HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 16, 2008, Charter Commission MinutesCOLUMBIA HEIGHTS CHARTER COMMISSION
MINUTES
April 16th, 2008
S:OOpm
Gauvitte Room, Murzyn Hall
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by President Joe Sturdevant at 5:05 p.m.
Roll Call
Members present: Bob Buboltz, Barb Gertsema, Mike Hartel, Jim Johnson, Roger Johnson,
Scott Kyseth, Mike Patiuk, Lori Ritzko, Joseph Sturdevant, Joe
Sturdevant, Dan Vogtman
Members absent and excused: Carolyn Laine
Members absent and unexcused: Nancy King, Katy Korday
Council Liaison, Tami Ericson-Diehm, was present.
City Attorney, Jim Hoeft, was present.
Recording Secretary, Carole Blowers, was not present.
Approval of minutes of January 17, 2008
Motion by President Sturdevant, seconded by Commissioner Hartel,to approve the minutes of
January 17, 2008, as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
Introduction of new Charter Commissioner
Roger Johnson was welcomed to the Charter Commission. President Sturdevant gave a brief
overview of the role of the Charter Commission and some of the recent accomplishments and
items that have been worked on.
Old Business
None
New Business
Overall revisions re a.°~ rdin~ the division of City Clerk & City Treasurer duties
City Attorney, Jim Hoeft, stated that the duties of the City Clerk and City Treasurer will be
performed by separate individuals in the future, and the City Charter needs to be updated to
reflect this change. One reason for separation of duties in these roles is in support of accounting
controls and audit purposes.
Jim Hoeft then went through the City Charter pointing out all of the instances where the City
Clerk and City Treasurer are specified in the Charter and identifying what changes will need to
be made to the verbiage of the Charter.
Chapter 2, Section 9- Vacancies in the Council - ok as currently stated
Chapter 4- all sections ok as currently stated.
Chapter 5- all sections ok as currently stated
Chapter 6- Section 55 - Subordinate Officers:
'the custody and disbursement of the public funds' reference as part of the city clerk's role should
be changed to city treasurer. 'The city clerk may be designated to act as secretary of the
council....' this verbiage needs to be cleaned up a bit. All other references to city clerk in this
section were ok as currently stated.
Chapter 7- Section 66 - Levy and Collection of Taxes:
'The city clerk shall transit to the county auditor...' should be changed to city treasurer.
Chapter 8- Section 77 - Local Improvements, How Made:
'signed by the mayor and city manager and countersigned by the city clerk....' should be changed
to city treasurer.
Chapter 8, Section 79 - Notice of Appeal - ok as currently stated.
Chapter 8, Section 86 - County Treasurer Collector for City - ok as currently stated.
Proposed changes to the above highlighted areas (Chapter 6, Section 55; Chapter 7, Section 66,
and Chapter 8, Section 77) will be presented to commissioners prior to the ne~t meeting in July.
Motion by Commissioner Hartel, seconded by Commissioner Buboltz to make the recommended
changes to the City Charter. Motion passed unanimously.
The second reading of the changes to the City Charter is set for the July 17, 2008 meeting.
Next Meeting Date
The ne~t regular Charter Commission meeting date is set for July 17, 2008 at 7 p.m. at Murzyn
Hall.
Adjournment
Motion by Commissioner Buboltz, seconded by Commissioner Sturdevant, to adjourn the
meeting at 5:30 p.m.
The annual board/commission dinner was held immediately after this meeting at Murzyn Hall.
Respectfully submitted,
Lori Ritzko
Vice President
cjb
4-16-08
Charter Commission Minutes
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