Agenda - Charter Commission - 11/29/2001

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Case//2: Consider City Charter Amendment Chapter 15, Deating with Adoption of Comprehensive Municipal Plan City Administrator Norman stated that staff received a request by Charter Commissioners Bertzyk and Milless after the City Council meeting of August 29, 2001, that the Commission consider a Charter amendment dealing with the adoption of the Comprehensive Municipal Plan. Staff has directed the City Attorney to draft a new Chapter 15, which deals with the adoption of the Comprehensive Municipal Plans. Commissioner Miltess stated that the City Council is not getting the job done. They have promised the citizens that they would take care of this and they have not. We need to see what the people want - not just what special interest groups want. Commissioner Bertzyk requested more clarity of Statute 462. Mr. Goodrich stated that the proposed section of 15.1 is all from the State Statutes, defining what a comp plan is. He read the following: Unless otherwise provided by Charter, the governing body may by resolution, by a two-thirds vote of all of its members, adopt and amend the comprehensive plan or portion thereof as the official municipal plan upon such notice and hearing as may be prescribed by ordinance. He explained that this proposal would be a simple majority (3/5tbs) not a 4/Sths vote. Commissioner Henke left the Commission table to speak from the podium as a citizen. Chairperson Vogt reminded the Commission that they are here at this meeting in the capacity of Commission members. Ms. Henke stated that as a resident, she was surprised to see this case on the agenda. She pointed out that she did not receive her agenda at the same time the other Commissioners did either. She asked if the Charter even wants to address th/s. We should at least have the ability to determine if we want to address this. She expressed concern about things appearing on the agenda or on the table at the last minute. She stated that the Commission should not arrive here to be puppets to look at items that we have never talked about before. Keith Kiefer stated that he agrees with Commissioners Milless and Bertzyk. The City Council has had the opportunity to pass the Comprehensive Plan. He thinks it is time to move this from the City Council to the citizens. Larry Henke, 14311 Armstrong Boulevard NW, Ramsey, stated that he cannot agree with Mr. Kiefer nor Ms. Milless and Ms. Bertzyk. It is not up to the Commission to decide how the Council needs to work. It is critical to our City's development and it has been going around a long time and we would like to see a resolution but some people just do not give. Changes were made after it was submitted to the Council and that just cannot be done. Commissioner Milless sated that she a~eed with Mr. Henke, That is why we are trying to put this to the City Council and to the people. That is the way it should be. -4- Charter Commission - September 6, 2001 Page 4 of 11