Agenda - Council - 01/22/2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mayor/CounciUStaff Input ' RESCHEDULE OR CANCEL WORK SESSIONS (2/5 & 3/4) By: Jo Thieling, City-Clerk Background: As Council is aware; the City is prohibited from holding any meetings after 6:00 p.m. on the night of the precinct caucuses. State Statutes 202.A.19 states: "No special taxing district, governing body, school board, county board of commissioners, township board, or city council, may conduct a meeting after 6:00 p.m. on the day of a major political party precinct caucus". In 2008, the three major political parties in Minnesota - Republican, Democratic-Farmer-Labor, and Independence -have decided to conduct their precinct caucuses on the evening of Tuesday, February 5. That is the date of a regularly scheduled work session, therefore; that session will either have to be rescheduled or canceled. The Secretary of State's office is encouraging cities to also not hold meetings on March 4, because this is the "protected" date for the caucus according to State Statutes 202.A14. That Statute reads: "At 7:00 p.m. on the first Tuesday in March in every state general election year, there shall be held for every election precinct a party caucus .. ." Staff is asking Council to reschedule or cancel the March 4 work session also. Staff Recommendation: Staff is recommending that the regular Council work session for February 5 be canceled. Staff and Council will have just held the strategic planning session. Staff is recommending rescheduling the March 4 Council work session. A date will be discussed at the Council meeting. Council Action: Motion to Cancel the Council work session of February 5. - and- Motion to reschedule the work session of March 4 to Reviewed by: City Clerk Assistant City Administrator City Administrator CC: 01/22/08 -245-