Minutes - Council - 02/22/2022 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Attorney Knaak replied the Council can choose whatever regulations they want. He thought the EDA required some representation and is different but other situations can be reviewed and introduced as an ordinance. Councilmember Specht thanked Councilmembers Musgrove and Howell for bringing this up and Chair Fields for sharing his insights. He agreed with the inconsistencies of what is shared with the whole Council, noting there have been instances as when Councilmember Woestehoff gave a proposal for the new wards that wasn’t sent on. He would like to see consistency around allowing a Councilmember to serve, noting those are two things that would have been good for everyone to know about so they could learn together. Councilmember Riley asked if an ordinance could be passed that affects the Charter. He understood a change would come from the Charter Commission and then to the Council to be passed through unanimous vote, otherwise it could go to a referendum. He asked for clarification. City Attorney Knaak replied the issue isn’t if it could be placed in the Charter; the issue is if the Council could regulate themselves as Councilmembers and determine what is and is not allowed, that can be done by an ordinance. City Administrator Ulrich stated he looked up the statues in regard to Charter and read “except as otherwise provided in the Charter, no person shall be disqualified from serving on the Charter Commission by reason upholding any other elected office other than judicial.” He noted that wording may want to be looked at in regard to what the option may be. Councilmember Howell commented that it has been a tough year on the Council in unequal treatment of Councilmember Woestehoff starting with his appointment by the City Clerk to multiple Commissions and Boards when she hasn’t been given hardly anything. She felt important things like the redistricting and the Charter Commission appointment hasn’t been shared. She suggested an investigation be started and asked if there was Council support. Councilmember Musgrove stated she would support an investigation. She questioned if the Charter won’t allow an ordinance for the Council to govern themselves. City Attorney Knaak replied that he stands corrected because the language that the City Administrator cited doesn’t allow that to happen. He thought that would be more simple and is normally allowed. He advised it will have to be a revision to the Charter. Councilmember Musgrove asked if a request would have to be made to the Charter Commission to make a Charter amendment regarding participation of Councilmembers on the Charter Commission. She thought the Charter Chair had stated that would be dead on arrival. Councilmember Woestehoff replied the Charter Chair was referring to himself and his vote as a Councilmember because a Charter Amendment has to be unanimous. Councilmember Woestehoff stated he would support the amendment. Councilmember Musgrove asked if that is what was intended. City Council / February 22, 2022 Page 26 of 34