Agenda - Charter Commission - 01/18/2007

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Re: City of Ramsey, Anoka County, Minnesota, Charter Commission Annual Report . Dear Judge Schurer: 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 2006. Members of the Charter Commission for 2006 were as follows: Tim Vogt (Chair), Hannah. LaMere (Vice Chair), Sandra Bertzyk, Benjamin Deemer, Lauri Ebel, Aimee Fischer, Frank. Frederick, Steve Simenson and Brian Swanson. This Commission met on April 26, May 22, and December 5, 2006. At the April 27, 2006 meeting, the Commission entered into a discussion relating to public improvements and special assessments. Chapter 8 of .the City's Charter .includes language. relating to this subject. A portion of that chapter, approved in 1993, was designed to protect residents against being forced to hook up to City sewer and water, but the way it is worded, and has been interpreted, is it is more a protection for the developers. It seemed .that whoever developed a property first had to pay for all the improvements. The major concern with regard to improvements were the transportation improvements. The Commission requested the City Attorney draft language to show the actual intent of the Chapter which is to protect the City's. residents. The Commission also discussed the process of filling City Council vacancies should a vacancy occur .between elections. It was determined that the Charter language needed to be amended so as to coincide with the seven-person Council and .the ward system. The City Attorney will be drafting language to that effect for the Commission's review. The Commission again .discussed considering aCouncil-Manager form of Government. The Commission was informed that- the City is in the process of an organizational study, and the feeling was that further discussion should come after the results of the organizational study are received. ~~