CHM 02/27/2006 - 00028621CITY OF FRIDLEY
CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING
February 27, 2006
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairperson Jorgenson called the Charter Commission meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Members Present: Commissioners Borman, Braam, Fitzpatrick, Hoiby, Jorgenson, Linder, Reynolds, Soule
Members Absent: Commissioners Findell, Gerrity, Gordon, Holm, Johnson and VanDan
Others Present: Deb Skogen, City Clerk/Staff Liaison
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Commissioner Fitzpatrick MOVED and Commissioner Soule seconded a motion to approve the agenda.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JORGENSON DECLARED THE MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
APPROVAL OF JANUARY 23, 2006 CHARTER COMMISSION MINUTES:
Commissioner Borman MOVED and Commissioner Braam seconded a motion to approve the January 23, 2006,
Charter Commission Minutes.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JORGENSON DECLARED THE MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
1. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
A. Vacancies
The terms of Commissioners Anita Gerrity and Janet Johnson appointments end on April 22, 2006. Both
Commissioners have expressed their desire not to be reappointed. Ms. Skogen has mailed out letters to the
city's election judges to see if there is anyone that might be interested to help fill the three vacancies.
B. Nominations Committee Report
Commissioner Borman reported that the Nominating Committee was recommending a unanimous vote for the
slate of names to serve as officers for the 2006 -07 Commission year. The names submitted by memo in the
February packet were Nancy Jorgenson for Chairperson, Peter Borman for Vice - Chairperson and Cindy Soule
for Secretary.
Commissioner Reynolds MOVED and Commissioner Hoiby seconded a motion to accept the Nominating
Committee Report.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JORGENSON DECLARED THE MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Adopted 4 -24 -06
CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING OF FEBRUARY 27, 2006 PAGE 2
2. DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE RATE INCREASE
Commissioner Borman said there was a lot of information to review and thanked staff for their help. He said that
the history showed fees that were charged, but not costs and was wondering if they could get that information.
Commissioner Soule thought the rate should be increased but felt the Commission might want to help the City
Council with the wording.
Chairperson Jorgenson felt they should try to stay away from a double digit increase.
Commissioner Braam felt that if the city needed to increase fees, now would be the time to propose the fee
increase. He felt if the city was 12% in the hole they that might be the fee to increase it by. He said it should be
left up to the voters to approve. He said other utilities, such as gas and electric are increasing as well.
Commissioner Fitzpatrick wondered why the electorate didn't approve the charter amendment to allow the city to
charge what it costs to provide the services.
Chairperson Jorgenson said most people did not understand the question.
Commissioner Fitzpatrick said people must have thought there was a big reserve which no longer exists.
Commissioner Braam said after looking at the rates other cities charge, Fridley has one of the lowest rates.
Chairperson Jorgenson said the City Council will have to go to the people to let them know there are no reserves
and that they are in dire straights and need to increase the rates.
Commissioner Hoiby said that most of the general public doesn't understand the situation. They only see an
increase and this will be the third time it is before the voters.
Chairperson Jorgenson said the voters need to know they need to pay for the cost to provide the service and that the
city is not trying to gouge anyone. She said that there are sometimes mandates the city has to follow with no
additional funding received, for instance the City now has to build a building near the Public Works building to
house salt and sand so that it doesn't go into the groundwater.
Commissioner Braam said that if we want to keep our nice streets and infrastructure in good shape, we need to pay
for it. He said we can't have steak on a "hamburger" budget.
Commissioner Fitzpatrick said the city operates mostly on what it receives through property taxes and the city has
been very conservative when it comes to what it charges for taxes.
Chairperson Jorgenson said there were some projects that the city does not receive additional funds and has to pick
up the cost of the project.
3. ADJOURNMENT:
Commissioner Borman MOVED and Commissioner Soule seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JORGENSON DECLARED THE MOTION
CARRIED AND THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 7:50 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra A. Skogen,
Adopted 4 -24 -06
CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING OF FEBRUARY 27, 2006
City Clerk/Staff Liaison Kathleen Linder, Secretary
Adopted 4 -24 -06
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