Agenda - Charter Commission - 07/10/1997

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VII. -13- M.S.A. 410.50 implements {his"constitutional authority by allowing any home rule city to abandon its charter and become a statutory city. The city may abandon its charter by a proposal presented, adopted and becoming effective in the same manner as a charter amendment. Thus, such approval ~ould require approval by 51 percent of those voting on the question. The proposal must include a schedule containing necessary provisions for transition to the statutory city form of government (Minn. Stats. Ch. 412) in order to place the municipality on a regular election schedule as soon as practicable. The proposal may provide in effect for continuance of specified provisions of the home rule charter for an interim period and shall specify the standard plan or the optional plan under which the city is to operate as a statutory city. APPENDIX OF FORMS FOR USE BY CHARTER COMMISSION Form I. Petition, ~orApp~intment of Charter Co,mmission PETITION TO THE JUDGES OF THE DISTRICT COURT FOR APPOINTMENT OF A HOME RULE CHARTER COMMISSION FOR THE CITY OF To the Honorable ~Judges of the District Court For The Judicial District:1 We, the undersigned qualified voters2 of the city of , respectfully request the judges of the district court of the Judicial District to appoint a home rule charter commission consisting of members3 in accordance with Article 11, Section 4, of the ~nnesota Constitution and M.S.A. 410.05, to make recommendations on the adoption of a home rule charter for the city of Name Address 1The petition should be presented to the judges of the judicial district in ,.r.hich the city is located. 2The district court may appoint a charter commission on its own volition without a petition, but is required to do so by M.S.A. 410.05 when presented a petition signed by voters equal to at least-l0 percent of those voting at ~ the last municipal election. If this number of signatures appears on the petition, the following language may appropriately be added after the phrase "qualified voters" in the text: "equal in number to ten percent of those voting at the last election held in this city." 3Obviously an odd number should be specified - 7,9,11,13, or 15. The petitioners would be well advised to consult with the city council, civic leaders, and the court before specifying a particular number.