HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013July18CharterCommMinutesCOLUMBIA HEIGHTS CHARTER COMMISSION
JULY 18, 2013
CONFERENCE ROOM 1, CITY HALL
MINUTES
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by President Smith at 7:08 p.m.
Roll Call
Members present: Ramona Anderson, Jeff Diehm, Roger Johnson, Carolyn Laine, Mike Patiuk, Gregory
Sloat, Steve Smith, Charles Tyler, Tim Utz
Members absent and excused: Matt Abel, Lee Bak, Rob Fiorendino, James Guy, Wes Wiggins
Members absent and unexcused: None
See status of membership below.
Jim Hoeft, City Attorney, and Carole Blowers, Recording Secretary for the commission, were also
present. Council Liaison, Tami Diehm, was excused from tonight's meeting.
Introduction of New Member
Ramona Anderson, new member of the Charter Commission, introduced herself and told members a brief
history of her connection to our city, etc.
Approval of Tonight's A eg nda
Motion by Commissioner Tyler, seconded by Commissioner Diehm to approve tonight's agenda. Motion
passed unanimously.
Approval of Charter Commission Minutes of April 18, 2013
Motion by Commissioner Diehm, seconded by Commissioner Utz to approve the minutes of the April 18,
2013, Charter Commission meeting as presented. Motion passed unanimously.
Status of Membership
The Commission currently has one opening. Two applications have been sent to the Chief Judge for his
consideration in the past few weeks. New membership lists were passed out to members at the meeting.
Commissioner Diehm asked that a list be e- mailed to him as well.
Correspondence
The Recording Secretary reported on the correspondence since our last meeting in January.
• Typed minutes of the April 18, 2013, meeting
• Received orders from Chief Judge appointing Ramona Anderson and Weston Wiggins and
advised President Smith of the same
• Prepared welcome letters and packets and oaths for Weston Wiggins and Ramona Anderson
• Contacted Weston Wiggins and Ramona Anderson about coming in to take their oaths; when
completed sent them on to Anoka County
• Sent Chief Judge applications for membership from Clifford Shedlov and Catherine Vesley
• Prepared tonight's agenda and sent out with April minutes to all commission members, City
Attorney, City Manager, and Tami Diehm
• Put tonight's agenda on the city's website and on local cable TV station, and posted it at City
Hall
• Prepared new member list and made copies
• Forwarded e -mail received from Commissioner Utz to President Smith and City Attorney Hoeft
regarding a library referendum
• Received e -mails from Commissioners Able, Bak, Fiorendino, Guy, and Wiggins regarding their
absence at tonight's meeting
• Prepared correspondence log since April meeting
New Business
Library Referendum Question
Commissioner Utz had asked that this item be on tonight's agenda. City Attorney Jim Hoeft advised that
the City Charter puts forth the procedure and process for Referendum and Initiative (Chapter 5, Sections
44 -46 and Chapter 7, Section 72), but the Charter Commission would not be discussing or asking that this
issue be placed on a referendum. That is not the Charter Commission's charge. Individuals who serve
on this commission can be part of the prescribed procedure /process as set forth in the City Charter, but
cannot identify themselves in this procedure /process as a Charter Commission member. The City
Attorney advised that people should be careful about using titles of any group they belong to when
involved in such a procedure /process.
The City Attorney mentioned that the last time this procedure /process was used was when Bobby &
Steve's development on 37th and Central was in process several years ago.
Commissioner Utz stated that he asked that this item be placed on tonight's agenda for discussion and
further clarification on the Referendum and Initiative procedure /process. The City Attorney stated that if
any commissioner has questions on the charter, they should e -mail him. He clarified what e -mail address
would be his preferred e -mail address.
Adjournment
Motion by Commissioner Laine, seconded by Commissioner Tyler to adjourn at 7:22 pm.
The next meeting is October 17, 2013, at 7 p.m. at City Hall, Conference Room 1.
Respectfully submitted,
Carole J. Blowers
Recording Secretary for the Charter Commission
7 -18 -13
Columbia Heights Charter Commission
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