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11-01-2021 CHARTER COMMISSION November 01, 2021 7:00 PM Fridley Civic Campus, 7071 University Ave N.E. MINUTES Call to Order Vice Chair Bruce Nelson called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. Roll Call Present: Ted Kranz, Gary Braam, Pam Reynolds, Val Rolstad, Bruce Nelson, Nikki Karnopp, Avonna Starck, Donald Findell, Oluwaysei Olawore Absent: Kelli Brillhart, Manuel Granroos, Rick Nelson, Courtney Rathke, Cynthia Soule Others Present: Melissa Moore, City Clerk Approval of Agenda MOTION by Commissioner Braam, approving the meeting agenda. Seconded by Commissioner Rolstad. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, VICE CHAIR NELSON DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. Approval of Meeting Minutes 1. Approval of May 3, 2021 Charter Commission Meeting Minutes MOTION by Commissioner Braam, approving the meeting minutes. Seconded by Commissioner Kranz. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, VICE CHAIR NELSON DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. Administrative Matters 2. 2021 Annual Report MOTION by Commissioner Karnopp, approving the 2021 Annual Report. Seconded by Commissioner Starck. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, VICEC HAIR NELSON DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. 3. 2022 Charter Commission Meeting Dates Charter Commission 11/1/2021 Minutes Page 2 MOTION by Commissioner Braam, approving the 2022 Charter Commission meeting dates. Seconded by Commissioner Olawore. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, VICE CHAIR NELSON DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. 4. Format of Charter Commission Meetings Update Melissa Moore, Staff Liaison, reminded the Commission of the requirements if a commissioner wished to participate in a meeting via interactive technology. 5. Resignation of Commissioner Reiland MOTION by Commissioner Reynolds, accepting the resignation of Commissioner Reiland and directing staff to solicit applications for new members. Seconded by Commissioner Braam. Ms. Moore informed the commission that the City Manager’s office has approximately five applications on file for various City commissions. The City will notify the public of the opening, and staff will line up applicants to be interviewed by the Commission at their January meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, VICE CHAIR NELSON DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. New Business 6. Mission Statement and Strategic Values MOTION by Commissioner Reynolds to table the item indefinitely. Seconded by Commissioner Findell. UPON A VOICE VOTE, REYNOLDS AND FINDELL VOTING AYE; KRANZ, BRAAM, ROLSTAD, NELSON, KARNOPP, STARCK AND OLAWORE VOTING NAY, VICECHAIR NELSON DECLARED THE MOTION FAILED. Commissioner Kranz supported the idea of discussing a mission statement, as all good organizations have one. Commissioner Reynolds stated the Commission has a purpose statement in the Bylaws. She asserted this exercise was an attempt to get the Commission to fit in with the City, which is not the Commission’s purpose. The Commission is to amend the Charter based on how the citizens of Fridley want their government to behave. Commissioner Kranz stated a mission statement is a simple statement to remind the group why they attend these meetings. Commissioner Starck agreed. She asserted how the group interacts is a reflection of the City, specifically on social media. She expressed frustrations and concerns over how commissioners interact on social media and would like this exercise to eventually lead to a Code of Ethics for the Charter Commission. Charter Commission 11/1/2021 Minutes Page 3 Commissioner Olawore shared his concerns for the tone of emails sent and accusations made regarding the October agenda. That exchange, along with the interactions he has seen tonight have shown him there is a lack of respect among the commissioners, and for staff. He asked if the Commission had procedural policies that can make clear how the Commission does its work, and how the members will interact. Commissioner Rolstad agreed that most organizations have mission statements, as they are good tools to hold groups accountable to each other and the community. Commissioner Starck added that the community has a right to know how the Commission conducts itself, the ethics and values that guide the group’s work, and how it arrives at its decisions. Commissioner Karnopp stated she believes everyone on the Commission, and the staff, have the best intentions for the Commission and the work done. She asked Commissioner Reynolds for clarification on her assertion that the City has an agenda. Commissioner Reynolds stated the Charter is the constitution of the City and is meant to guide the government on what the citizens want done. She recalled her experiences with the Commission’s work on Chapters 4, 5, and 7. She does not believe the SOAR activity is applicable to the Commission. Commissioner Starck offered rebuttal to Commissioner Reynolds’ assertions on the rationale for why the Commission revised Chapters 4, 5 and 7. She added concern there is misrepresentation of what the group is doing, what its intentions are, and how the Commission does its work. Commissioner Olawore summarized Commissioner Reynolds’ sentiments that the Commission has become a “rubber stamp” for staff or the Council. She agreed. Commissioner Olawore reaffirmed the Commission needs procedural rules for how it conducts its business. Commissioner Rolstad expressed support for the Commission being more open to flexibility in its work process and allowing staff to bring them suggested revisions. Communities are changing quickly, and the Commission should be a part of change and not be beholden to processes that are “archaic.” Commissioner Findell recalled his concerns with the processes the Commission uses to do its work. He asked for time on the January agenda to share his full sentiments. Commissioner Starck said all of the questions of the SOAR activity circle back to what creates an organization that people can trust in, and an organization people want to be a part of. Charter Commission 11/1/2021 Minutes Page 4 Ms. Moore shared her thoughts and rationale for proposing the SOAR activity. The goal of the activity is to assist the Commission in finding consensus by working through the questions of the activity, collect their feedback, and use their feedback to fashion a mission statement. Commissioner Findell said he would like to discuss the item further when more of the commissioners are present. Ms. Moore informed the Commission she had discussed the activity with Chair Nelson, who was supportive of working on the activity. Commissioner Reynolds asked for more information on where the idea of a SOAR activity came from. Ms. Moore informed the Commission on the background work that went into proposing this particular exercise. MOTION by Commissioner Kranz, tabling the Mission Statement and Strategic Values discussion until January 10, 2021. Seconded by Commissioner Olawore. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, VICECHAIR NELSON DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED. Future Meeting Topics/Communications Commissioner Findell asked for time on the January agenda to provide a brief presentation to the Commission on his views and memories of the Charter Commission over his tenure. Adjournment MOTION by Commissioner Rolstad, to adjourn. Seconded by Commissioner Findell. The meeting adjourned at 8:02 p.m.