Agenda - Charter Commission - 04/23/2014

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tool should be pushed forward to the voters, as he believed that there is a strong outcry in the community for this issue to come forward through a vote. Commissioner Bendtsen stated that he did not believe that a franchise fee should be used as a tool to increase general revenues and believed that road improvement should be used as a tax. Chairperson Field stated that the Council did come back with this draft Ordinance as their attempt to compromise and did not think that the Charter Commission should simply throw that out the window. He explained that if the Niska amendment went to vote and were voted down, the City Council could then move forward with no limits or five -year period. Commissioner Niska noted that it was stated that the City Council views this as a work in progress. City Administrator Ulrich stated that perhaps the City Attorney should be given time to craft the language and come back before the Charter Commission before it is sent to the City Council for a vote. He noted that the conceptual discussion could be brought back to the Council in an informal manner, which would not be for a vote. Commissioner Niska stated that he believed that this was not an action item and the discussion had here tonight should be brought to the Council in order to determine their opinion on the option discussed to sunset all franchise fee ability in this manner after five years. He explained that the language he proposed for his amendment at the last meeting was developed at the last meeting in attempt to gain further information on the implications and to gain input from the Council. Commissioner Zaetsch stated that he did not believe that this should go before the Council to work together and still bring the issue to the voters after that time. Commissioner Deemer stated that perhaps the opposed Councilmember would approve the issue with the Niska amendment to sunset the Ordinance after the five -year period. Chairperson Field noted that with the Niska amendment added following the five -year period, that would close out the option to use franchise fees after the five -year period and therefore the issue would not need to go before the voters. He stated that perhaps this would be a method to gain what the Charter Commission desires for the long -term while still providing a tool for the City in the short -term. He noted that the five year time period could be shortened if desired as well. Commissioner Sivertson suggested proposing a one -year term before the Niska amendment would take effect, which would provide the City with enough time to budget for the item the next year. City Administrator Ulrich reviewed the discussion, which occurred tonight with Commissioners considering the options to proceed straight to the voters with the Niska amendment; to consider the Ordinance as proposed with minor technical changes that would add the Niska amendment Charter Commission/ January 27, 2014 Page 8 of 10