HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. 1430, Amending the Fridley City Code Chapter 105, Commissions
Ordinance No. 1430
Amending the Fridley City Code Chapter 105, Commissions
The City Council of the City of Fridley does ordain, after review, examination and staff
recommendation that the Fridley City Code be amended as follows:
Fridley City Code
Chapter 105 Commissions
105.01 Purpose
Pursuant to the Fridley City Charter Chapter 2, the Fridley City Council (Council) may create
commissions with advisory powers to investigate any subject of interest to the City of Fridley (City).
Advisory commissions provide for citizen input and are advisory to the Council. Advisory
commissions shall have no decision-making authority, except as expressly established by the
Fridley City Code or Minnesota Statutes (M.S.).
105.02 Commissions Generally
1. Membership
(a) Each commission, unless otherwise indicated, shall consist of seven Fridley residents
appointed by Council.
(b) The Council will annually appoint, by Council resolution, a chairperson to each advisory
commission.
(c) Each commission shall elect a vice chairperson. At any meeting of the commission if
the chairperson is unable to attend, the vice chairperson shall act as chairperson.
(d) The commission members shall be appointed by the Council for three-year terms,
except the Council shall make every effort to stagger the appointments so that the terms
of no more than three members shall expire in any one year. Attempts shall be made to
have all City wards represented on the commissions. Upon the expiration of their terms of
office, members shall continue to serve until their successor shall have been appointed.
(e) The Council may appoint one non-voting youth commission member to each of the
City’s commissions. Youth commissioners must be at least 15 years of age, must be a
resident of the City and enrolled in a high school or equivalent. Terms for youth
appointments begin upon appointment and expire at the end of the school spring term.
Youth commissioners may only serve on one commission at a time and may not serve
more than three consecutive terms on the same commission.
2. Vacancy. Commission members may resign or be removed from office by a majority vote
of the Council. The commission member appointed to fill any vacancy shall serve for the
remainder of the vacated term.
3. Organization
(a) Following the appointment of membership, each of the commissions shall meet,
organize and with the exception of the chairperson, elect any officers, as it deems
desirable.
(b) Adopt rules for its meetings and the transaction of its business, in order to fulfill the
responsibilities of the commission.
(c) The chairperson shall assure the fulfillment of the following responsibilities:
(1) Call and preside over meetings of the commission.
(2) Appear or appoint a representative to appear, if deemed necessary, before the
Council or any City commission pertaining to matters within the scope of the
commission.
(3) Provide liaison with other governmental and citizens' groups pertaining to matters
within the scope of the commission for the purpose of timely and relevant information
for consideration by the commission.
4.Staff Liaison. The City Manager shall assign one member of staff to serve as Staff Liaison
to each commission. The Staff Liaison shall perform only such duties on behalf of a commission
as may be assigned by the chairperson and with the consent of the City Manager. Additional
advisory staff shall be assigned to the commissions by the City Manager within the restraints
of the adopted general fund budget. A Staff Liaison shall not serve as an appointed member
of any City advisory commission.
5. Project Committees. The commissions may establish special project committees to further
the objectives of the commissions and provide for greater citizen participation. Such project
committees shall be appointed by a commission for special projects and shall cease to exist
when their activities are completed. The qualifications for membership, composition and
duties of such project committees shall be at the discretion of the commission. The project
committee may be chaired by a member of the commission, and at least one member of the
commission shall act as a liaison for each project committee.
6. Compensation. The members of the commissions shall serve without pay, but may be
reimbursed for actual expenses if funds therefore are provided in the adopted general fund
budget.
7. Reports. The commissions shall make such reports as requested by the Council. or
Planning Commission.
8. Meetings. Meetings shall be called by the chairperson and shall be held as necessary to
fulfill the responsibilities of the commissions. All meetings of the commissions shall be open
to the public. Minutes shall be kept of all meetings. Findings and recommendations shall be
transmitted by the commission chairperson to the to the Council.
105.03 Planning Commission
1.Commission Established. There is hereby created a Planning Commission for the City of
Fridley, Minnesota pursuant to M.S. Chapter 462.
2. Purpose
(a) The Planning Commission is established to provide comprehensive planning and
zoning advice to the Council, provide a process by which the public may appeal staff’s
interpretation of the Code, or request a variance to performance standards in the zoning
chapters of the Code.
(b) The Council hereby establishes the Planning Commission to serve as the Board of
Appeals and Adjustments and exercise all authority and perform all functions of said Board
pursuant to M.S. §§ 462.351 to 462.364 and operate according to this Code.
