Minutes - Charter Commission - 02/21/2008

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Commissioner Deemer stated we would really be dealing with seven weeks and to the end of the year. Attorney Goodrich stated the primary is what changed all of this. Commissioner Sherman suggested we could address that by having the City Council appoint someone for that period. Commissioner Frederick stated you would have to "scratch" 4.5.5. Attorney Goodrich stated the thought must have been that it's not worth it to appoint someone from say October to the end of the year. Commissioner Cleveland stated she.likes the liaison language. Commissioner Erickson stated the liaison covers the representative of a ward and does not give anyone the incumbent status. Commissioner McKinney agreed the liaison has voting power so the ward is represented. Commissioner Sherman stated that she believes all members of the City Council truly represent the entire City- not just their own ward. Commissioner Erickson commented that you are not appointing a. new person - you are assigning a current member to fill a ward seat. Commissioner Cleveland stated she would want her ward Councilmember to speak on behalf of her ward. Commissioner Deemer stated that you need a legal empowerment because of the residency requirement to be able to appoint that person to the ward if they do not reside in it. We will not appoint anyone in July or through the end of the year. We will have a liaison appointed and a special election in January. Commissioner Erickson commented that the at-large position gets left vacant then if that member is appointed to fill a ward seat. Commissioner Deemer commented that maybe we do not need a primary. Commissioner Sherman pointed out that 200 people could vote someone in to office. Commissioner Erickson stated that the primary should be left in. Commissioner Cleveland reiterated that if we could set timelines, that would be the best. We can shorten up the time. Charter Commission/February 21, 2008 Page 5 of6