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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-02-17 CHC MINCity of Stillwater Charter Commission Feb. 17, 2009 Present: Terry Zoller, chair Orwin Carter, Tom Corbett, Dorothy Molstad and Kim Swanson Absent: Gene Bealka and Duane Nelson Mr. Zoller called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m. Approval of minutes Ms. Molstad, seconded by Mr. Corbett, moved approval of the minutes of the previous meeting. Motion passed unanimously. OLD BUSINESS Mr. Zoller stated he had spoken with City Clerk Diane Ward regarding a timetable for Commission actions on proposed Charter amendments that may require putting the question on the ballot. He said Ms. Ward and City Attorney Dave Magnuson plan to attend the next Commission meeting to discuss that issue. Ms. Molstad asked about the status of the Charter amendment that precludes Councilmembers from serving on the Commission, whether there had been official notice of the amendment, whether the Charter had been updated to reflect that amendment, whether the amendment had been published. Mr. Zoller said he would ask those questions of Ms. Ward. Mr. Zoller said he had also spoke with Ms. Ward regarding the process /timeframe for redrawing Ward boundaries. Mr. Zoller said the process won't start until 2011 after the 2010 census. He said there is a relatively short timeframe for action by the City after the State has redrawn its districts. He suggested that this also could be a topic of conversation with Ms. Ward and Mr. Magnuson at the next Commission meeting. NEW BUSINESS Mr. Zoller stated one application, from Wally Milbrandt, had been received for the current vacancies on the Commission and asked whether the Commission wished to recommend Mr. Milbrandt's appointment to the District Court Judge. Ms. Molstad said she thought Mr. Milbrandt's experience on the City Council would be beneficial. Mr. Carter said he had no opposition to Mr. Milbrandt but wondered whether having three former Councilmembers on the Commission might be defeating the purpose of the amendment that precludes Councilmembers from serving. Mr. Zoller pointed out there have not been many applicants for Commission vacancies, and Ms. Molstad said the concern regarding possible benefit in redrawing Ward boundaries would not apply in this instance. Mr. Corbett moved to recommend the appointment of Mr. Milbrandt to one of the two open spots on the Charter Commission. Ms. Molstad seconded the motion; motion passed unanimously. Mr. Zoller told the Commission the Mayor has asked the Commission to look at the issue of the timeframe between the first and second readings of new ordinances. Ms. Molstad wondered whether that was a Charter issue or whether it was an issue with Council procedural rules. Ms. Swanson found reference to first and second readings in the Ordinance relating to Council procedure — that there must be two readings, not at the same meeting, of a new ordinance. Mr. Corbett suggested that the question of timing of the first and second readings likely will be found in either the Charter, the ordinances, state statute or City procedural rules. Ms. Molstad suggested that all members print out copies of the Charter to search for reference to the issue in question, as well as to see if the Charter has been updated to reflect the latest amendment, for discussion at the next meeting. Mr. Carter asked if it would be difficult to check to see if there is a state statute involved; Mr. Corbett suggested that is fairly easy by doing a key word search on the State Revisor's web site. Mr. Carter also suggested checking to see what other cities do regarding the timing of first and second readings; Mr. Zoller volunteered to check with the League of Minnesota Cities. Mr. Zoller said he had checked into the issue of publication of meeting dates. He said according to the City web site, the Charter Commission meets quarterly. He said dates do not need to be published if there is no change to the meeting dates. He suggested that the Commission pick three more meeting dates for 2009. It was noted that traditionally, the Commission meets the third Monday of a month. It was decided to meeting the third Mondays in May, May 18, August, Aug. 17, and November, Nov. 16. Mr. Carter, seconded by Ms. Molstad, moved to set the remaining 2009 meeting dates for May 18, Aug. 17 and Nov. 17. Motion passed unanimously. Mr. Corbett told the Commission of a court case involving a runoff election to fill a Council vacancy in Minneapolis. He said the District Court upheld the constitutionality, but that decision has been appealed. He noted that this decision might be pertinent to Stillwater, referring to the recent impasse in filling a Council vacancy here. He suggested keeping track of the court case and reporting back to the Council as a possible way to fill vacancies should the Council choose that method. Meeting was adjourned at 7:38 p.m. on a motion by Mr. Corbett. Respectfully submitted, Sharon Baker Recording Secretary