CHM 11/15/1977 CHARTER COMMISSION
MEETING
15 November 1977
MEMBERS PRESENT: Raymond Sheridan, Elaine Knoff, Charles Langer, Jean Schell,
Tim Breider, Walt Starwalt, David Berg, Arne Takkunen,
Jackie Johnson
left c;{y
MEMBERS ABSENT: Clifford Ash, John Swanson, Kenneth Brennen, LRay McPherson J
Robert O'Neill, Jerry Ratcliff
OTHERS PRESENT: None
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Sheridan called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. He stated
that Mr. Ash would not be able to be present tonight because of previous
commitment; Mr. Swanson called to say he is still at home recuperating from
surgery, and word was received from Mrs. Brennen that Mr. Brennen was at
home ill.
APPROVE CHARTER COMMISSION MINUTES
MOTION by Ms. Knoff, seconded by Mr. Starwalt, to approve Charter Commission
minutes of October 18, 1977 as submitted. Upon a voice vote, all voting aye,
motion passed unanimously.
NOMINATION OF OFFICERS
Mr. Sheridan asked for a report from the Chairman of the Nominating Committee.
Mr. Langer announced the nominees as follows: Ray Sheridan, Chairman;
Clifford Ash, Vice Chairman; Elaine Knoff, Secretary. Mr. Sheridan asked
for further nominations from the floor. MOTION by Mr. Breider that nomina-
tions cease, seconded by Ms. Schell, and upon a voice vote, all voting ''aye"
motion passed unanimously. Mr. Sheridan asked if Commission wished to
vote separately on each nomination? MOTION by Mr. Langer that a white
ballot be cast for slate of nominees, motion seconded by Mr. Breider, and
upon a voice vote, all voting aye, the motion passed unanimously.
REPORT FROM OFFICERS
Because the third Tuesday of December falls so close to the holidays,
Mr. Sheridan stated that traditionally no meeting of the Commission has
been scheduled for December, unless there is something needing urgent
attention, and he suggested that the next meeting should be Tuesday,
n January 17, 1978. This date was acceptable to all members.
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CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING, November 15, 1977 Page 2.
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Mr. Sheridan stated that there were no other reports or correspondence to
Commission, and no reply from City Administration regarding question posed
by Mr. Swanson at October 18 Commission meeting which resulted in subsequent
motion asking for a formal communication from City Manager on ethics ordin-
ance.
NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Sheridan stated that Mr. Ash had suggested to him today that Commission
members as a whole should look at other charters and revised Fridley Charter
between now and the next meeting in January, and perhaps take some of the
input of past few months -- then formally write your thoughts regarding
possible changes you think need to be made in Charter. In January and
February meetings, he continued, there could be open general discussion
with the thought of drawing some conclusions by Commission, and possibly
then set a couple of public hearings, or look for further input from inter-
ested groups regarding suggested changes.
Mr. Sheridan said that one change that has been discussed and felt needed
is Charter Section 205 - "Vacancies in the Council." He stated that
the Council could possibly be invited in again with the hope of working
towards eliminating some of the problems that are still in the Charter under
that Section. He said he personally felt that the Council over the past has
not faulted the Charter in any way, and supposed that may be an indication
that it has in fact some workability.
Mr. Langer stated that the City of Minneapolis voted on method of replacing
council members and filling vacancies in their last election. Mr. Sheridan
asked that City Administration make available to all Commission members for
their review a copy of the change in Minneapolis charter referred to by
Mr. Langer.
Mr. Sheridan asked that a copy of Model Charter of League of Municipalities
be made available to all Commission members. This Charter was requested in
the last minutes but apparently members of the Commission feel they did not
receive that particular charter.
In previous Commission meetings Mr. Sheridan said there had been discussion
that the time to change by'laws of home rule Charter Commission of the City
of Fridley is at their annual meeting. He said there was discussion on this
about a year ago, at which time Mr. Terpstra recommended against recommend-
ation that the number constituting a quorum be changed from eight to less
than that.
OLD BUSINESS
Mr. Sheridan stated that over next sixty days, and after individual review
of Charter as revised in January of this past year, you may find sections
where you think change is indicated. In January, he said, perhaps Charter
can be reviewed section by section, and at this time some committees can be
set up. Mr. Sheridan said the goal would be to get an overview from all
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CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING, November 15, 1977 Page 3.
interested parties, organizations, Council, and then finalyze recommenda-
tions to the Council after such hearings.
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Charter Commission was set for Tuesday, January 17,
1978.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION by Mr. Starwalt, seconded by Mr. Berg for adjournment at 8:15 p.m. ;
upon a voice vote, all voting aye, motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
ZI55:// i
_......417 -.:::'"?'").
Verna Gore , /
RecordingLfrecretary
Attachs (2)
1. Copy of change in Minneapolis Charter re
filling vacancies;
2. Model Charter, League of Municipalities.
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CHARTER AP.IEND1U'1T NO. 73
Pais6ed NovembeA 2, 1976
Spc c at et ec ton to If.itt vacancy in o b lice o6 Mayon
On AIde'cman
as otherwise specifically provided'
THE CHARTER OF THE CITY herein.
