Agenda - Charter Commission - 05/19/2011

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May 10, 2011 The Honorable Timothy P. Bloomquist Chief Judge Tenth Judicial District Kanabec County Court House 18 N. Vine Street Mora, MN 55051 Re: City of Ramsey, Anoka County, Minnesota, Charter Commission Annual Report Dear Judge Bloomquist: In accordance with Minnesota Statutes 410.05, the following is an annual report reflecting the activities of the City of Ramsey Charter Commission during the year 2010. Members of the Charter Commission for 2010 were as follows: Susan Anderson (newly appointed) Benjamin Deemer (reappointed to a four -year term), Terri Cleveland (reappointed to a four -year term), Joseph Field, Frank Frederick, Harry Niska, Marilyn (Moe) Shea, and Cindy Sherman. The Charter Commission met on March 29, 2010. Oaths of Office were previously issued to Commissioners Deemer, Cleveland and Anderson. The Commission discussed Chapter 2 of the Charter relating to the City's form of government. It was noted that this had been a discussion since 2002, however, had not been discussed since 2008 as an ordinance had been passed in December 2006 that would change the City's form of government to a Council- Manager Plan effective January 1, 2011. The City Attorney reported to the Charter Commission that the current Mayor and Council had indicated the desire to have the City's form of government to remain as is and not be changed to the Council Manager form. The Council had introduced an ordinance to amend the Charter to keep the form of government as is (Council - Administrator). He noted that this particular ordinance did not have a unanimous vote and it may be put forward to the voters to make the decision. The current Mayor and Council felt that this was a significant enough change that it should have been brought to the voters before and since it was not, it should now be put out to the voters before the amendment takes place. The