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Mr. Hendriksen stated these things that are total improvements would be assessed. The sewer pipe <br />- was it there before? Did it have to be moved? When the Planning Commission wrote the zoning <br />codes, we had to come up with all kinds of scenarios. <br /> <br />Chairperson Steffen recessed the Charter Commission meeting at 8:46 p.m. <br /> <br />Chairperson Steffen reconvened the Charter Commission meeting at 8:54 p.m. <br /> <br />Ben Deemer, 14501 Sunfish Lake Boulevard NW, Ramsey, stated that he is not here to address <br />the pros and cons of this amendment - only the procedure that's being followed to cause the <br />amendment as a special election. <br /> <br />Chairperson Steffen stated that he watched the City Council meeting at which this process was <br />discussed. He has concluded with the City Attorney who represents us as our lawyer. This issue <br />is one of a very ambiguous statute. If I read this right - the first half of Subdivision 1 says that the <br />Charter Commission can propose amendments. The second part calls for the processing of a <br />petition. It notes what we must do which is a petition of 5%. There are a couple of other ways a <br />Charter amendment can happen. The City Council can bring them back here. He felt the Charter <br />Commission should receive it so we get the opportunity to look at it and comment on it and <br />propose an alternative if we choose. <br /> <br />Mr. Deemer read a prepared statement which is incorporated in these minutes as Exhibit A. <br /> <br />The City Attorney deemed that the appropriate actions had been taken, thus the proposed <br />amendment should go forward for a special election. <br /> <br />Chairperson Steffen inquired if the rest of the Commission was interested in proposing an <br />amendment. He presented and explained an amendment to be considered which would be <br />numbered the same as the amendment presented by Mr. Hendriksen. The second part of the <br />proposed amendment abolishes the retroactivity proposal. He felt the retroactivity was really a <br />problem. He suggested the Charter has an obligation - this needs to come forward at the same <br />time. <br /> <br />Commissioner Swokowski commented that the Charter Commission clearly has the authority to do <br />that and he felt that the proposal by Chairperson Steffen was certainly more middle ground. Mr. <br />Hendriksen's proposal is all or nothing. <br /> <br />More discussion ensued pertaining to the "clock-ticking" with regard to when the Charter <br />Commission actually received the proposed amendment, etc. and when the election should be <br />scheduled. <br /> <br />Chairperson Steffen stated that he is more concerned about good government and a middle ground <br />- not a technicality of whether or not the Charter Comn'fission received the proposed amendment at <br />a meeting or in the mail. He suggested there was not benefit to delay the special election. <br /> <br />Mr. Hendriksen stated that he delayed bringing anything forward until the Charter Commission <br />had the opportunity to consider this issue. They did not react until the Ramsey Residents for <br />Responsible Government brought something forward. <br /> <br />Commissioner Swokowski commented that by presenting a proposal from the Charter <br />Commission also, we are giving a choice and are providing a middle-ground proposal. <br /> <br />Charter Commission/April 18, 1996 <br /> Page 6 of 8 <br /> <br /> <br />