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COMMISSION BUSINESS <br /> <br />Case #1: <br /> <br />Consider Placing various Issues on the Ballot for Voters Consideration at the <br />November 2000 Election <br /> <br />City Administrator Norman stated that this case is to discuss issues for ballot consideration. The <br />issue of a primary, the number of Councilmembers, and whether or not to go to a ward system <br />have been discussed for a long while. He stated that the joint meeting with the City Council on <br />August 22, brought discttssion of the separation of the City Clerk and City Administrator <br />positions. It was voted on and sent to Council as basically a housekeeping item. Consensus was <br />that some issues are not housekeeping items and should be sent on to the residents to vote on as <br />opposed to a 5/0 vote by the City Council. <br /> <br />Commissioner Henke recollected that the only thing the Commission met on was the <br />housekeeping item of separating the positions of Clerk and Administrator. <br /> <br />Mr. Norman noted there was a quorum at the last meeting, and the recommendation was to send <br />the housekeeping item of position separation to the Council. However, the City Council and the <br />Charter Commission did discuss these issues that have been discussed for the last couple' of <br />years. Now Commission Chair Kiefer is asking that they be discussed tonight. <br /> <br />Chairperson K_iefer stated he would also like to discuss being more proactive and starting <br />advertising early for the vacancies on the Commission. In the past, there has been a practice that <br />the Commission takes an active part in interviewing and selecting new members. He continued <br />with the topics for discussion. He said that some of the things that would be good in terms of <br />meeting with the Councilmembers to discuss would be primaries, wards versus precincts, and the <br />number of City Council seats. His impression was that the Council and Mayor were in favor of <br />increasing the number of Councilmembers. He heard some negative and some positive things <br />relating to wards. There was not a lot of discussion relative to a primary election. He believed it <br />is the consensus of the Charter that each of these items is si~nificant enough to make a decision' <br />but we want the voters of Ramsey to make the ultimate decision. He inquired if there is any <br />interest on the Commission's part to put any one of these items on the upcoming ballot - or <br />interest in putting all three issues on the ballot? If there is not interest in placing this on the <br />ballot, maybe we should set up the framework of how we get from here to there. We should <br />either table all of this or do something as we have been discussing these items over the past three <br />years. It was thought by the Commission at that time that the upcoming election would be an <br />appropriate time to make some of these decisions. <br /> <br />City Attorney Goodrich stated if you choose to forward any or all three of the items to,the City <br />Council, then the city Council does not have the authority to amend what you say or deny what <br />you are recommending. You would say this is what we want and the City Council would set the <br />form. The City Council does not have legal authority to veto your action. If City Council got <br />something from you for the next City Council meeting, logically they would send it to the next <br />election. If they decide not to do that, they could say they want a special election within 90 days. <br />Council would then do three things: Publications, put it in the ballot format, and direct when the <br />matter will be put on the ballot. <br /> <br />Charter Commission - September' 6. 2000 <br /> Page 2 of 12 <br /> <br /> <br />