Ordinance No. 1421, Amending the Name, Boundaries, Powers and Construction of Government Chapter of the Fridley City Charter
Ordinance No. 1421
Amending the Name, Boundaries, Powers and Construction of Government Chapter of the
Fridley City Charter
The Fridley City Charter Commission has completed its review of the Fridley City Charter Chapter
1 and has recommended an amendment of the City Charter by Ordinance to the City Council on
February 5, 2024. The Fridley City Council hereby finds after review, examination and
recommendation of the Charter Commission that the Fridley City Charter should be hereby
amended and the City of Fridley does ordain:
Fridley City Charter
Chapter 1. Name, Boundaries, Powers and Construction of Government
Section 1.01 Definitions
Home Rule Charter, City Charter, Charter: The City of Fridley’s local constitution.
Home Rule Charter Commission: A body of 15 Fridley residents appointed by the district court who
work collaboratively to evaluate and propose changes to the Fridley City Charter that reflect the
importance of the Charter to enable effective government operations that reflect the values of
residents.
Voter: A registered voter who lives in the City.
Section 1.01.Section 1.02 Name and Boundaries
Upon the taking effect of this Chapter, the Village of Fridley in the County of Anoka and State of
Minnesota shall become a City under the name of City of Fridley and shall continue to be a municipal
corporation with boundaries the same as they now are established or as they may hereafter be
established.
Section 1.03 Charter, A Public Act
The Charter was approved by voters on September 10, 1957. It is a public act and need not be
pleaded or proved in any case.
Section 1.02.Section 1.04 Powers of the City
The City of Fridley:
shall have perpetual succession;
may sue and be sued;
may use and alter its seal at pleasure;
shall be capable of contracting and being contracted with;
may take by purchase, condemnation, gift, devise, or otherwise, and hold, lease, sell and convey
all such real and personal property as its purposes may require, or the transaction of its business
may render convenient, within or without the limits of the City;
may acquire, construct, own, lease and operate public utilities, and render public service of every
kind;
may grant franchises or licenses for the construction, operation and maintenance of public
utilities in, over, upon and under the streets and public places in the City, and shall have power
to fix and regulate the fares, tolls, or charges which may be collected, the extensions which shall
be made, and regulate the services which shall be rendered by any owner or operator of a public
utility franchise or license;
may assess, levy and collect taxes, for general or special purposes, on all subjects or objects
which the city may lawfully tax;
may borrow money on the faith and credit of the City or on a public utility or other property
owned by the City or the revenues therefrom by the issuance and sale of bonds or certificates
of indebtedness;
may appropriate the money of the City for all lawful purposes;
may provide for, construct, regulate, and maintain public works and local improvements;
may levy and collect assessments against real property within the City for local improvements
and services including garbage and refuse collection and disposal;
may license and regulate persons, corporations and associations engaged in any occupation,
trade or business;
may define, prohibit, abate, and suppress all things detrimental to the health, morals, comfort,
safety, convenience and welfare of the inhabitants of the City, and all nuisances and causes
thereof;
may regulate the construction, height and materials used in all buildings, and the maintenance
and occupancy thereof;
may regulate and control the use for whatever purposes of the streets and other public places;
may make and enforce local police, sanitary, and other regulations;
may pass ordinances for maintaining and promoting the peace, good government and welfare
of the City, and for the performance of all the functions thereof;
shall have all the powers possessed by municipal corporations at common law;
shall have, retain and may exercise all powers, functions, rights, and privileges, heretofore
possessed by the Village of Fridley;
may exercise such powers beyond its corporate limits as may be necessary for the effective
exercise of any powers granted herein as now authorized by law;
and in addition thereto, the City of Fridley shall have and exercise all powers, functions, rights,
and privileges exercised by, or which are incidental to, or inherent in, municipal corporations and
are not denied to it by the Constitution or general laws of the State of Minnesota.
The enumeration of powers herein shall not be construed to limit or restrict the powers granted in
general terms, nor shall any specific power granted in this charter be construed to limit or restrict the
powers granted in this Section.
In addition to the powers herein and hereafter granted, the City of Fridley shall have full power to
deal with all matters of municipal concern and have complete self-government in harmony with and
subject to the Constitution and laws of the State of Minnesota.
Section 1.03. Charter, A Public Act
This Charter shall be a public act and need not be pleaded or proved in any case. It shall take effect
fifteen (15) days from and after its adoption by the voters.
Section 1.04. Definitions
1. Eligible voter.
A resident of the City of Fridley who is qualified to register to vote.
2. Registered Voter.
An eligible voter who is currently registered in the City of Fridley.
3. Voter.
A registered voter who has voted in the City of Fridley within the last four years.
4. Electorate.
The whole body of eligible voters.
Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Fridley on this 22nd day of April, 2024.
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Scott J. Lund - Mayor
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Melissa Moore - City Clerk
Public Hearing: April 8, 2024
First Reading: April 8, 2024
Second Reading: April 22, 2024
Publication: April 25, 2024