CHM 03/18/1975 •
CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING
March 18, 1975
MEMBERS PRESENT: Elaine Knoff, Jerry Radcliffe, Peg McChesney, Roy
McPherson, Cliff Ash, Jackie Johnson, Herb Bacon,
Edith Collins, Ole Bjerkesett, Harry Crowder
MEMBERS ABSENT: Robert O'Neill, Donald Wegler, Francis Casey,
Raymond Sheridan, Jack Kirkham
Ole Bjerkesett opened the meeting at 7:45 p.m.
THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING WERE APPROVED AS CORRECTED.
Paragraph No. 4 was corrected to read: ". . . .relayed the opinion of Jack Kirkham,
Don Wegler, and Francis Casey to be replaced from their two year terms on th'
Charter Commission. Clifford Ash and Robert O'Neil indicated interest in cc
tinuing on the Commission."
Paragraph No. 9 was corrected to read: " rather than as a political issue. . . ."
The letter sent to Judge Gillespie asking him to replace these people was passed
around to the committee members as they had not received it in the mail. Peg
McChesney said that last month Ray Sheridan had asked Ole Bjerkstedt to act
as chairman of this month's meeting if he were not back from his trip. There
were no further communications.
Ole asked what people thought of the Commission making some kind of statement
that the Commission was not for the petition. Harry Crowder asked if he thought
someone would make a statement that the Commission was for the petition. Ole
said he felt it was possible.
Peg McChesney mentioned that even if no one mentioned it, the people who signed
the petition would probably vote "Yes", not being aware that Mayor Nee and
Mr. Sporre realize the petition falls short of the best solution to the problem
in regard to the time limits set for elections to be held in event of a vacancy
for a councilman. Mr. Sporre shared this with us when he and Mr. Brennan came
to a special meeting with officers of the Commission.
Ole mentioned concern about whether we would be bound to wait a long length of
time before we could put up a different ammendment to the Charter. Edith
read the part pertaining to the issue and it was 'brought out that within 30
days the new law would take effect and could be revoted upon.
Ole asked the Commission again what they felt about taking a public stand on
the petition before the election. Harry Crowder felt we should not take a public
position on the issue. He and Edith talked about the fact that it would be
best to let the petition be voted upon and then put a new ammendment to the vote
in 1975. Realizing, there is nothing we could have done or can do to stop the
election, which was prematurely forced upon us by Mr. Sporre and the petition
committee.
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Charter Commission Minutes Pane 2 March 18, 1975
Harry Crowder said he felt Edith's suggestion of having an article put in the .
n paper describing the cost per vote for such an election should be done. Thus,
hoping to point out to the people the importance of being fully aware of the
petition a person is signing.
Ole related watching a cable television show in which a young man asked why
the people on the floor could not be included in the discussion of the Council
Meeting. Mayor Nee said it could not be done because there was not a provision
in the City Charter for it; but that he would gladly help the youth to draft i
an ammendment to the Charter. Ole expressed his concern that this might be
the first of many such changes.
More discussion was held on the topic of the Charter Commission feeling an I
obligation to inform the people of the cost of this election and reminding
them that they should be responsible signers of petitions and not think it
is just a game to put your name on a petition.
Discussion was held on where this election was being publicized. Edith and
Cliff saw it printed on one of the back pages of the Sun.
Peggy mentioned that a responsible action of the Commission would be to
encourage people they talked with to vote "No" and to vote themselves.
After discussion it was a consensus of the Charter Commission that a statement
concerning the circulation of petitions relative to Charter changes should be
made. Cliff Ash suggested we draft a letter to the City Clerk asking him to
notify us of each petition concerning the Charter and also suggesting the
petition seekers to come to the Commission themselves and discuss the issue
before circulating the petition.
A discussion was held and led by Ole about Mr. Sporre's intentions to bypass
the Charter Commission from the beginning as shown in the minutes of the
September 20, 1974 Council . Minutes.
CLIFF ASH MADE A MOTION TO HAVE THE CITY CLERK NOTIFY THE OFFICERS OF THE
CHARTER COMMISSION WHEN A PETITION IS FILED PERTAINING TO THE CHARTER.
Harry Crowder seconded the motion. The motion was passed.
APRIL 15, 1975 WAS THE DATE SET FOR THE NEXT COMMISSION MEETING.
Herb Bacon made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Elaine
Knoff seconded the motion. Motion passed. The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Reco ing ecretary
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