HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-18-2024 Charter Commission Minutes
ATTENDANCE INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC
Members of the public who wish to attend may do so in-person. For questions, please call the
Administration Department at 763-706-3610.
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL/STATUS OF MEMBERSHIP
Members present: Matt Abel, Kathy Ahlers, Wolid Ahmed, Ramona Anderson, Larry Betzhold,
Christine Brown, Ben Harris, Bill Hugo, Veronica Johnson, Carolyn Laine, Frost Simula, Gregory
Sloat, Marsha Stroik, Susan Wiseman
Members absent: Excused: Nick Ziemet
Also Present: Council Liaison Rachel James, Interim City Attorney Scott Lepak
1. Appointment of Commissioner Christine Brown
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Matt Abel, second by Gregory Sloat. Motion passes.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
2. January 18, 2024 Meeting Minutes
Motion by Ramona Anderson, second by Sue Wiseman. Motion passes.
CORRESPONDENCE
Email from Interim City Attorney Scott Lepak regarding his role with regards to the Charter
Commission and his suggestion that no changes be made to the Charter regarding Recall until
after the Supreme Court issues their opinion on the past recall court ruling.
OLD BUSINESS
(None)
CHARTER COMMISSION
Columbia Heights City Hall, 3989 Central Ave NE, Shared Vision
Thursday, April 18, 2024
7:00 PM
MINUTES
NEW BUSINESS
3. Discussion and possible motion for Charter revision of Recall section
Briefly reviewed that Minnesota State law sets the high bar of malfeasance and nonfeasance
for Recall.
Some possible revisions to the Recall section could include:
- grounds for removal that include malfeasance and nonfeasance
- grounds for removal that include “OR conviction of a serious crime” (similar to Mankato)
- changes to the information collected and formatting of the Recall Petition
- splitting the Recall and the Succession into separate special elections
- further defining the Succession election, such as the case for a primary election
- defining the eligibility of the recalled official in the Succession election (similar to
Mankato)
In general the Commission agreed that the Recall section should be revised to include
clarifications that align with Minnesota State Law.
Interim City Attorney Scott Lepak will notify the Commission when the Supreme Court opinion
of the past recall case is released.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Gregory Sloat, second by Ramona Anderson. Motion passes. Meeting adjourned at
7:33pm.