CHM 09/24/2001 - 00027205CITY OF FRIDLEY
CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING
September 24, 2001
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairperson Gordon called the Charter Commission meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Members Present: Don Findell, Craig Gordon, Bill Holm, Maynard Nielsen, Francis Van Dan
Members Absent: Regina Querimit, Suzanne Alvite Warren, Harry Heck, Deborah Monden, Nancy
Jorgenson and Cindy Soule
Others Present: Deb Skogen, City Clerk/Staff Liaison
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
MOTION by Commissioner Findell seconded by Commissioner Nielsen to approve the agenda.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON GORDON DECLARED THE MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
APPROVAL OF MAY 21, 2001, CHARTER COMMISSION MINUTES:
MOTION by Commissioner Van Dan seconded by Commissioner Findell to approve the May 21, 2001, Charter
Commission minutes as written.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON GORDON DECLARED THE MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
1. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
A. Membership was discussed. There are currently 12 members on the Charter Commission. The
Commission has 3 openings. It was requested that an ad be placed on cable TV if possible.
Commissioner Gordon wondered if might help to send out letters to specific groups within the city to
notify people who might be interested or find it beneficial. Commissioner Hendricks thought it would
be a good outreach effort and the other commissioners agreed. Some of the organizations mentioned
were the PTA, Jaycees, Fire Fighters and schools. Chairperson Gordon will prepare a letter,
Commissioner Findell will review and Skogen will mail them out.
The Commissioners discussed things that might draw people to the Commission. Some of the ideas
were that it was a non - political appointment, people could learn about the city or people may join for
their own personal development
B. Skogen asked if the Commissioners had seen the article on the Charter Commission in the
September /October Community Report and noted that one had been included in their materials.
C. The changes to Chapter 6 and 8 were handed out to the Commissioners to update their books.
CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2001
2. DISCUSSION OF GLOSSARY /INDEX
PAGE 2
There was some discussion on what types of terms to include. Commissioner Hendricks felt the glossary should
clarify ambiguous or confusing terms. The Commissioners also felt that the Glossary should be incorporated into
the Charter and used by all, not just the Charter Commission. Skogen recommended they place their definitions in
Chapter 1 as there were already some definitions located there.
MOTION BY Commissioner Findell and second by Commissioner Hendricks to include the terms referendum and
initiative.
Skogen explained the process of an ordinance becoming effective and the timeline needed for a referendum.
Commissioner Holm suggested initiative might be an action by voters to be repealed or submitted to the vote of the
electors before effective date.
Skogen suggested using the following, language to be used to define initiative - an action by the voters to petition
the city council to enact a new ordinance or to repeal an existing ordinance.
After further discussion it was suggested that referendum be defined as an action by the voters to petition the city
council to stop an ordinance from becoming effective, thereby allowing city council to reconsider and either repeal
or submit the ordinance to the voters at the next regular election.
The meeting was temporarily recessed at 7:50 p.m. due to lack of quorum because of an emergency call. The
meeting reconvened at 8:10 p.m.
CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS FOR FUTURE DISCUSSION
Commissioner Hendricks would like to discuss how issues come to the Charter Commission.
A continued discussion of the Glossary.
ADJOURNMENT:
MOTION by Commissioner Nielsen, seconded by Commissioner Hendricks to adjourn the meeting.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON GORDON DECLARED THE MOTION
CARRIED AND THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 8:10 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
"aA
Debra A. Skogen,
City Clerk/Staff Liaison
Deborah Monden, Secretary