Agenda - Charter Commission - 01/29/2002 - 2001 Annual Report

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January 29, 2002 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 2001. Members of the Charter Commission in the beginning of the year were as follows: Keith Kiefer (Chair), Barry Childs, Dennis Donovan, Marguerite Henke, Hannah LaMere, Richard Netzloff, Kathy Rosenow and Virginia Spain-Brist and Timothy Vogt. This Commission met on February 15, 2001, April 19, 2001, and May 24, 2001. At the February 15, 2001 meeting, the Commission reviewed a petition that was received by the City Council on January 23, 2001. The petition, signed by approximately 460 residents, requested an amendment to Chapter 5 of the Ramsey City Charter. The current Charter requires 20% of registered voters for petition for recall and the petition requested that this amount be reduced to 5%. The City Attorney found the petition legally defective so it was not forwarded by the City Council to the electorate. The current Charter provides 10% for initiative and referendum to initiate an ordinance or call a referendum on an established ordinance. The petition language asked for a reduction to 5%. City Council membership and terms were discussed. With the election in November 2000, the citizens voted to increase the City Council from four to six and the advisory question affirmatively voted on advised that the electorate would like to see the majority of the Council stand for election every two years. The Commission asked staff to draft language for review at a subsequent meeting, which would provide for three Councilmembers up for election every two years. The next item for discussion was Charter vacancy applicants and State Statutes dealing with the process of appointing Charter Commissioners. Mr. Timothy Vogt was eligible for reappointment to the Commission and they asked that a recommendation be made to the Chief Judge for Mr. Vogt's reappointment. The Commission then appointed the "outgoing" Commissioners as a panel to interview the applicants to fill the four remaining vacancies on the Charter Commission. Survey questions were formulated to send to the applicants. The Commission met on April 19, 2001. The following actions were taken at the meeting: The City Attorney was directed to draft language about a ward system for the residents to vote on.