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Chairperson Vogt stated that he has read this and has uncertainties about it. We are dealing with <br />deep Charter issues. We should maybe consider looking, reviewing and understanding this more <br />thoroughly. We should consider tabling this for now. <br /> <br />Mr. Norman stated that the Commission could take up discussion of adding 5.9 in the months <br />ahead, but they could deal with the other issue (5.3) fight now. <br /> <br />Motion by Commissioner Deemer and seconded by Commissioner Swanson to withdraw his <br />(Mr. Deemer's) amendment to Chapter 5. <br /> <br />Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Vogt, Commissioners Deemer, Swanson, Bertzyk, <br />Childs, Ebel, Henke, LaMere and Milless. Voting No: None. <br /> <br />Motion by Commissioner Deemer and seconded by Commissioner Milless to pass the <br />amendment in Section 5.3 onto Council. <br /> <br />Further discussion: Terry Hendriksen, 15631 Ramsey Boulevard NW, Ramsey, stated that as far <br />as he is aware, initiative has never been used in the City and there is only one instance of a <br />referendum being used. The instance was when the voters rescinded action on the City Council's <br />action of building an airport. A City starts out as a Statutory City. If citizens feel they want to <br />be a Charter City, they go through a huge effort to make their City a Charter City. The Charter <br />allows additional voice in its government. He felt this is an effort to discourage the citizen's <br />voice and make it more difficult to speak. Enacting the Charter gave our citizens fights of <br />initiative and referendum and now the Charter Commission is trying to make it more difficult for <br />the citizen to make a change. Mr. Hendriksen stated that the Charter Commission is probably <br />aware that if it were not for an errant word, the City would have had a special election and it <br />would have made the requirements for referendum, initiative and recall consistent with what it <br />takes to change the Charter. Keith Kiefer, 6203 Rivlyn Avenue NW, Ramsey, stated that he <br />believed this Charter Commission is trying to eliminate frivolous changes to the Charter and will <br />try to be frugal with people's money so there will not be frivolous special elections. Citizens <br />will be heard. They are just raising the bar a little bit. Commissioner LaMere stated that the <br />Commission was only talking about 5.3 in the minutes. Mr. Goodrich stated that the motion <br />deals only with Section 5.3, but it does deal with initiative and referendum, petition only <br />numbers for the election. Commissioner Swanson felt that it does not limit the citizen from <br />having a voice so much as it tries to avoid special interest changes to the government. We are <br />trying to get a bigger representation - get more people aware before an election takes place. <br />Commissioner Henke stated that she feels differently. She sees this as making it more difficult <br />for our citizens to express themselves. This impedes the vote - it makes it more difficult for the <br />citizen to be heard. Chairperson Vogt reminded that Commission that we are looking only at <br />sending 5.3 to the City Council and that is changing the percentage from 10 to 20. <br /> <br />Motion carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Vogt, Commissioners Deemer, Milless, Bertzyk, <br />Childs, Ebel, LaMere, and Swanson. Voting No: Commissioner Henke. <br /> <br />Charter Commission - September 6, 2001 <br /> Page 3 of 11 <br /> <br /> <br />