Agenda - Charter Commission - 09/10/2013 - 2012 Annual Report

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September 10, 2013 The Honorable John C. Hoffman Chief Judge Tenth Judicial District Washington County Government Center nd 14949 – 62 Street North Stillwater, MN 55082-3802 Re: City of Ramsey, Anoka County, Minnesota, Charter Commission Annual Report Dear Judge Hoffman: In accordance with Minnesota Statutes 410.05, the following is an annual report reflecting the activities of the City of Ramsey Charter Commission during the year 2012. Members of the Charter Commission for year 2012 were as follows: Susan Anderson, Jim Bendtsen Benjamin Deemer, Joseph Field, John Niederhaus, Harry Niska, Marilyn (Moe) Shea, Cindy Sherman, and Chad Sivertson. Commissioners Shea and Sherman did not request reappointment to the Charter Commission when their terms ended December 31, 2012. The Charter Commission met on March 26, 2102. Commissioner Field was elected as Chair and Commissioner Sherman was elected as Vice Chair for the year 2012. It was noted there were two new members - John Niederhaus and Chad Sivertson. Both replaced resigning members and are filling a term to expire December 31, 2013. Discussion was held on Chapter 8 of the Charter regarding Special Assessment Petitions. It was noted that currently 35 percent of benefitted property owners can petition for a public improvement, then requiring a simple City Council majority vote to order the improvement, or without a petition, or less than 35 percent of the benefitted property owners petition, the City Council, can, with a four-fifths vote, order the public improvement. The recommendation to the Charter Commission was to consider changing the 35 percent petition numbers to the higher threshold of 50 percent. The reasoning behind the recommendation was to have a higher bar to get a project going before all the commitments and all City resources go forward. This would be more efficient and still meet the intent that the project could be stopped. The City would like to be more efficient – including cost efficient on the front end. The Charter Commission directed the City Attorney to draft an ordinance – changing the petition amount from 35 percent to 50 percent and bringing it back for Charter review.