Agenda - Charter Commission - 02/21/2003 - 2002 Annual Report

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February 21, 2003 The Honorable Joseph Quinn Chief Judge Tenth Judicial District Anoka County Courthouse 325 East Main Street Anoka, Minnesota 55303 Re: City of Ramsey, Anoka County, Minnesota, Charter Commission Annual Report Dear Judge Quinn: 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 2002. Members of the Charter Commission in the beginning of the year were as follows: Tim Vogt Chair), Barry Childs (Vice Chair), Sandra Bertzyk, Benjamin Deemer, Lauri Ebel, Marguerite Henke, Hannah LaMere, Darlene Milless, and Brian Swanson. This Commission met on January 17, 2002, July 18, 2002 and August 15, 2002. At the January 17, 2002 meeting, the Commission appointed their Chair and Vice Chair. They discussed State Statute 410 and League of Minnesota Cities materials relating to Charters, and discussed the procedure for placing items on their agenda. The Charter directed the City Attorney to draft an ordinance for the Charter Commission to consider amending/deleting Section 3.2 (Council Liaison) and bring it back for their review. Their feeling was that a precinct liaison was no longer necessary because the City’s residents had previously voted in favor of a ward system. The Commission met on July 18, 2002, and accepted the resignation of Barry Childs. Mr. Childs resigned due to relocation to another City. The Commission appointed Hannah LaMere to the position of Vice-Chair. Staff was directed to begin the process for filling the vacancy. It was determined the Chair and Vice Chair would conduct interviews and make a recommendation to the Chief Judge on the final three candidates. The Charter Commission continued discussion about the deletion of Section 3.2 (Council Liaison) because of the ward system. They also discussed the deletion of Chapter 14 of the City’s Charter, entitled Metropolitan Urban Service Area. Conclusion of legal opinions is that State law preempts a City through its Charter from regulating how land use issues are adopted because of the Minnesota Land Planning Act. The Charter passed a motion to recommend that the City’s Charter be amended by removal of Chapter 14 “Metropolitan Urban Service Area”, and that this proposed amendment be referred to the City Council for it to establish a ballot question for this purpose, and that this amendment be submitted to the qualified voters for their approval/disapproval at the November 2002 General Election.