Minutes - Charter Commission - 09/24/2009

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forward against a petition, let them state what their reasons are and petitioners should be able to state their reasons. That's an interesting idea to make sure information is presented on both sides. Motion carried. All present voted in favor. Chairperson Deemer suggested that City Attorney Goodrich could research to add language on petition forms. Maybe add language to this chapter that defines petition and describes the project. If the project is initiated by citizens, there is not control. We are talking about the ones presented by the City. At public hearings, the forms will say what the project is and people will be either for or against it — then there is no false information. Commissioner Fredrick stated that the deal is that each piece of paper in the petition has language at the top so there is never a blank sheet. Mr. Goodrich stated that we could refer people to the State Statute for petitioning — we may not have to change the Charter. Motion by Chairperson Deemer and seconded by Commissioner Cleveland to direct the City Attorney to review petition format and to recommend a format for petition with regard to Chapter 8 of the Charter. This should be brought to the next Charter Commission meeting. Motion carried. All present voted in favor. Case #3: Consider Recommending Ordinance to City Council for the Amendment of Charter Subsection 2.5 and 4.5 City Attorney Goodrich stated at the Commission's meeting on May 19, 2009, a motion was passed to recommend amendments to Subsection 2.5 as presented but eliminating the liaison provision. The motion also included proposed amendments to Subsection 4.5. We have worked on this language for a long time and it is now presented in the form of an ordinance. The Charter could be making a motion to recommend to City Council that they adopt this ordinance (Charter amendment) and the Council will have a public hearing and if they pass this ordinance by unanimous vote, it becomes effective subject to a 90 -day period. Motion by Commissioner Fredrick and seconded by Commissioner Field to recommend to the City Council that it adopt the ordinance amending Subsections 2.5 and 4.5 of the City Charter, and that the process to be used for the amendment is pursuant to M.S. 410.12, Subd. 7. Further discussion: Chairperson Deemer stated that some of the language did not get put in the amendment the way he thought it should. For example, the last line of 4.5.5.3 — he thought the language should read pursuant to this Subsection shall be for the balance of Charter Commission — September 24, 2009 Page 8 of 10