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<br />COUNCIL BUSINESS <br /> <br />Case #1: <br /> <br />Public Hearing: Consider Adoption of an Ordinance to Amend City Charter <br />Sections 2.5 and 4.5.5 <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec closed the regular portion of the City Council meeting at 7:10 p.m. in order to <br />conduct a public hearing. <br /> <br />Public Hearin2 <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec called the public hearing to order at 7: 10 p.m. <br /> <br />Presentation <br /> <br />City Attorney Goodrich reported that this has been reviewed over the past few years and tonight <br />there is a recommendation from the Charter Commission for revisions to Sections 2.5 and 4.5.5. <br />He stated that the revisions must be adopted unanimously by the Council and would then be <br />effective 90 days after publication, unless a petition is received within 60 days of the adoption. <br />He reviewed the suggested changes for Section 2.5 and introduced Ben Deemer, Vice-Chair of <br />the Charter Commission, if there are any questions. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen asked why the Charter Commission felt a liaison should be appointed to <br />the Council. He stated that if a citizen has any issues, they can contact any member of the <br />Council and are not just limited to their ward representative. <br /> <br />City Attorney Goodrich stated that this was discussed and it was felt that if the vacancy was for <br />90 days or longer, it was too long to have an elected position open. <br /> <br />Mr. Deemer stated that they felt that when there is a ward vacancy, people are entitled to specific <br />representation and this also helps staff by making it clear who to tell people to contact. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec stated that he doesn't think this is a problem and thinks people could either call <br />the Mayor or one of the At Large Councilmembers. <br /> <br />Councilmember Jeffrey stated that really any person in the City is represented by four people, <br />their Ward Representative, the two At Large Councilmembers and the Mayor. He stated that he <br />also is concerned about appointing a liaison. <br /> <br />Councilmember Olson stated that she agrees that citizens have more than one way of being <br />represented on the Council; however, if there were no importance to representing a Ward, the <br />entire Council would be At Large. She stated that she feels citizens are entitled to have a <br />specific person represent them. <br /> <br />Councilmember Strommen stated that she feels the language is a bit confusing and doesn't <br />specifically refer to a ward position. She asked if a liaison would be appointed if the vacancy <br />were for an At Large position. She reiterated that she feels the language is confusing. <br /> <br />City Council / July 22, 2008 <br />Page 5 of 23 <br />