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successful special assessment planning in the future. Commissioner Niska stated Chapter 8.4.2 <br />requires a 4/5 City Council vote for projects not initiated by petition. <br />Commissioner Deemer stated a super majority of 2/3rds, or 66%, would be appropriate. <br />Commissioner M. Anderson stated 75% is an arbitrary number, and "greater than 50%" makes <br />more sense. <br />Chairperson Field agreed, adding 75% is not necessary if 60% is sufficient. He added 75% <br />seems high, and there would be a lot of opposition. <br />Commissioner Bendtsen stressed the importance of keeping it simple. <br />Commissioner Niska stated 4/5ths would be a non -arbitrary number, and it is also what is <br />required from the City Council on a vote. He added he agrees that super majorities are arbitrary, <br />and he feels 60-66% (3/5ths or 2/3rds) is reasonable. <br />Commissioner Zaetsch stated a super majority could be required in any instance where <br />assessment costs are 50% or less of the project. <br />Chairperson Field stated he likes that idea, although it is not always the case. <br />Commissioner Zaetsch stated the super majority is lost if the assessment procedure is scaled <br />back. He added a project could be `killed' at 60% if assessments are high. <br />Commissioner M. Anderson stated he supports no change in the current percentage. <br />Commissioner Niederhaus agreed. <br />Commissioner S. Anderson stated another solution might be to change the City's responsibility <br />for certain planning costs. She added the cost to taxpayers will increase significantly if a project <br />is postponed. She noted she supports increasing the percentage to 60%. <br />Motion by Commissioner Deemer, seconded by Commissioner Bendtsen, to recommend the City <br />Council amend Section 8.4.5 of the Charter to increase the percentage from 50% to 60% of <br />petitioning property owners required for Council -initiated local improvements. <br />Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Field, Commissioners Deemer, Bendtsen, S. <br />Anderson, Niska, and Zaetsch. Voting No: Commissioners M. Anderson, Niederhaus, and <br />Sivertson. <br />6. COMMISSION / STAFF INPUT <br />City Clerk Thieling stated the City Charter document has been reviewed and some discrepancies <br />corrected. She added binders with copies of the Charter were distributed to the Charter <br />Commission, with a cover page listing the corrections that have been made. She noted the <br />Charter Commission/ June 25, 2014 <br />Page 7 of 9 <br />