Laserfiche WebLink
the petition is properly attested and whether the petition is signed by a sufficient number of voters. That <br />sets the time frame. No place does it say the Charter is to have input. The Charter can "weigh in" and <br />look at it but cannot stop it nor can the City Council stop it. Once the petition is delivered - the <br />timeframe starts. <br /> <br />Chairperson Vogt stated that the City Council can only do so much with the wording of the proposed <br />amendment also. <br /> <br />Commissioner Deemer stated they cannot change the wording or amendment. <br /> <br />Attorney Goodrich stated that the ballot question can be reworded. <br /> <br />Chairperson Vogt stated his interpretation is that the Charter cannot change the proposed amendment. <br /> <br />Commissioner Deemer stated that we (Charter) can read it and if we think what was done is incorrect, <br />we can say no. This petition forces us to make an amendment - a petition should be coming to us and <br />we should be taking action on that as a group. <br /> <br />Chairperson Vogt stated he feels the Commission is in a stalemate on this issue. <br /> <br />Commissioner Deemer commented on only discussing that first sentence and agreeing that what he put <br />in Exhibit A is correct. <br /> <br />City Administrator Norman stated that a petition comes to the City Council and the City Clerk. The <br />argument is that it cannot go to a vote because the City Council did not send it back to the Charter. <br /> <br />Commissioner Deemer stated that the petitions for the special elections of 1995 through 1997 did not <br />come here to the Charter Commission and they should have. State Legislature has never enabled <br />initiative. The citizens came with a petition and put it directly on the ballot by Statute 410. <br /> <br />Commissioner Simenson inquired if Mr. Deemer was opposed to the short cut or is he saying we can <br />stop a proposed amendment from going on the ballot. Is Mr. Deemer saying we could change the <br />language presented by the petition. <br /> <br />Commissioner Deemer replied yes, we could meet with the petitioners. <br /> <br />Commissioner Henke summarized that Mr. Deemer's interpretation is that the petition should come to <br />us but we cannot change it, all we can do is put it on the ballot. <br /> <br />Commissioner Bertzyk stated that the Charter Commission has to approve it as to form and substance. <br /> <br />Commissioner Henke stated that the Commission is only seven people - we cannot change what people <br />bring us to put on the ballot. <br /> <br />Chairperson Vogt stated he is worried we are going over a line we may not want to go over - we are at a <br />stalemate. <br /> <br />Charter Commission- January 16, 2003 <br /> Page 4 of 8 <br /> <br /> <br />