HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009Oct15CharterCommMinutesCOLUMBIA HEIGHTS CHARTER COMMISSION
MINUTES
October 15, 2009
7:00 p.m.
City Hall
Conference Room 1
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by President Dan Vogtman at 7:00 p.m.
Roll Call
Members Present: Matt Able, Roger Johnson, Nancy King, Carolyn Laine (7:05), Michael
Patiuk, Katherine Pepple (7:03), Rachel Schwenkel, Charles A. Tyler, Dan
Vogtman
Members absent and excused: Joe Clason, Barbara Gertsema
Members absent and unexcused: None
Counsel Liaison, Tami Diehm was present. City Attorney, Jim Hoeft (7:11), was present. Recording Secretary,
Carole Blowers, was not present. In her absence, Commissioner/Secretary Patiuk recorded the minutes.
Approval of Minutes of July 16, 2009
Motion by Commissioner Able, seconded by Commissioner Schwenkel, to approve the minutes of July 16,
2009, as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
Correspondence
Commissioner Patiuk reviewed the correspondence since July 16, 2009:
7/30/09 Letter sent to Chief Judge with application for appointment from Matt Abel
8/10/09 Letter rec'd from Chief Judge appointing Matt Abel
8/12/09 Welcome letter/packet prepared for new member Matt Abel
8/13/09 Letter sent to Anoka County with signed oath for Matt Abel
8/13/09 Letter sent to Chief Judge with copy of signed oath for Matt Abel
9/21/09 Communication with Mike Patiuk, Secretary, regarding absence of Recording Secretary
at 10/15/09 meeting
10/6/09 Agenda for 10/15 prepared with attachments; copies prepared and mailed to members
10/10/09 E-mail from Joe Sturdevant resigning from the Charter Commission due to his move
out of the City of Columbia Heights
10/12/09 Letter to Chief Judge advising him of Joe Sturdevant's resignation from the Charter
Commission.
Status of Membership of the Commission
Introduction of New Member
Commissioner Able was introduced to Commission members. The Members present and Counsel Liaison
Diehm introduced themselves to Commissioner Able.
Old Business
REVIEW CHANGES TO CHAPTER 7, SECTION 72, 72A, AND 72B, AND CHAPTER 7, SECTION 74
A discussion took place concerning the Commission's continuing review of the City Charter.
Chapter 7, Section 72, Bonded Debt and Debt Limit
City Attorney Jim Hoeft recommended language to revise Chapter 7, Section 72, 72a and 72b. The City
Attorney explained that Section 72b, when added to the City Charter, was meant to replace the first paragraph
of Section 72. Section 72a does not need to be a separate section under Chapter 7. He suggested that the first
paragraph of Section 72 be eliminated and Section 72a, Section 72b and the second paragraph of Section 72 be
combined.
Motion by Commissioner Schwenkel to approve language as presented, seconded by Commissioner Pepple.
Motion passed unanimously. It was decided to table the presentation of the approved language to the City
Counsel until the Commission has had the opportunity to review additional sections of the City Charter.
CONTIN UED REVIEW OF THE CITY CHARTER
Chapter 2, Section l0a (Public Employees Retirement Association Police and Fire Fund~
The City Attorney explained that Chapter 2, Section l0a is obsolete because there are no current Columbia
Heights police officers which were first employed by the City before June 15, 1972.
Motion by Commissioner Able, seconded by Commissioner Laine to strike Chapter 2, Section l0a from the
City Charter. Motion passed unanimously.
4_ Section 33_ Canvass of Elections
The City Attorney stated that under Chapter 4, Section 33, the City Council is required to meet and canvass
election returns within five (5) days after any regular or special election. State statutes require that this be done
within seven (7) days. Counsel Liaison Diehm stated that the additional time would be needed should problems
arise during the canvassing process. No action was taken by the Commission.
Chapter 7, Section 74, Emer.°~ency Debt Certificates
The City Attorney provided background information concerning the issuance of Emergency Debt Certificates.
In order to pass an emergency ordinance to issue Emergency Debt Certificates, the City would need to follow
State statutes, which requires a unanimous affirmative vote of the City Council. The current Charter authorizes
the City Council to issue Emergency Debt Certificates with a 4/5 affirmative vote. No action was taken by the
Commission.
Chapter 8, Local Improvements and Special Assessments
The City Attorney stated that the sections within Chapter 8 could be revised to comply with Minn. Stat. §429,
either by including the wording contained in the statute or by referencing the statute itself. No action was taken
by the Commission.
New Business
Commissioners discussed the possibility of holding their future meetings at the new Public Safety Building.
The Recording Secretary will check into this.
Next Meeting Date
The ne~t regular Charter Commission meeting date will be January 21, 2010, at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
Adjournment
Motion by Commissioner Laine, seconded by Commissioner Pepple, to adjourn the meeting at 7:54 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael G. Patiuk
Secretary, Charter Commission
Columbia Heights Charter Commission
10-15-09
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