3. Scope
(a) The Planning Commission shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Council. Matters
shall be referred to the Planning Commission by the Council, City Manager or chairperson
of the member commissions, and may be assigned to the member commissions for
detailed study and recommendations as required. All recommendations by the Planning
Commission shall be made to the Council.
(b) The Planning Commission is charged with responsibility for community planning,
growth and development of comprehensive goals and policies, including but not limited
to, land use, housing, transportation, , and other related community activities.
(c) The Planning Commission shall advise the Council in the development of programs to
give increased effectiveness and direction in implementing established City goals and
policies and recommend actions needed to carry out planning responsibility.
4. Appeals and Requests
(a) The Planning Commission shall hear and recommend to the Council appeals or requests
in the following cases according to the procedures established in Chapters 128 and 205 of
this Code:
(1) Appeals where it is alleged that there is an error in any order, requirement, decision,
or determination made by a City compliance official in the enforcement of the Code,
or State Building Code.
(2) Requests for variances from the literal provisions of Code in instances where strict
enforcement would cause practical difficulties due to circumstances unique to the
individual property under consideration.
5. Membership of Planning Commission
(a) The Planning Commission shall consist of the Planning Commission chairperson, the
chairperson of the Parks and Recreation Commission, the chairperson of the
Environmental Quality and Energy Commission, and four members at large.
(b) Nothing herein shall prohibit any Planning Commission members from serving on
other commissions; however, none of these shall be elected as chairperson or vice-
chairperson of any other commissions.
105.04 Parks and Recreation Commission
1. Commission Established. There is established a Parks and Recreation Commission for the
City.
2. Purpose. The Parks and Recreation Commission is established to promote the systematic
and comprehensive development of park facilities and recreational activities necessary for the
physical, mental and emotional health and well-being of the residents of the City.
3. Scope
(a) The Parks and Recreation Commission shall act as an advisory commission to the
Council for continuous community planning and development of comprehensive City
goals and policies. Any change in related community planning and comprehensive City
goals and policies must be reviewed by the Council.
(b) The Parks and Recreation Commission shall advise the Council in the development of
programs to give increased effectiveness and direction in implementing established City
goals and policies and recommend actions as needed to provide park and recreational
opportunities.
4. Program. The Commission shall each year, prior to June 1, recommend a capital investment
program for park improvement and acquisition and for public recreation activities for the
ensuing year.
5. Funds. For the purpose of financing the parks and recreation programs authorized by this
Chapter, the accounting shall be the responsibility of the City Treasurer. The Commission shall
be authorized to establish charges or fees for the restricted use of any facility or to make any
phase of the recreation program wholly or partially self-sustaining.
6. Ex Officio Member. The Commission may include one commission position that will be an
ex officio, non-voting member that is nominated by a Fridley youth sports organization and
confirmed by the Council. Except for voting, the position will be charged with all the same
rights, privileges and responsibilities as the other members of the Commission. The term of
this position is subject to nomination and confirmation on an annual basis.
105.05 Environmental Quality and Energy Commission
1. Commission Established. There is established an Environmental Quality and Energy
Commission for the City.
2. Purpose. The Environmental Quality and Energy Commission is established to stimulate
interest in and to promote an awareness of environmental and energy concerns among
citizens and businesses of the City. It will serve as a resource to the City in the conservation
and management of energy and the environment, including information on environmental
problems, laws, policies, and regulations of the county, metropolitan, state, and federal levels
to the extent of their effect on Fridley and advise the Council, the City Manager, and other
appropriate City commissions on matters pertaining to conservation and management of
energy and the environment, including the review and recommendation of programs and
policies within the City.
3. Scope
(a) The Environmental Quality and Energy Commission shall act as an advisory commission
to the Council for continuous community planning and development of the
comprehensive City goals and policies. Any change in related community planning and
comprehensive City goals and policies must be reviewed by the Council.
(b) The Environmental Quality and Energy Commission shall advise the Council in the
development of programs to give increased effectiveness and direction on implementing
established City goals and policies, and recommend actions as needed relevant to the
conservation and management of environmental and energy resources.
Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Fridley on this 28th day of April, 2025.
______________________________________
Dave Ostwald - Mayor
______________________________________
Melissa Moore - City Clerk
First Reading: April 14, 2025
Second Reading: April 28, 2025
Summary Publication: May 1, 2025