Agenda - Charter Commission - 05/05/2010

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COMMISSION BUSINESS Case #1: Update on Charter Commission Appointments City Clerk Thieling reported that Terry Cleveland and Ben Deemer were reappointed to a four year term on the City's Charter and Susan Anderson was newly appointed to a four year term. She noted that all three members were issued the oath of office prior to this meeting being called to order. Mrs. Thieling informed the Commission that Roger Bergfalk and Darren Erickson will not be requesting reappointment to the Commission, therefore, a vacancy remains. An ad regarding the vacancy will remain on the City's website as well as in the Ramsey Resident. The ad will remain until the vacancy is filled. Mrs. Thieling referred to a letter sent to the Commission by Commissioner Sherman who was unable to attend tonight's meeting. Ms. Sherman stated that if the Commission continues to meet on Monday nights, she will be unable to commit as she works most Monday evenings. Discussion ensued relating to the meeting night. The Charter Commission has been basically meeting on Thursdays since its inception. Consensus was that the Charter Commission meetings would continue on an as-needed basis and when a meeting is necessary, when possible, the day would be the third Thursday of the month, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Case #2: Approve Year-End Summary to Judge Motion by Commissioner Frederick and seconded by Commission Field to approve the summazy and direct staff to submit the letter to the Chief Judge of the Tenth Judicial District according to State Statutes. Motion carried. All present voted in favor. Absent: Commissioner Sherman. Case #3: Consider Amendment to Chapter 2 of the Ilome Rule Charter of the City of Ramsey relating to the Form of Government of the City City Attorney Goodrich stated this is not a new subject to the Charter Commission. Back to 2002, the Charter has been talking about this subject. It has not been discussed again since 2007 as an ordinance was unanimously passed by the City Council in December 2006 that would change the City's form of government to aCouncil-Manager Plan, effective January 1, 2011. He noted that the current form of government, Mayor- Council, has been in effect for some 26 years. With this plan, we have a City Administrator and the Administrator is an assistant to the City Council. Mr. Goodrich summazized different plans such as Clerk, Clerk-Treasurer, Clerk-Administrator, City Administrator, and City Manager. The City Manager is equivalent to a CEO and the City Council would be like the Boazd of Directors. The City Manager would cazry out the policies of the Council and Council would not be too involved in the day-to-day administration. The City Manager runs the City based on policies set by the Council. Mr. Goodrich continued that the primary difference is that the City Manager hires and Charter Commission -March 29, 2010 Page 2 of 9