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understanding of the law, that may serve as a filter and serve the same effect of letting people know <br />what they are getting into. He asked if that is an acceptable compromise. <br /> <br />Councilmember Howell replied since there isn’t interest in a cover letter going with the <br />applications, to at least approve the application and the questions on it would ensure gathering <br />quality information. <br /> <br />Councilmember Woestehoff asked Councilmember Howell what changes she would like to see to <br />the application because he thought the application asked for the information she referenced. He <br />stated in the policy under the heading Recommendations, that reads “the City Council wishes to <br />preserve the distinct separate nature of the Charter Commission.” He thought that was an <br />important statement and the question was how to get quality candidates but stay completely <br />separate. He wondered if there were ways to adapt the questions but he didn’t see immediate areas <br />that needed improvement on the application. <br /> <br />Councilmember Howell replied she didn’t think the questions were very specific. She gave the <br />example of the question that read “Describe the strength of Ramsey today” and stated she could <br />say there is a very well oiled machine in getting permits. She stated she could answer all the <br />questions without giving information about her ability or interest in governance. She hoped <br />applications that were filled out poorly wouldn’t be considered but thought that asking good <br />questions would give good results. <br /> <br />Mayor Kuzma replied there is a Charter that is followed by the City so what happens with the <br />Charter Commission when there is an issue or policy change that needs to happen is discussed <br />between the Charter Commission. He stated that there is a number of people on the Charter <br />Commission making decisions and it will ultimately come back to the City Council so there are <br />checks and balances. <br /> <br />Councilmember Heineman suggested changing the question to read “briefly describe the strengths <br />of the Ramsey City Charter” and “Briefly describe the weakness of the Ramsey City Charter” and <br />adding a question stating “Please describe your understanding of the Ramsey City Charter and its <br />purpose.” He stated that would strengthen the questions to find out the qualitative answer, which <br />is the City Charter stands as constitutional convention. He stated that is what he is looking for <br />from applicants and what he wants the judge to see and rule on. <br /> <br />Councilmember Musgrove asked Administrative Services Director Lasher if the judge has any <br />contact with the applicant other than the application. <br /> <br />Administrative Services Director Lasher replied not to her knowledge. <br /> <br />Councilmember Musgrove replied she thought it would be worth looking at the questions to round <br />them out so the Council would be able to get more information from the applications for the <br />Charter specifically. She thought in that way give the judge more information to evaluate and <br />assess the applications without making the application too arduous a process. She stated she <br />thought some of the questions could be revised to be specific to the Charter. She stated the intent <br />was to convey a message of weighing interest in relevant areas equally with a degree. <br />City Council Work Session /April 12, 2022 <br />Page 9 of 18 <br /> <br />