Agenda - Charter Commission - 02/23/1984

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I I I I I i I I I I I I I I I I I ! I has decided to go to a Council liaison function. There will be a rotating representation on the part of Council and the Mayor and one councilmember will be at large. One councilmember will be appointed to serve one of 3 precincts for a period of one year and at large for one year. Chapter 4 - Nominations and Elections - The Charter Commission has opted to establish that if a councilmember chooses to run for mayor after serving two years of his 4 year term, he must resign his position as councilmember to compete for the office of mayor. Also, there have been situations where due to a vacancy, for whatever reason, a councilmember is appointed. It is an undesirable situation to have 3 years of a term remaining and to have 3 councilmembers and a mayor appoint who is going to carry on the 3 remaining 'years. The charter proposes to establish that Council establish an election to fill that vacancy. Commissioner Data noted that if a vacancy is created with less than one year left of the term, Council will appoint a councilmember to fill that vacancy. If a vacancy is created with less than 120 days left in the term, the seat will remain vacant until the next general election. Chapter 5 - This chapter is totally new with respect to the way the City currently operates. It is the chapter dealing with Initiative and Referendum and Recall. It provides for citizen opportunity to initiate laws, have a referendum to repeal laws and recall elected officials. Commissioner Sieber stated that the only argument against this provision is that a small portion of the City could force the rest of the City into something long term and expensive. To avoid this happening, the Charter Commission has set the required'~number of signatures on a petition at 10% of the registered voters in the City. Commissioner Buchanan noted that historically, it shows that the rights of initiative and referendum and recall are very seldom exercised. Commissioner Sieber stated that recall has never been exercised in Minnesota. Chapter 6 - Essentially, there no differences at all in the way the City is to be administered. Council and Mayor will have authority as delegated by the citizens. Chapter 7 - Financing - The most significant change brought about by this chapter is the Long Term Financial Plan. In most aspects, it already exists in the City, but the Charter will make the Long Term Plan a formal requirement. Commissioner Data stated that the reasons for requiring a Long Term Plan is to give the citizens a sense of City direction and growth and the opportunity to be aware of income and expenditures anticipated over a 5 year period. It will also serve as an indicator to Council and various people in city government as to whether or not there is a need to increase taxes or require development to increase tax base. Chapter 8 - Public Improvements and Special Assessments - This chapter will structure differently the way public improvements and special assessments are currently accomplished in the City. This is an involved chapter and is characterized as the strongest side winning. The intent is to give the strongest voice possible to the people with regards to improvements. Commissioner Buchanan stated that the intent is to allow people who are going to be assessed, as a group, to decide whether or not they want that project. Commissioner Buchanan explained that with this provision, people can request a project and if Council approves, the project goes in - ~nless another group from that same area submit a petition with the required number of signatures to stop the project. Chapter 9 - Eminent Domain - No change. Sp CC/February 15, 1984 Public Meeting