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Case #3: Establish Special Election to Consider City Charter Amendment Issues <br /> <br />City Administrator Norman stated that the Charter Commission has been considering Charter <br />Amendment issues such as the establishment of a Primary Election and Ward System for many <br />years. During the meeting held on July 19, 2001, the Charter Commission had formally <br />presented to the City Council the amendments be submitted at a special election. The motion <br />presented to the Council amends the City Charter as follows: <br /> <br />1. That Chapter 4 of the City Charter be amended so as to provide for a primary election system <br /> that the text for said amendment be the text approved at the Charter Commission meeting on <br /> July 19, 2001. <br />2. That Chapter 2 of the City Charter be amended so as to provide for a ward system and that <br /> the text for said amendment be the text approved at the Charter Commission meeting on July <br /> 19, 2001. <br /> <br />Pursuant to State Statues, the City Council is now responsible to set up a special election within <br />90 days of the Council meeting. Staff recommends the election be held on October 16, 2001. At <br />a subsequent meeting, staff will present proposed election questions for Council consideration. <br /> <br />Councilmember Hendriksen inquired if it was possible to place a single item on the ballot that <br />would amend several areas of the Charter. <br /> <br />City Attorney Goodrich replied yes. <br /> <br />Councilmember Zimmerman stated that during the 2000 election, the citizens voted to increase <br />the number of Councilmembers from four to six. Also during that election, the residents were <br />asked an advisory question of whether or not they would like the ability to turn over the majority <br />of the Council every two years, which was voted on by a large number of voters. Now the <br />Charter Commission has gone out of its way to implement something the voters did not request. <br /> <br />Councilmember Anderson stated that it is mathematically impossible to serve four years and <br />have the majority of the Council turned over. <br /> <br />Councilmember Hendriksen replied that they could modify the Charter to make that happen. <br /> <br />City Attorney Goodrich noted that State law precludes the City from establishing two-year terms <br />for a Councilmember. The Mayor can serve a two-year term. He also noted that the Charter <br />Commission rejected changing the term of the Council. <br /> <br />Councilmember Kurak stated that all they are doing at this point is asking to put the issue to the <br />voters, they are not changing anything. <br /> <br />City Council/July 24, 2001 <br />Page 11 of 24 <br /> <br /> <br />