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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-05-21 CHC MIN . . . Charter Commission May 21,2001 Present: Wayne Anderson, chairperson Gene Bealka, Richard Colemier, Chuck Donnelly, Gary Kriesel and Mary Ruch Absent: Dan Feia and Julie Ann Gustanski Others present: Stillwater Area High School students Jill Clements, Adam Harding, Alyssa Kark, and Emily Tricker Mr. Anderson called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. Approval of minutes: Mr. Colemier, seconded by Mr. Donnelly, moved to approve the minutes of April 16, 2001, as presented. Motion passed unanimously. Water Board study: Mr. Anderson briefly explained to the students why the Commission is conducting the study. Mr. Anderson said he obtained water rates from the cities of Hastings, Forest Lake and South St. Paul, but didn't get the information in time to convert the rates to the 22,000 gallon base used to compute Stillwater's rates. Mr. Anderson noted that South St. Paul is a charter city, but does not have a water board. Mr. Kriesel provided copies of the Stillwater Water Board's most recent budget and financial statement. Ms. Ruch said it appears that Stillwater's water rates are in the ballpark with the other cities the Commission has obtained rate information from. Mr. Kriesel reiterated his concern that the rates don't indicate whether a city subsidizes some fixed costs. For example, he noted, that in Stillwater, the homeowner is responsible for the water service from the main to the home; other cities might pick up the cost of maintaining/repairing the water service from the main to the residence. Mr. Kriesel said he also sees an issue with unified labor and the cost effectiveness of having a separate water department versus a single public works structure, as well as issues related to liability. Mr. Donnelly questioned moving forward with the study considering Stillwater's rates are in the ballpark or at the low end when compared with the other cities. Regarding the issue of employee productivity, Mr. Donnelly suggested that is a issue with citywide implications: Why stop with the Water Board? Mr. Kriesel said he was still uncomfortable as to whether the rates obtained compare apples and apples - whether all cities require the homeowner to be responsible for the water service from the main to the residence, whether Stillwater isn't subsidizing some infrastructure costs that other cities do not, etc. He said he favored completing the study process with good documentation. There are a lot of unanswered questions, he said. Mr. Anderson noted that after each session, as outlined in the agreed upon study process, the Commission has to vote on whether to continue. He suggested that it would be useful to find out . whether the other cities surveyed for rates are responsible for the water service from the main to the residence or whether Stillwater's practice of having the homeowner responsible from the main to the residence is the standard practice. Mr. Bealka questioned the underlying motive for the study, noting that the issue of having the city absorb the water department was put to a vote in 1960 and was "soundly defeated." Ms. Ruch suggested that the Commission is conducting the study to obtain facts, not opinion. It was agreed to continue the Session I discussion to the June meeting. Mr. Kriesel said he would try to obtain information from the surveyed cities regarding the issue of responsibility of water service from the main to the residences. ' Redistricting discussion: Mr. Anderson briefly explained the redistricting process to the students. Mr. Kriesel said he attended a recent redistricting meeting hosted by Lyno Sullivan who is proposing a state legislative redistricting plan based on combining local river communities which have issues in common. Mr. Kriesel and Mr. Bealka had not contacted the League of Minnesota Cities to see what resources the League might have available to assist the Commission. . Mr. Colemier said he had contacted County Administrator Jim Schug who put him in contact with Molly O'Rourke, the staff person in charge of the county's redistricting process. He noted that the local redistricting plan must be completed within 60 days of the adoption of the legislative redistricting or by April 30, 2002, and he said cities must complete their plans before the county can adopt its plan. Mr. Colemier said the city has access to the county's redistricting software, and a redistricting conference is scheduled for July. Stillwater City Clerk Diane Ward will be attending the conference, and Mr. Colemier volunteered to attend as well. Mr. Donnelly noted the Commission can't do its plan until the Legislature, or courts, made a decision on the legislative/congressional plans. Mr. Anderson said that the Commission can begin by setting up criteria, for example, the acceptable variances in population and whether to use existing wards as the basis for the plan or to start anew. . New business: ~ Human Rights Commission: Mr. Kriesel said he had asked that this be placed on the agenda due to a proposed Human Rights Commission enforcement process. However, he said he has subsequently learned that the Charter Commission does not have to be involved in the issue. Mr. Anderson noted that he could find no reference to the Human Rights Commission in the Charter. ~ Charter amendments: Mr. Anderson said Mr. Magnuson has developed language for an ordinance (attached) incorporating the recent amendments regarding campaign financial reports, the renumbering of sections and Section 5.02 regarding President of Council. Mr. Colemier, seconded by Ms. Ruch, moved to adopt the language as presented and recommend that the City Council adopt the Ordinance. Motion passed unanimously. ~ It was agreed to meet in June to continue discussion of the water board study and redistricting. , . Ms. Ruch, seconded by Mr. Colemier, moved to adjourn at 8:10 p.m.; motion passed. Respectfully submitted, Sharon Baker Recording Secretary . .