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to density and the League of Minnesota Cities Attorney determined it best not to discuss <br />this issue at this time. <br /> <br />Case #2: ReView Annual Letter to Judge Gibbs <br /> <br />Consensus of the Charter CommissiOn was that staff dral2 a letter to the Judge of the <br />Tenth Judicial District and present it to the Chairperson for approval. <br /> <br />Case #3: ward System ProPosal <br /> <br />It was noted that the City, several years ago, held "town meetings" on an annual basis. <br />Due to "lack of interest'', these meetings are no longer held. <br /> <br />Commissioner Anderson explained some of the strengths in having a ward system, <br />comparing it to the School Board and also to the City. of Blaine. She noted that some <br />people feel wards mean narrow and focused governing, however, she felt that did not <br />happen on the School Board. <br /> <br />City Attorney Goodrich explained that to go to a ward System, the City would have to <br />have a Charter amendment and the soonest this would take effect would be with the 2002 <br />election. It would be based on the year 2000 census. <br /> <br />Chairperson Peterson suggested that the past couple of Councils have not really been <br />interested in changing from precinct to:Wards. <br /> <br />Commissioner Donovan recollected that responses to the Charter's electoral process <br />survey talked about bow costly it is to campaign over the entire City. <br /> <br />Discussion ensued relating to the number of Councilmembers Ramsey should have ~ five, <br />seven, term limits for Council, whether or not Ramsey should have a local primary <br />election, should the City be split into wards as opposed to precincts;~and should Ramsey <br />have a City Administrator or a City Manager. <br /> <br />Motion by Commissioner Kiefer and seconded by Commissioner Swokowski to send the <br />electoral process survey out to the candidates from the 1998 election. <br /> <br />Motion carried. Voting Yes: ChairperSon Peterson, Commissioners Kiefer, Swokowski, <br />Anderson, Donovm~, Marn, Netzloffand Spain-Brist. Voting No: None. Absent: <br />Commissioner Vogt. <br /> <br />Consensus of the Chatter Commissionwas that the City Attorney and City Administrator <br />research the following information forthe Commission for their January rneeting: wards <br />versus precincts ~ number of cities that have wards and how we would go about changing <br />to a ward system, the number of councilmembers for different cities and their population, <br />what cities have for term limits, do cities have primaries and, if so, under what' <br /> <br />charter Commission/November 19, 1998 <br /> Page 2 of 3 <br /> <br />-63- <br /> <br /> <br />