2-3-2025
Charter Commission Meeting
February 3, 2025
7:00 PM
Fridley City Hall, 7071 University Avenue NE
Minutes
Call to Order
Vice Chair Johnson called the Charter Commission meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Present
Mohammed Barre
Brad Bremener
Donald Findell
Greg Gardner
Clifford Johnson
Nikki Karnopp
Steve Kisner
Ted Kranz
Dave Linton
Audrey Nelson
Pam Reynolds
Valerie Rolstad
Kathy Smith
Absent
Rick Nelson
Doug Schmitz
Others Present
Dave Ostwald, Mayor
Ryan Evanson, Councilmember
Melissa Moore, Assistant City Manager
Beth Kondrick, Deputy City Clerk
Approval of Agenda
Motion to approve the agenda with removal of item 5, Commission Onboarding Manual by Commissioner
Reynolds, seconded by Commissioner Findell.
Upon a voice call vote, with two commissioners voting aye and 11 commissioners voting nay, Vice Chair
Johnson declared the motion failed.
Motion to approve the agenda as is by Commissioner Reynolds, seconded by Commissioner Barre.
Upon a voice call vote, all voting aye, Vice Chair Johnson declared the motion carried unanimously.
Charter Commission 02-03-2025 Minutes Page 2
Approval of Meeting Minutes
1. Approval of January 13, 2025, Charter Commission Meeting Minutes
Motion to approve the January 13, 2025 Meeting Minutes by Commissioner Rolstad. Seconded by
Commissioner Barre.
Upon a voice call vote, all voting aye, Vice Chair Johnson declared the motion carried unanimously.
Administrative Matters
2. Nominating Committee Report
Commissioner Karnopp presented the nominating committee report. Vice Chair Johnson is nominated
for Chair, Chair Nelson is nominated for Vice Chair and Commissioner Barre is nominated for Secretary.
The election will take place at the March meeting.
Motion to approve the Nominating Committee Report by Commissioner Rolstad. Seconded by
Commissioner Linton.
Upon a voice call vote, all voting aye, Vice Chair Johnson declared the motion carried unanimously.
3. Updated Member List
Ms. Kondrick informed the Commission that an updated member list has been provided with the
addition of new Commissioner Bremener.
Old Business
4. Chapter 5 Review
Motion to table Chapter 5 discussion until the next meeting by Commissioner Gardner. Seconded by
Commissioner Barre.
Upon a roll call vote, with eight Commissioners voting aye and five commissioners voting nay, Vice
Chair Johnson declared the motion failed.
Motion to reduce the percentage in Chapter 5, Section 5.05 from 15% to 5% and changing general
election to presidential election by Commissioner Karnopp. Seconded by Commissioner Rolstad.
Upon a voice call vote, all voting aye, Vice Chair Johnson declared the motion carried.
Motion to accept all other proposed changes to Chapter 5, Section 5.05 by Commissioner Bremener.
Seconded by Commissioner Rolstad.
Charter Commission 02-03-2025 Minutes Page 3
Upon a voice call vote, all voting aye, Vice Chair Johnson declared the motion carried unanimously.
Motion to accept proposed changes to Chapter 5, Section 5.06 with changing “general” to
“presidential”, 15% to 5% and adding “business days” to first paragraph by Commissioner Rolstad.
Seconded by Commissioner Gardner.
Upon a voice call vote, all voting aye, Vice Chair Johnson declared the motion carried unanimously.
Motion to table Chapter 5, Section 5.07 until clarification from League of Minnesota Cities and City Staff
on language by Commissioner Rolstad. Seconded by Commissioner Karnopp.
Upon a voice call vote, all voting aye, Vice Chair Johnson declared the motion carried unanimously.
Motion to accept all proposed changes to Chapter 5, Section 5.08 by Commissioner Linton. Seconded
by Commissioner Rolstad.
Upon a voice call vote, all voting aye, Vice Chair Johnson declared the motion carried unanimously.
Motion to accept all proposed changes to Chapter 5, Section 5.09, with addition of hyperlink to MN
Statutes by Commissioner Linton. Seconded by Commissioner Kranz.
Upon a voice call vote, all voting aye, Vice Chair Johnson declared the motion carried unanimously.
Motion to change 15% to 5% and changing general election to presidential election in Chapter 5,
Section 5.10 by Commissioner Reynolds. Seconded by Commissioner Linton.
Upon a voice call vote, all voting aye, Vice Chair Johnson declared the motion carried unanimously.
Motion to accept Chapter 5, Section 5.10 as amended and written by Commissioner Findell. Seconded
by Commissioner Linton.
Upon a voice call vote, all voting aye, Vice Chair Johnson declared the motion carried unanimously.
Motion to accept Chapter 5, Section 5.11 as amended and written by Commissioner Linton. Seconded
by Commissioner Rolstad.
Upon a voice call vote, all voting aye, Vice Chair Johnson declared the motion carried unanimously.
Motion to table further discussion on Chapter 5 to the next meeting by Commissioner Rolstad.
Seconded by Commissioner Barre.
Upon a voice call vote, all voting aye, Vice Chair Johnson declared the motion carried unanimously.
New Business
5. Commission Onboarding Manual
Charter Commission 02-03-2025 Minutes Page 4
Motion to table until next meeting by Commissioner Reynolds, Seconded by Commissioner Findell.
Upon a voice call vote, with 12 Commissioners voting aye and one commissioner voting nay, Vice Chair
Johnson declared the motion carried.
Future Meeting Topics/Communications
6. Future Meeting Topics
Continue Chapter 5 starting with section 5.12
Candidate Interview Process
Adding Language to the Charter for who can and cannot serve on the Commission
Adjournment
Motion by Commissioner Kranz to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Rolstad. Upon a roll
call vote, all voting aye, Vice Chair Johnson declared the motion carried unanimously. The meeting
adjourned at 8:49 p.m.