Agenda - Charter Commission - 11/29/2001

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Alena Hunter 14628 Helium Street N-W, Ramsey, suggested that if you place.an advisory question and wards, and turnover on a ballot, you are going to be able to get down to what the voters were looking for when they voted on the advisory questions. Wards may be the answer for better representation. You also need to look at what you will be doing to the Mayor's position. Discussions have been had with regard to being brought up to speed in one year then your term is over in the next year. You need to look at consistency. Margaret Connolly, 16235 Kamacite Street NW, Ramsey, stated she didn't really care about ward systems, one way or another. However, she did care that we have Councils that are sensitive to its residents. Mr. GoOdrich did not believe that there is another city that has the majority of their Council turn over every two years. Chairperson Vogt stated that the citizens of Ramsey voted for a four-year mayor's .term. The only way of turnover every two years is to have a two-year Mayor's term again. Motion by Commissioner Milless and seconded by Commissioner Childs to table alternate//2 presented by Terry Hendriksen and to recommend to the City Council that they have an advisory question pursuant to similar language that she passed out this evening. Further discussion: Mr. Hendriksen stated that Mr. Deemer had made a comment about mixing the ward system. The whole issue of "mine versus yours" goes away if you propose down to 2.3.2 where you do not address the issue of a transition scheduled. People can vote on the ward system and you put an advisory question on the ballot. Amendment by Commissioner Milless and seconded by Commissioner Childs to table Alternate #2 as presented by Terry Hendriksen. Amendment carded. Voting Yes: Chairperson Vogt, Commissioners Milless, Bertzyk, Childs, Deemer, Ebel, and LaMere. Voting No: Commissioners Henke and Swanson. Commissioner Deemer suggested taking the issue of transition up after the election of the ward system. Mr. Hendriksen stated that if the citizens vote no on the ward system, he would like to come back with the transition schedule. Motion by Commissioner Milless and seconded by Commissioner Bertzyk to recommend to the City Council to put an advisory question on the ballot proposing a majority turnover of the Council every two years. Further discussion: Discussion ensued relating to the language that should be used. Suzanne Dvorak, resident, suggested taking the word xersus out of the language. She felt that the question needed to be divided or people will not know how to vote. Commissioner Deemer -10- Charier Commission - September 6, 2001 Page 10 oflI