Minutes - Charter Commission - 02/15/2001

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(putting it in the Charter) is perfectly legal. The City Council chose to ignore that which is why you have that language. Todd Cook, 17359 Puma Street NW, Ramsey, stated he has a different twist. He sees Councilmember Hendriksen wanting to see something that has density transitioning and zoning. The Charter decided it should be an ordinance. An ordinance needs a super majority to pass. Now with the new flavor of City Council, which expresses the voter's desire for the City, is less likely to pass such ordinance. You (to Councilmember Hendriksen) said you wanted to go to a vote and have the City pass on it. That was not done. Councilmember Hendriksen wanted the election to be January 2. That way the only people who have an interest in it would know about it. He (Cook) thought that's why the City Council said we will not do that. Now Councilmember Hendriksen is bringing something forth that weakens our Charter, that can be changed by a minority - 500 people can change our policy. Councilmember Hendriksen wants to change the Charter to have a super minority. Mr. Cook stated he has seen the last several Council meetings where Councilmember Hendriksen slanders other Councilmembers to remove their ability to do what they do. Whether or not there is a conflict of interest should be in their own conscience. Mr. Cook felt that Councilmember Hendriksen has a conflict of interest in going around with a petition. Councilmember Kurak should not be slandered so she should draw herself out of voting. People who voted for her have respect for her and would like to see their opinion on the Council. Things are not happening in a normal way. You cannot get an agreement on the City Council because they may feel it is not right. He stated that he does not feel pro-development - he feels pro-growth. He felt we should let this process take its course but if we make it to 5% to change it, then take the Charter and throw it away. What good is the Charter when there are 20,000 people in the City and 400 can change this. Tom Kurak, 15001 Sunfish Lake Boulevard NW, Ramsey, stated that the performance of the City Council was on adopting an ordinance. They have stated that they cannot make this work for the entire City. Now a petition is being presented to change government in Ramsey and the petition is from a special interest group. The ordinance was not really worked on, there is not that much compromising going on. Steve Simonson, 51654 - 156th Lane NW, Ramsey, stated that he also helped with this Charter petition. He felt the citizens need to have a balance. You have always been able to change the Charter with 5%. He stated that he went to most of the planning sessions and the City Council meetings. If the ordinance would have been adopted, this would have been gone - but that did not happen. If Ramsey grows in support of lowering the number of petitioners, with 20 to 30,000 registered voters you will never be able to do that if the percent is not lowered. Chairperson Kiefer asked if 5% to amend the Charter is in the State Statutes to which Mr. Goodrich replied yes. State Statute does not address a number for initiative, referendum and recall. Chairperson Kiefer noted Section 5.6 and asked if that would put an undue financial burden on the City to which Mr. Goodrich replied that is possible. It will depend on how a Council interprets this language. Charter Commission - February 15, 2001 Page 5 of 12