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Mayor Gamec stated that there should be some explanation in the Ramsey Resident explaining <br />the ballot question. <br /> <br />Charter Commission Chairperson Kiefer noted that the Charter Commission discussed holding <br />an open public meeting in order to have a Q & A session regarding the change, sometime in the <br />first two weeks of October. <br /> <br />Assistant City Administrator Moore-Sykes noted that there will probably not be an issue of the <br />Ramsey Resident prior to the election. <br /> <br />Charter Commissioner Kieffer stated that the Charter Commission has discussed this issue for <br />approximately three years and as a Charter Commission they felt the change is significant <br />enough that the City should receive citizen approval prior to making the change. <br /> <br />Councilmember Connolly stated that by increasing the number of Councilmembers to seven it <br />will provide an opportunity to get the majority of the Council turned over every two years. <br /> <br />Councilmember Hendriksen stated that by having the additional Councilmembers it would give <br />the City the opportunity to get away from the current situation where the majority of the Council <br />is in place for four years. He stated that he would like to solicit some additional input from the <br />residents and place an advisory question on the ballot that would state "Should the terms of the <br />Councilmembers be staggered to guarantee the majority of the Council will be up for election <br />every two years?" <br /> <br />Charter Commissioner Childs noted that by adding two more members to the Council does not <br />change the way things are currently done. <br /> <br />Councilmember Hendriksen replied that, by adding the advisory question to the ballot, it would <br />help assess the mood of the residents regarding the issue. <br /> <br />Charter Commissioner Childs replied that the Charter Commission will discuss the issue. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec inquired as to when the increase in Councilmembers would take effect if it is <br />approved during the 2000 election. <br /> <br />Charter Commissioner Childs replied that the change would not be in place until the next City <br />Council election in 2002. <br /> <br />Motion by Councilmember Hendriksen, seconded by Councilmember Connolly, to approve the <br />Charter Aanendment ballot question to read "Shall the Charter of the City of Ramsey be amended <br />by adoption of an amendment that would increase the number of Councilmembers of the City <br />Council from four to six, to be effective with the general election of 2002." Contingent upon <br />review by the City Attorney of the Charter Commission motion. <br /> <br />City Council/September 13, 2000 <br /> Page 5 of 19 <br /> <br />-31- <br /> <br /> <br />