Minutes - Council - 03/26/1996 - Laserfiche WebLink

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6) Approve the following License Applications: Mo~;or Vchi91~ Root's Auto Ranch 16208 Coquina St. NW Blatz ~ BMR, Inc. 7105 Highway #10 Con~actor Virgo Contracting, Inc. 1707 Arthur St. NE Ramsey, MN 55303 Ramsey, MN 55303 Minneapolis, MN 55413 7) 8) 9) 10) Adopt Resolution g96-03-054 approving cash distributions made and authorizing payment on accounts payable invoicing received during the period of March 2, 1996 through March 15, 1995 Adopt Resolution/t96-03-055 modifying the City of Ramsey Municipal State Aid Highway System Adopt Resolution//96-03-056 petitioning Anoka County for the creation of a ditch block on County Ditch No. 43 Adopt Resolution 4/96-03-057 approving agreement between the State of Minnesota Department of Transportation, Anoka County, and the City of Ramsey to install new traffic control signals on Trunk Highway #10 and Armsu:ong Boulevard and at Trunk Highway #10 and Ramsey Boulevard Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Hardin, Councilmembers Peterson, Zimmerman, Beahen and Beyer. VotingNo: None. COUNCIL BUSINESS/PUBLIC HEARING Case #1: Proposed Charter Amendment Lengthening Mayor's Term Bernie Steffen, Chairperson for the Charter Commission, presented the following rationale and background for the Charter's suggested amendment. The Charter Commission has studied the electoral process for about 2.5 years. To receive input on questions such as should the City go to a ward system, should the City have a primary election and should the Mayor's term be lengthened, the Charter Commission surveyed Council candidates. The Charter Commission entertained a great deal of communication on all these issues. Through the process, the Commission has operated under the phrase that if it's not broken, don't fix it. We are not proposing any major amendments to the electoral process except to lengthen the Mayor's term from two years to four years. There are 18 cities in the State of Minnesota that have a population of about 25,000, four still use the two-year mayor term while the remainder have either a three or four-year mayor term. The Commission felt there is substantial cost and time in campaigning and four years would be more worth it, plus it seems to take about a year to get comfortable in the position of mayor. The Charter Commission felt that, by making this effective with the election year 2000, this would not be viewed as damaging someone's chance to run or as showing preference to someone. He noted the Mayor election would coincide with the Presidential election which brings out more of the voters. The Charter Commission voted unanimously for this change and Mr. Steffen asked that Council consider this amendment by ordinance as opposed to having to have a referendum. Mayor Hardin closed the regular portion of the City Council meeting at 7:10 p.m. in order to conduct the public hearing. Mayor Hardin opened the public hearing at 7:10 p.m. City Council/March 26, 1996 Page 4 of 16