Agenda - Charter Commission - 05/19/2005

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~08:45 ., , LAW_:__~_OFFICE= ~140 4TH AVE ~ 42?5545 N0.8~4 BARRY A. S Lrv, A"FFORNEY AT LAW 214.0 FOURTH AVENUE N. ANOKA, MINNESOTA 55303 Phone: 763-427-$877 Fax: 763-421.-4213 E-mail:Hawkl. aw2~a.ol.eom 2005 'William K. Goodrich Randall, Goodrich & Fitzpatrick Fourth A~,enue Non:h Anoka, MN 55303 City of Ramsay Charter Commission []ear Mr. Goodrich: As you may recall, I represent Ben Deemer, a resident of the City of Ramsay and a member of the Ramsay Charter Commission. The purpose of this letter is to express on behalf of Mr. Deemer an objection to the procedure being utilized by the City of Ramsay with respect to the pending petition to amend the Ramsay Charter. In my opinion, the petition has not been properly reviewed by the Charter Commission and the decision by the City Council to qualify the petition and submit the c[uestion for a re{erendum is premature. It is my understanding that the Ramsay City Clerk received a petition from a group of citizens on April 4, 2005 seeking to amend chapter 8 of the Ramsay City Charter regarding public improvements and special assessments. The City Clerk indicated that the petition was signed by 784 persons, that the signatures were verified and the number of signatures was sufficient. ) am made to 0ndsrstand that at the City Council meeting on April 26, 2005, the City Council determined the sufficiency of the pet{tion and the matter is to return to the City Council on May 10; 2005 to consider whether the proposed amendment is legally sufficient. The City has apparently taken the position that since no general election will be held within six months, the city will schedule a special election within 90 days after delivery of the petition, or on or before July 5, 2005. Mr. Deemer indicates that the Ramsay Charter Commission was not provided with an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed petition as required by Minn. Stat, § 410.12 (2004).