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I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br /> I <br /> I <br />! <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> I <br /> <br /> CONSIDER PROPOSED REVISIONS TO <br /> POLICY ON COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS <br />By: Linda Waite Smith, Administrative Services Manager <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br />In August of 1996, the City Council adopted a policy for appointing members of the City's <br />advisory boards and commissions. That policy was actually implemented for the first time in <br />January 1997, when there were a number of commission vacancies to fill. As a result of that <br />experience with the new policy, the City Council directed staff to recommend revisions in the <br />policy section pertaining to service on more than one City commission at the same time and to <br />recommend how to implement term limits for commission members. Part of the directive <br />regarding term limits was to find out what commissioners think. Since the policy was adopted, <br />staff has learned that state law prohibits stipends to Charter Commission members, so a revision <br />to the stipend section of the policy is being recommended. <br /> <br />Simultaneous Service on Multiple City Commissions: <br /> <br />During the June 11, 1996 Personnel Committee where the draf~ commission appointment policy <br />was discussed, there was discussion about whether or not people should be allowed to serve on <br />more than one commission at the same time. <br /> <br />Chapter 410 of Minnesota Statutes 1996, Section 410.05, Subd. 1 states: "No person shall be <br />disqualified from serving on a charter commission by reason of holding any other elective or <br />appointive office other than judicial." <br /> <br />Based on this, staff recommends that the policy section be clarified to read: <br /> <br />The City Council may appoint an individual to serve on two City commissions at the <br />same time, provided one of the commissions is the Charter Commission. Membership in <br />ad hoc groups is exempt from this policy. <br /> <br />Term Li~nits: <br /> <br />A discussion of term limits was deferred when the commission appointment policy was <br />originally adopted in 1996. In order to formulate a recommendation, staff has gathered <br />information from other cities regarding term limits for their commissions. In addition, staff <br />surveyed commission members in 1996 and again in 1997 for their thoughts about term limits. <br />Charter Commission members were not surveyed in 1997 because their terms are established and <br />limited by state law. <br /> <br /> <br />