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elected at large, b) A 7-member Council with 4 members elected from designated wards, 2 <br />Councilmembers elected "at large" and the mayor elected at large, c) A 7-member Council with <br />6 members elected from designated wards and the Mayor elected at large. 5) In order to narrow <br />the field of candidates in the general election to two candidates per Council seat, should Ramsey <br />implement a primary election for City Councilmembers. Ms. Hunter asked that the Charter <br />Commission strongly look at placing this on the ballot. <br /> <br />Councilmember Gerald Zimmerman, 7550 - 163rd Lane NW, Ramsey, stated that after working <br />for Anoka County for 31 years, the places where you have people represent districts does not <br />work too well. He felt that a ward system in Ramsey would maybe not work too well either. We <br />had precinct meetings back when Ken Peterson was on the City Council and one or two people <br />would show up at the meeting. There was not much interest and from that experience, he felt the <br />ward system probably would not work. <br /> <br />Commissioner Henke asked Mr. Zimmerman for some examples. <br /> <br />Mr. Zimmerman gave Pine County as an example. There are five County Commissioners and <br />the three on the south side of the County do all the spending and the two on the north side want <br />to succeed from the County. All the spending is concentrated in the area where the casino is. He <br />feels this type of thing leads to conflicts. <br /> <br />Councilmember Terry Hendriksen, 15631 Ramsey Boulevard NW, Ramsey, stated he did not <br />come with a prepared statement but felt that he had let his opinion of wards known at previous <br />meetings. He feels wards are inappropriate in Ramsey. All we have to do is look at Anoka <br />County. You have to be deaf, dumb and blind to think that Commissioner Berg gets as much <br />money in the district as Commissioner Erhart does. He felt this would be an effort to pit groups <br />in this City against one another for political purposes. If you look at votes and where they came <br />from (MUSA area), to say they do not have a voice is a fallacy. We all have the perception we <br />will split the City into five or seven wards. That presumes that in each of these geographic areas <br />you will have qualified candidates, you may not. You may be forced to elect totally, unqualified <br />candidates. <br /> <br />Discussion ensued relating to what was considered a qualified candidate. <br /> <br />Mr. Hendriksen felt that this (wards) is a scenario for failure. He suggested that the Charter look <br />at what they did relative to the extension of the Mayor's term. He did not support that, however, <br />he did support that it did not start until the next election. We are by Charter, now required to go <br />to seven members. Maybe in two to four years we go to wards and six years to set up some kind <br />of system. People will then know far enough in advance and you will not exclude or include any <br />particular person from the process. <br /> <br />John Enstrom, 8702 - 181st Avenue NW, Ramsey, stated that he lives up in the far northern <br />comer of Ramsey. He feels that districts and wards would be extremely beneficial. Several <br />people in his neighborhood will benefit. His area is confusing as it seems they are more Elk <br />River residents than Ramsey residents and some of the highest taxpayers in the City live in this <br />area. It would be nice to have a district in Ramsey and it would bring about more fair <br /> <br />Charter Commission - April 19, 2001 <br /> Page 4 of 9 <br /> <br /> <br />