CHM 04/22/2002 - 00027165CITY OF FRIDLEY
CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING
April 22, 2002
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairperson Gordon called the Charter Commission meeting to order at 7:22 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Members Present: Suzanne Alvite Warren, Don Findell (7:15) Anita Gerrety, Craig Gordon, Harry Heck,
Janet Johnson, Deborah Monden, Cindy Soule, Dale Warren
Members Absent: Bill Holm, Nancy Jorgenson, Maynard Nielsen, Regina Querimit, Francis Van Dan
Others Present: Deb Skogen, City Clerk/Staff Liaison
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
MOTION by Commissioner Monden seconded by Commissioner Heck to approve the agenda.
Commissioner Monden requested that time and attendance be placed under Administrative Matters as Item IA;
Commissioner Gordon requested commission vacancies be discussed as Item 113, Discussion of Chapter 7 "sinking
funds" as Item 2, discussion of Glossary Index as Item 4 and discussion of future discussion items as number 3.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON GORDON DECLARED THE MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE AGENDA WAS APPROVED AS AMENDED
APPROVAL OF March 25, 2001, CHARTER COMMISSION MINUTES:
MOTION by Commissioner Findell seconded by Commissioner D. Warren to approve the March 25, 2002, Charter
Commission Minutes.
Commissioner Heck suggested switching the words "discussion" to "regarding" in the third paragraph on page I of
the March 25, 2002, minutes. Commissioner Gordon requested his name be changed from Craig to Craig on page
2 and suggested adding the word "can" to paragraph seven, "project, you can only...," on page 3, paragraph 7.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON GORDON DECLARED THE MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AS AMENDED.
1. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
A. Time and Attendance
Commissioner Alvite Warren said it appeared the members were always waiting for other members to create a
quorum to begin the meeting. She felt others should be considerate of the people who are able to get to the
meeting at or before 7:00 p.m. She said she understood if there is something that came up, but asked that
members try to be a little more considerate by being on time in the future.
Commissioner Monden wondered if there could be a time specific as to how long the Commission would wait
before it could disband due to the lack of a quorum..
Commissioner Heck suggested people leave a message with Deb if they cannot attend or are going to be late to
give a heads up so the Commission could set up a timeframe based on the message.
Adopted May 20, 2002
CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING OF APRIL 22, 2002
PAGE 2
Commissioner Warren wondered if Deb was available and Deb said that she is always available by voice mail
and picks those messages up before the meeting if calls are made no later than 6:30 p.m. on the day of the
meeting.
Commissioner Gerrety suggested setting a time specific of 7:05 p.m. She said members should have the
meeting dates it on their calendars and know that the meeting starts at 7:00 p.m..
Commissioner Soule suggested leaving by 7:10 p.m. if you there was no quorum.
Commissioner Heck suggested looking at previous meetings to see what the average starting time has been.
After some review, the average time the Commission begins its meetings, is usually about 7:10 p.m.
Chairperson Gordon wondered if they would like to add this item to the by -laws. He said people would know
that if they weren't there by the time specific, they might know whether or not to come. He said a proposal or
draft of an amendment would be needed to be mailed to members at least two weeks before the meeting and
vote.
Commissioner Findell wondered if there was something important that needed to be discussed if the Chair
would have the option of holding the members a little bit longer past 7:10 p.m.
Commissioner Heck wondered if a time could be determined and that the language could be fine tuned and
mailed out before the next meeting.
Chairperson Gordon suggested the following language, "If there is not a quorum by a set time, there will not
be a meeting, but also the option that the Chair would have the discretion to hold the Commissioners until
later than the time specified.
The Commissioners felt that there should still be a time specified because the Chair could decide to keep the
meeting longer.
Commissioner Soule said that people could make a personal decision and walk out of the meeting causing lack
of quorum and ending the meeting.
It appeared 7:10 would be the time specified; allowing the chair to have the discretion to continue waiting, but
the time would not to exceed an additional 10 minutes past the specified time.
Chairperson Gordon wondered if there were any commissioners that were absent more than 3 meetings in a
row. Skogen said she would find out.
Commissioner Johnson wondered if a Commissioner could send their vote with someone if they were unable to
attend.
B. Vacancies
Chairperson Gordon commented that there was a vacancy due to the resignation of Carter Hendricks. He
asked staff to prepare a Certificate of Appreciation and a letter to send to Mr. Hendricks.
Chairperson Gordon said former commissioner Char Fitzpatrick was interested in serving on the Commission
and wondered if the Commissioners were interested.
Commissioner Soule MOVED and D. Warren SECONDED a motion that upon confirmation that she was
willing to serve, that her name be forwarded to the Chief Judge for appointment.
Adopted May 20, 2002
CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING OF APRIL 22, 2002
PAGE 3
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON GORDON DECLARED THE MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
2. DISCUSSION OF CHAPTER 7 — SINKING FUND
Ms. Skogen searched the Charter for the term sinking fund and found it only in Section 7.15.2(1). She handed
out a prepared ordinance changing the term sinking fund to reserve fund for debt service.
Chairperson Gordon thought it looked fine.
Chairperson Soule wondered how it was defined in the State Statutes wondered if debt service reserve fund
might be better.
Commissioner Heck wondered how Commissioner Van Dan's term of dedicated reserve funds might work.
Ms. Skogen will review the State Statute and bring it to the neat meeting.
Commissioner Heck wondered what the terms "informality" and "suspense fund" in Section 7.09 meant.
Staff will contact the Finance Director to define what informality means in this paragraph, as well as a
definition of suspense fund.
Commissioner Soule said a reserve account was specifically allocated for use. A suspense fund was a fund that
money would go into temporarily until it was determined where it would be applied.
3. ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS
Chairperson Gordon wondered if there were any other items they would like to discuss.
Under Administrative Matters a change to the bylaws as proposed by changing the start time of a meeting due
to lack of a quorum.
Chapter 7 Discussion of changing the term "sinking fund" as an amendment to the Charter.
Continued discussion of the Index/Gloss Discussion
4. DISCUSSION OF WORKING GLOSSARY
Commissioner Monden made three corrections to the working glossary. Skogen noted the changes and will
have them available at the next meeting.
Chairperson Gordon wondered if the Commissioners wanted the term "eminent domain" added to the
glossary. Commissioner Monden had a concern that proper notice be given to the property owner.
ADJOURNMENT:
MOTION by Commissioner Monden seconded by Commissioner Findell to adjourn the meeting.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON GORDON DECLARED THE MOTION
CARRIED AND THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 8:25 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
"9Aa,46J-
Debra A. Skogen, Clerk/Staff Liaison
Deborah Monden, Secretary
Adopted May 20, 2002