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would be beneficial. Mr. Goodrich stated that the fourth issue is clarifying that Charters and <br />Charter Amendments are "official controls" as defined by Statute. State Statutes specify zoning <br />ordinances as official controls. As such, they must comply with the City's comprehensive plan. <br />This proposal would specify that zoning cannot be amended by Charter amendments either. <br />State Statutes do not currently define a Charter amendment as an official control - only zoning. <br /> <br />Councilmember Zimmerman asked if the fourth issue would eliminate the Charter amendment <br />that states the people of Ramsey have to vote for a MUSA expansion. <br /> <br />Mr. Goodrich responded no, it would not, it would instead have an impact on the latest Charter <br />amendment. He continued that what is being presented to the Council, if Council agrees, should <br />be taken to the legislators. If it gets to bill status, the legislature would schedule hearings where <br />persons for or against the bill would have the opportunity to testify. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec stated that the key is to get more people involved and that it is important to get <br />information out to our residents. He was certain that the latest Charter amendment would not <br />comply with our comprehensive plan. <br /> <br />Councilmember Zimmerman felt that this would shift more control to the State and take away <br />from the local government and the voice of the people. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec felt that it puts more accountability on the City Council. <br /> <br />Councilmember Zimmerman suggested that if you put too many "hoops" in front of someone <br />who wants to submit a petition, they may just want to forget it. He thought that maybe the third <br />issue of presenting it to the Charter prior to getting signatures may be okay. <br /> <br />Councilmember Haas Steffen felt that the only "hoop" a petitioner is asked for is to bring the <br />language to the Charter Commission prior to getting signatures and that's the one <br />Councilmember Zimmerman is agreeing is okay. The real change is that elections cannot be <br />forced to happen in 90 days, so there should be a better turnout at the polls. The Mayor's <br />proposal is just asking that a greater number of people get involved in the process. Decisions <br />should not be made by less than 25% of the residents. <br /> <br />Councilmember Zimmerman stated he has no problem leaving things they way they are. <br /> <br />Terry Hendriksen, 15631 Ramsey Boulevard NW, Ramsey, felt that changing the state law to <br />delay an election until a general election could delay it for two years. He stated that issues <br />sponsored by citizens are important and delaying an election on an issue is unreasonable. He <br />added that he had no problem with Natalie Haas Steffen, Bernie Steffen, and Ken Peterson <br />campaigning against the Charter amendment, no problem with individual positions, but he does <br />have a problem with tax payers money being spent for this type of thing. If you present <br />information on one side of an issue, that's being biased and that should not be allowed to be <br />done. This proposal would also require that the Charter Commission review the proposal. He <br />stated he has no problem with that and that he has always done that but in the past there has been <br />no interest in discussing these matters. His main concern was that the Charter Commission <br /> <br />City Council/January 13, 1998 <br /> Page 11 of 14 <br /> <br /> <br />