Minutes - Charter Commission - 02/15/1984

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Motion by Commissioner Gamec and seconded by Commissioner Buchanan for a recess. Further Discussion: Mr. Schnelle - Assumed Charter Commission intent for Section 8.05.02 is not to allow the City to assess 20% of a project and put the balance on the tax roles. Charter Commission members replied that is the intent. Mr. Donovan inquired as to how a charter would affect a situation where Council decides housing and services are lacking in Ramsey and pursues government bonding for these types of facilities; the taxpayer may end up paying for it even though he does not benefit because he is not of retirement age. Commissioner Buchanan replied that a petition from 25% of the registered voters would stop it. commissioner Buchanan also stated that the Commission thought the section r~ad that 25% petition initiates a project, 25% can stop the project and then Council puts it to a vote and the majority decides. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chairman Heitman, Commissioners Lichter, Sieber, Bauerkemper, Data, Greenberg, Buchanan and Gamec. Voting No: None. Absent: Commissioner Titterud. The meeting recessed at 10:00 p.m. Chairman Heitman called the public meeting back to order at 10:30 p.m. Mr. Hartman - Inquired as to when the Commission will be meeting again for the purpose of informing the public. Commissioner Buchanan replied the second and fourth Thursday of every month at City Hall. He also added that regardless of when the Commission submits the charter to Council, as long as the charter is not made public, the Commission can still make changes. Mr. Hartman suggested that the charter be printed in the Shopper, that it is more widely read in Ramsey than the Anoka County Union. Commissioner Buchanan stated that the City is obligated to print such items in the official newspaper which is the Anoka County Union. Commissioner Gamec stated that a legal publication cannot be printed in the Shopper,'~that;~the iShopper is not a legal publication. Commissioner Buchanan explained the Charter form'.'of government as a Statutory city can only do things the State specifically says it can do and under charter rule a city can do anything the charter does not prohibit and State specifically says it cannot do. Mr. Jack Ippel stated that the charter should be put to a vote when the most public particiation is anticipated -- at the general election. Chairman Heitman referred to Section 4.02.01 and stated that some revisions have been made to that section that are not included in the current charter draft; a person applying for office, currently holding an office, must submit a resignation from the current office at the time of filing and that resignation is not effective until the day of the election. Mr. Jack Ippel stated that the Commission's own admission that Chapter 8 needs more review is reason enough to delay submitting the charter to Council 30-45 days. Sp CC/February 15, 1984 Public Meeting Page 9 of 12