Agenda - Council - 08/28/2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I I I i I I I ,I I I I Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Gamec, Councilmembers Anderson, and Kurak. Voting No: Hendriksen and Zimmerman. Case #3: Establish Special Election to Consider City Charter Amendment Issues City Administrator Norman stated that the Charter Commission has been considering Charter Amendment issues such as the establishment of a Primary Election and Ward System for many years. During the meeting held on July 19, 2001, the Charter Commission had formally presented to the City Council the amendments be submitted at a special election. The motion presented to the Council amends the City Charter as follows: 1. That Chapter 4 of the City Charter be amended so as to provide for a primary election system that the text for said amendment be the text approved at the Charter Commission meeting on July 19, 200l. 2. That Chapter 2 of the City Charter be amended so as to provide for a ward system and that the text for said amendment be the text approved at the Charter Commission meeting on July 19, 2001. Pursuant to State Statues, the City Council is now responsible to set up a special election within 90 days of the Council meeting. Staff recommends the election be held on October 16, 2001. At a subsequent meeting, staff will present proposed election questions for Council consideration. Councilmember Hendriksen inquired if it was possible to place a single item on the ballot that would amend several areas of the Charter. City Attorney Goodrich replied yes. Councilmember Zimmerman stated that during the 2000 election the citizens voted to increase the number of Councilmembers fi.om four to six. Al~o during that election the residents were asked an advisory question of whether or not they would like the ability to turn over the majority of the Council every two years, which was voted on by a large number of voters. Now the Charter Commission has gone out of its way to implement something the voters did not request. Councilmember Anderson stated that it is mathematically impossible to serve four years and have the majority of the Council turned over. -- Councilmember Hendriksen replied that they could modify the Charter to make that happen. City Attorney Goodrich noted that State law precludes the City fi.om establishing two-year terms for a Councilmember. The Mayor can serve a two-year term. He also noted that the Charter Commission rejected changing the term of the Cot~ncil. City Council/July 24, 2001 Page 11 of 23 -60-