01-10-2023
Charter Commission Meeting
January 10, 2023
7:00 PM
Fridley Civic Campus, 7071 University Ave N.E.
Minutes
Call to Order
Vice Chair Rick Nelson called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
Roll Call Present: Gary Braam
Kelli Brillhart
Donald Findell
Greg Gardner
Ibsen Gabriel (arrived at 7:30)
Manuel Granroos
Nikki Karnopp
Rick Nelson
Valerie Rolstad (arrived at 7:10)
Avonna Starck
Absent: Ted Kranz, Pam Reynolds, Oluwaysei Olawore, Cynthia Soule
Others Present: Beth Kondrick, Deputy City Clerk
Melissa Moore, City Clerk
Steven Kisner, Charter Commission Applicant
Mohamed Barre, Charter Commission Applicant
Approval of Agenda
Motion by Commissioner Brillhart, approving the meeting agenda. Seconded by Commissioner Braam.
Upon a roll call vote, Braam, Brillhart, Findell, Gardner, Granroos, Karnopp, Nelson and Starck voting aye,
Vice Chair Nelson declared the motion carried.
Approval of Meeting Minutes
1. Approval of October 3, 2022 Charter Commission Meeting Minutes
Motion by Commissioner Gardner approving the meeting minutes. Seconded by Commissioner Karnopp.
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Upon a roll call vote, Braam, Brillhart, Findell, Gardner, Granroos, Karnopp, Nelson, Rolstad and Starck
voting aye, Chair Nelson declared the motion carried.
Administrative Matters
2. Election to Vacant Office
Vice Chair Nelson asked for nominations to the open Chair position. Commissioner Starck nominated
Vice Chair Nelson.
Motion by Commissioner Findell to elect Vice Chair Nelson to the office of Chair. Seconded by Granroos.
Upon a roll call vote, Braam, Brillhart, Findell, Gardner, Granroos, Karnopp, Nelson, Rolstad and Starck
voting aye, Chair Nelson declared the motion carried.
Chair Nelson states that this now leaves the office of Vice Chair open. The group reviewed the Bylaws and
it was not in order to appoint someone to the Vice Chair position at this meeting. The vacancy has been
declared and will be on the agenda for February to be filled.
3. 2023 Nominating Committee Chair Nelson asked for volunteers to serve on the 2023 Nominating Committee. Commissioners Rolstad,
Starck and Brillhart volunteered. The group agreed to meet after this evening’s meeting to make
nominations.
4. Joint Meeting with the Fridley City Council A meeting with the City Council is scheduled for April 3, 2023. Question was asked by Commissioner
Karnopp if this was a separate meeting from the normal meeting schedule. Ms. Moore said this meeting
is on the normal meeting schedule and was selected by the City Manager for that purpose. If the group
wanted to choose a different date, it could be proposed to the Council to review.
Motion by Commissioner Karnopp to accept the meeting date as scheduled. Seconded by Commissioner
Rolstad.
Upon a roll call vote, Braam, Brillhart, Findell, Gardner, Granroos, Karnopp, Nelson, Rolstad and Starck
voting aye, Chair Nelson declared the motion carried.
5. Review of Bylaws
Proposed changes to the Bylaws as discussed at the October 3, 2023 meeting were included in the agenda
packet. Ms. Moore distributed an article regarding mission statements from Commissioner Reynolds who
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was unable to attend. The Commission discussed the Bylaws draft. Proposed amendments as follows:
Section 5 (a) missing the “before Staff Liaison” in second line, Section 6 (b)(1) add the word “To” after the
word responsibilities, and Section 5 (a) second sentence: All members shall inform the staff liaison of their
attendance.
6. New Member Interviews Ms. Moore welcomed the two candidates present to interview with the Commission for the seat vacated by Commissioner Bruce Nelson in 2022. Chair Nelson facilitated a discussion with each of the candidates. The Commission discussed the applicant’s qualifications and reviewed their answers to questions. Motion by Commissioner Starck to nominate Steven Kisner for appointment to the Fridley Charter
Commission with Mohamed Barre to be offered appointment at the next vacancy. Seconded by
Commissioner Rolstad.
Upon a roll call vote, Braam, Brillhart, Findell, Gabriel, Gardner, Granroos, Karnopp, Nelson, Rolstad and
Starck voting aye, Chair Nelson declared the motion carried.
Future Meeting Topics
7. Future Meeting Topics
The Commission discussed topics for next meeting should be Vice Chair opening, accepting the report of
the Nominating Committee, review and approval of the Bylaws, and begin a review of Chapter 4.
Motion by Commissioner Starck to have City Attorney review and provide feedback for updates in Chapter
4. Seconded by Commissioner Rolstad.
Upon a roll call vote, Braam, Brillhart, Findell, Gabriel, Gardner, Granroos, Karnopp, Nelson, Rolstad and
Starck voting aye, Chair Nelson declared the motion carried.
Adjournment
Motion by Commissioner Rolstad, to adjourn. Seconded by Commissioner Findell.
Upon a roll call vote, Braam, Brillhart, Findell, Gabriel, Gardner, Granroos, Karnopp, Nelson, Rolstad and
Starck voting aye, Chair Nelson declared the motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 8:29 p.m.