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That process was explained. <br /> <br />Commissioner Henke stated that the section of the Charter being discussed was put in the <br />Charter to specifically give people more power over our government. If changes are made to this <br />section, she felt it would give citizens no means of referendum, initiative and recall. <br /> <br />City Attorney Goodrich mentioned Chapter 14 of the Charter and stated that all of that chapter <br />was done at the request of citizens. He read 14.1.3, the language referring to the majority of the <br />registered voters. These people wanted a simple majority for this question and what <br />Commissioner Deemer is talking about is not that much different. <br /> <br />Commissioner LaMere stated that this language is not restricting people from bringing an issue <br />forward. <br /> <br />Commissioner Henke reiterated that she feels it is putting limitations on our people. <br /> <br />Mr. Goodrich stated that it is constitutional to require 50% of the voters. <br /> <br />Commissioner Childs stated that with Chapter 14, there is a double standard. What <br />Commissioner Deemer is proposing is bringing 5.7 and 5.5 into what is done later in the Charter. <br />He stated that he would appreciate changes in the City being made by a lot of people. Some of <br />the changes in the Charter were made by 1 percent of the residents. <br /> <br />Commissioner Henke stated that the new Charter Commissioners were told that it took eight <br />years of discussion and study to get wards into the voting system and she wondered how this <br />language could get reviewed so quickly and asked to be sent to the voters. <br /> <br />Mr. Goodrich stated that it has to start somewhere but he is not saying that this is going on the <br />ballot. <br /> <br />Commissioner Childs reiterated that he wants decisions in the City made by more than 1 percent <br />of the people in the City, but he wondered if we are looking at an unrealistic number of voters. <br />He stated he would feel comfortable if 10 percent or at least 1,000 people voted on this. <br /> <br />Mr. Norman stated that Commissioner Deemer is trying to diminish special interest voting. He <br />is trying to force publicity so a larger number of people come out for the election. <br /> <br />Commissioner Childs stated he would like to see something written simply - does this make <br />sense - vote on it. <br /> <br />Mr. Norman stated that the Commission could also look at a lower number, like maybe 25 <br />percent. That way special interest groups do not control what the City does. <br /> <br />Charter Commission/august 9, 2001 <br /> Page 4 of 7 <br /> <br /> <br />