OF MINNEAPOLIS IS HERE- UNTIL THE VACANCY IN THE
BY AMENDED AS FOLLOWS: OFFICE OF MAYOR HAS BEEN
Section 1. Chapter 2, Section 16, FILLED BY THE SPECIAL
of the Charter of the City of Min- ELECTION, THE THEN
neapolis is amended to read as PRESIDENT OF THE CITY
follows: COUNCIL SHALL TAKE THE
"Section 16.Vacancy in Office of OATH OF OFFICE OF, AND
Mayor and Alderman — How, BECOME, AND SHALL BE
Filled. Whenever any vacancy STYLED ACTING MAYOR FOR
shall occur in the office of the THE INTERIM PERIOD,AND AS
Mayor (the then President of the SUCH SHALL EXERCISE ALL
City Council shall take the oath of THE POWERS AND DISCHARGE
office of,and become, and shall be ALL THE DUTIES OF MAYOR.
styled Acting Mayor for the WHILE SO ACTING HE SHALL
remainder of the term so vacated, BE ENTITLED TO THE SALARY
and as such shall exercise all the •OF MAYOR,BUT SUCH SALARY
powers and discharge all the duties SHALL BE IN LIEU OF, AND
of Mayor. While so acting he shall NOT ADDITIONAL TO, HIS.
be entitled to the salary of Mayor,' SALARY AS ALDERMAN IN
but such salary shall be in lieu of, EVENT HE SHALL OCCUPY
and not additional to, his salary as BOTH OFFICES.
Alderman in event he shall occupy; WHENEVER ANY VACANCY
both offices. ! SHALL OCCUR IN THE OFFICE
Whenever any vacancy occurs)' OF MAYOR ON OR AFTER
OR in the office of any Alderman MARCH 1ST OF THE YEAR OF
prior to March 1st of the year of the . THE GENERAL CITY ELEC.
general city election, it shall be TION THE THEN PRESIDENT
filled for the unexpired term by a, OF THE CITY COUNCIL SHALL
special election ordered by the city FILL THE VACANCY FOR THE
council and held CITY-WIDE IF I REMAINDER OF THE,
THE VACANCY IS IN THE. OF VACATED TERM IN THE SAME I
FICE OF THE MAYOR OR HELD! MANNER AS PROVIDED
in the APPLICABLE ward (for 'ABOVE.
which the vacancy exists) IF THE, Whenever any vacancy occurs in
VACANCY IS IN THE OFFICE OF •the office of any alderman on or
AN ALDERMAN. THE SPECIAL; after March 1st of the year of the
ELECTION SHALL BE HELD! general city election,such vacancy
within 75 days after such vacancy,) shall be filled by the city council,
shall occur. I appointing a qualified voter from
For the purpose of selecting the' the ward for which the vacancy
candidates to be voted on at such exists, to hold office for the
special election, the council shall, remainder of such unexpired term,
fix the date of a primary election to . provided that no such appointment
be held not less than 35 days prior shall be made after the opening
to such special election, and shall date for filing for such position in
also fix the dates for filing of .the next ensuing city primary
candidates for such office which .election.
shall be for a period of not less than • When a vacancy FOR
15 days, and the closing date for ALDERMAN exists on or after the i
such filing shall not be less than 20 first date for filing, the person
days prior to the date fixed for the elected at the general city election,
primary election.All provisions of upon certification of the general
this charter pertaining to primary city election results, shall fill the
and special elections shall apply to position for the remainder of the'
any primary or special elections unexpired term."
provided for by this section,except;
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CHARTER AME?JPMW JT JO. 76
Adopted Hovemben. 8, 1977
�.— ° To pn.ov,i.de •that ,the pn.oceish ion. a 6pec,i.at etectioit to WI an a.tdenman-a
on. magonat vacancy ma►t begin when an aCth vnan on. mot zubmi s a notice
of rcuignati.on hnom °Wee e{�liecti.ve on a fu,tune date.
AMENDMENT NO.76 •
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The Charter of the City of
! Minneapolis is hereby
amended as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 2 of the
; Charter of the City of Minneapolis
its amended by adding a new
section to read as follows:
l "SECTION 16A. WHEN AN
ALDERMAN OR MAYOR FILES .
WITH THE CITY CLERK A
.(NOTICE OF VACATION OF
OFFICE TO BE EFFECTIVE ON
• iA GIVEN DATE IN THE
(FUTURE, SUCH ACTION SHALL
(RESULT IN THE VACATION-OF
THAT OFFICE ON THAT GIVEN
1DATE. WHEN SUCH A NOTICE
■OF VACATION HAS BEEN
'FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK,,
!THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
'CHARTER FOR FILLING THE
IALDERMANIC OR MAYORAL
VACANCY MAY BE COM-
MENCED BUT THE SPECIAL
ELECTION SHALL NOT BE
HELD UNTIL THE VACANCY
HAS OCCURRED."
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