident of the ward. However, the following circumstances shall not disqualify a councilmember from serving the remainder of a term: (1) a change in ward boundaries; or (ii) cessation as a resident of the ward from which elected, so long as the councilmember remains a resident of the City. Except as hereinafter provided, councilmembers The four council members shall serve for a term of four years and until their a successors is are elected and qualifiesd. The mayor shall serve for a term of two years and until a successor is elected and qualifiesd. The council shall be judge of the elections of (Ordinance No. 1466, passed for the mayor and councilmembers shall be held as provided herein. December 15, 2003)(Ordinance No. 1300, passed April 10, 1995) Charter Commission April 20, 2006 Page 2 Section 7a. WARDS . The City shall be divided into four separate wards. The boundaries of such wards shall be determined by ordinance based upon population as determined by the most recent federal census and shall be as equal in population as practicable. A ward must be composed of a compact and contiguous territory. Review of the ward boundaries must be made by the Council and the wards reapportioned by ordinance no later than two years after the year in which a federal census is taken so that the populations of the wards are as equal as practicable. The wards of the City are those described herein on the effective date of this Charter amendment. Section 7b. TRANSITION SCHEDULE. For the 2008 city election: (i) One (1) councilmember shall be elected from each of the four (4) Wards. (ii) No councilmembers shall be elected at large. (iii) The Mayor shall be elected at-large. For the 2010 City election: (i) Two (2) councilmembers shall be elected at-large. (ii) The Mayor shall be elected at-large. Section 8. INCOMPATIBLE OFFICES. No member of the council shall hold any paid municipal office or employment under the City of Columbia Heights, and until one year after the expiration of that member's term as council member no former member shall be appointed to any paid office or employment under the city which office or employment was created or the emoluments of which were increased during that member's (Ordinance No. 1086, passed June 11, 1984) term. Section 9. VACANCIES IN THE COUNCIL. A vacancy in the council shall be deemed to exist in case of the failure of any person elected thereto to qualify on or before the date of the second regular meeting of the new council, or by reason of the death, resignation, removal from office, cessation as a resident of the city, continuous absence from the city for more than three months, conviction of a felony of any such person whether before or after qualification, the failure of any council member without good cause to perform any of the duties of membership in the council for a period of three months or for any other cause as may be provided for in Minnesota Statutes, as amended. In each such case, at the next regular meeting following receipt of notice by the council of one of the foregoing conditions, the council shall by resolution declare such vacancy to exist unless further investigation is required. Notice of said vacancy shall be posted at city hall for a period of two (2) weeks from the date of the adoption of the resolution declaring said vacancy. Notice shall also be published in a designated city newspaper for a period of two (2) weeks as soon as possible after the date of the adoption of said resolution, with the publication being completed no later than thirty (30) days from said date. Applications shall be sought and accepted from individuals interested in filling the vacancy, which applications shall be submitted to city hall, to the attention of the City Clerk, within 45 days from the date of said resolution. The council shall interview each of the applicants within 30 days from the close of the application period, and shall conduct said interviews in an agreed upon uniform manner as a council. After said 30 day period, the council shall make its appointment from the pool of applicants within 15 days, whether done so at a regular council meeting or a special meeting. The individuals so appointed shall fill said vacancy until the next regular municipal election, when the office shall be filled for the unexpired term by an eligible person elected at large in the manner hereinafter set forth; provided, however, that if a vacancy is declared by resolution after March 31st in the year of a regular municipal election, then the appointment process as set forth herein shall not take effect and any such vacancy shall continue to exist until said election, at which time the vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term by an eligible person elected at large in the manner hereinafter provided. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, any vacancy resulting from a recall election or from a resignation following the filing of a recall petition shall be filled in the manner provided (Ordinance No. 1331, passed September 23, 1996)(Ordinance No. in such case. Charter Commission April 20, 2006 Page 3 1086, passed June 11, 1984) There was continued discussion regarding the last sentence proposed in Section 7A. WARDS. Motion by Commissioner Druckrey, seconded by Commissioner Vogtman, to approve the above proposed language on a second reading, omitting the last sentence of Section 7A and adding Section 7B, at the commission level, and to forward it to the City Council. Vote on the above motion: Ayes: Buboltz, Druckrey, Hartel, Johnson, Laine, Patiuk, Ritzko, Sturdevant, Vogtman Nayes: None (Absent: Buboltz (arrived just after vote taken), Gertsema, King, Korday, Kyseth). Motion passed. President Hartel said he would expect this issue to be put on the next possible council work session, which it appears to be May 18, 2006, at 7 a.m.. Charter Commission members are certainly invited to attend the work session meeting as well, but President Hartel will be there to represent the commission as a whole. Next Meeting Date Because there needs to be a second reading of this just voted upon wording including the implementation schedule, President Hartel asked the commissioners if they would like to set a special meeting next week to hold this second reading. After polling members in attendance about next th Thursday, April 27, there appeared there would not be a quorum. After polling members in th attendance about next Wednesday, April 26, it appeared there would be a quorum. Therefore, a th special meeting of the Charter Commission will be held on Wednesday, April 26 at 7 p.m. The location of the meeting will be figured out as soon as possible, and commission members will be advised of the location by the Recording Secretary. Adjournment Motion by Commissioner Sturdevant, seconded by Commissioner Laine to adjourn the meeting at 7:58 p.m. Special Projects Coordinator Jean Kuehn arrived to take a photo of the Charter Commission members present at tonight’s meeting for the time capsule that is being planned in conjunction with the Peace Clock dedication in June (during Jamboree). Respectfully submitted, Carole J. Blowers, Recording Secretary (Maps to be attached) Charter Commission April 20, 2006 Page 4