Laserfiche WebLink
election of the officials. You are telling the voters you care about their involvement. This would <br />be beneficial in terms of voter apathy. It says to the voter - we are ready to make this change. <br /> <br />Commissioner LaMere stated that this may be something we are pushing forward when we do <br />not have to. The number of seats on Council have already been increased. The primary seems <br />more of a limitation. She recommended to not go with a primary - at least not at this time. She <br />reminded the Commission that the primary election issue is not time sensitive. <br /> <br />Commissioner Swanson stated that we (the Commission) are not necessarily deciding to do this. <br />All we are doing is putting this before the voters to say "do you want this or not"? It is <br />irresponsible for us to make a decision based on our own opinion. We should put wording <br />together and put it before the voters to make the decision. If the majority of the voters want to <br />do it, then it will pass. It is not our place to make the decision for them. <br /> <br />Motion by Commissioner Milless and seconded by Commissioner Bertzyk to recommend to City <br />Council that the Charter be amended to provide for a primary election, pursuant to the language <br />presented by the City Attorney. <br /> <br />Further discussion: Commissioner Deemer stated he did not like primaries. <br /> <br />Amendment by Commissioner Deemer and seconded by Commissioner Milless that this question <br />would go to the voters contingent upon passing onto the Council the ward question too. <br /> <br />Further discussion: Commissioner Deemer stated again that he is not entirely in favor of a <br />primary, but he would let the citizens decide. However, he did not want to just have the primary <br />question go alone on a ballot. Chairperson Vogt called the vote. <br /> <br />Amendment carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Vogt, Commissioners Deemer, Milless, Bertzyk, <br />Childs, Ebel and Swanson. Voting No: Commissioners Henke and LaMere. <br /> <br />Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Vogt, Commissioners Milless, Bertzyk, Childs, <br />Deemer, Ebel and Swanson. Voting No: Commissioners Henke and LaMere. <br /> <br />b) Wards <br /> <br />Chairperson Vogt summarized that the Commission is looking at having four wards - two at <br />large and the Mayor at large. It is open for discussion. <br /> <br />Mr. Kiefer presented his information again relating to dividing the wards and how it coincides <br />with how the current Councilmembers are elected. <br /> <br />Discussion ensued relating to the differences in the handouts from Mr. Goodrich. <br /> <br />Commissioner Childs felt that wards will provide a fair amount of diversity in the City Council. <br />He suggested forgetting the two-year swing seat. <br /> <br />Charter Commission - June 7, 2001 <br /> Page 3 of 6 <br /> <br /> <br />