Agenda - Council - 03/11/1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Term Limits: As part of a survey in April 1996, City staff collected information about term limits for commissions in other metro area cities. Of the 37 cities responding to that survey question: 62% (23 of 37) 30% (11 of 37) 8% (3 of 37) Have no term limits for commissions, except Charter, which is determined by State Statute. Have term limits for all commissions (Burnsville, Cottage Grove, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Hopkins, Lino Lakes, Minnetonka, Richfield, Rosemount, Roseville, Shakopee, St. Anthony) Have term limits for some commissions (other than Charter) (Arden Hills, Bayport, Chaska) Most Ramsey commission members who completed March 1996 questionnaires seeking input for the commission appointment policy were in favor of term limits, with the proviso that it generally takes at least a year for a commissioner to get up to speed on process and issues, and that any term limits should allow for that learning curve. In 1992 the City Council adopted an ordinance making terms on all City Boards and Commissions two years, except for Charter, which is specified by Minnesota Statute 410.05 subd. 2. Another ordinance will be required to adopt term limits. For purposes of discussion, City staff recommends that the term limits for City Boards and Commissions be the same as those for the Charter Commission - eight years. The new ordinance would include the following: 1) Individuals serving on City Boards and Commissions shall be limited to four consecutive two-year terms of service on a commission. 2) Individuals may apply to a different commission immediately upon reaching the term limit on one commission. 3) Individuals may reapply to the original commission only after being off the commission for at least one two-year term. There are a number of individuals with more than eight years of service currently serving on City commissions. It is staff's recommendations that those people be allowed to complete their current terms. Committee Action: 1. Based on discussion, recommend that Council modify and/or adopt proposed commission appointment policy section dealing with serving on more than one City commission at the same time; and I I I I I I I' I I I I I I I I I I I I