HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-19-2023 Charter Commission Minutes
CALL TO ORDER
Charter Commission President Steve Smith called the meeting to order at 7:00pm.
ROLL CALL
Members present: Kathy Ahlers, Larry Betzold, Ben Harris, Cliff Johnson, Veronica Johnson,
Carolyn Laine, Frost Simula, Gregory Sloat, Steve Smith, Susan Wiseman.
Members Absent: Excused: Bill Hugo, Unexcused: Matt Abel, Ramona Anderson, Nick
Zeimet.
Also Present: City Clerk Sara Ion, Council Liaison Rachel James, Citizen Jennifer Pyper-Muno,
Citizen KT Jacobs.
STATUS OF MEMBERSHIP
1. Reappointment of Commissioner Sloat.
City Clerk Ion noted that Commissioner Sloat has been reappointed and all
paperwork was completed and filed with the Court .
2. Resignation of Commissioner Eubank.
City Clerk Ion noted that Commissioner Eubank did not wish to be reappointed
at the conclusion of his four-year term. His position will be posted, and all
applications received will be sent to the Judge for review and appointment.
3. Election of 2023 Officers.
Motion by Commissioner Wiseman to nominate Commissioner Laine, seconded
by Simula.
Motion passed; Commissioner Laine is the President of the Charter Commission
for 2023. President Laine took over the meeting from Commissioner Smith .
Motion by President Laine to nominate Commissioner V. Johnson, seconded by
Wiseman. Motion passed; Commissioner Veronica Johnson is the Vice President
for 2023.
Motion by Secretary Simula to continue as Secretary, seconded by Ahlers.
Motion passed; Secretary Simula continues in the position for 2023.
CHARTER COMMISSION
Public Safety Building — Training Room, 825 41st Ave NE
Thursday, January 19, 2023
7:00 PM
MINUTES
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
President Laine introduced the agenda and asked if City Attorney Hoeft was in attendance .
City Clerk Ion noted that he was not in attendance and that he sent information on Item 5
for the Charter Commission’s review.
President Laine again asked if there were any changes to the agenda. She asked for a vote
on the agenda as presented. All commissioners voted aye to move forward with the agenda
as presented.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
4. Approval of October 20, 2022, Meeting Minutes.
President Laine offered a correction and accepted Commissioner Simula’s
wording.
Motion by Ahlers and seconded by Harris to accept the minutes , as corrected,
motion carried.
CORRESPONDENCE
An email from Attorney Jim Hoeft was received by the city clerk Wednesday, 1/18/23
12:36pm.
OLD BUSINESS
President Laine stated that there was no old business.
NEW BUSINESS
5. City Attorney Review of Questions from Commissioner Laine in Relation to the
Process for Recall Election.
Commissioner Laine stated that she had privately emailed City Attorney Jim
Hoeft regarding questions related to who can sign a petition for a recall,
because there is no reference in the Recall portion of the Charter to
“registered” voters, whereas there is for Referendum and Initiative.
City Attorney Hoeft asked this to be put on the meeting agenda of the Charter
Commission but then was not able to be present.
A copy of the email to the Commission from City Attorney Hoeft, sent the day
before the meeting, is included with these minutes. Briefly, Hoeft’s email gives
rationale for his opinion that the use of the word “electors” in the Recall section
is synonymous with “registered voters.”
6. Approval of the 2022 Charter Commission Annual Report.
Commissioner Ahlers offered a minor correction. Motion by Smith and
seconded by Harris to approve the annual report, as corrected. The motion
was approved.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Smith made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Commissioner Simula.
Motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 7:28pm.