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CHM 11/22/2004 - 00027128CITY OF FRIDLEY CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING NOVEMBER 22, 2004 CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Findell called the Charter Commission meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. ROLL CALL: Members Present: Peter Borman, Gary Braam, Don Findell, Anita Gerrety, Craig Gordon, Kathleen Linder, and Francis Van Dan Members Absent: Char Fitzpatrick, Harry Heck, Bill Holm, Janet Johnson, Nancy Jorgenson, Deborah Monden and Cindy Soule Others Present: Deb Skogen, City Clerk/Staff Liaison APPROVAL OF AGENDA: MOTION by Commissioner Gordon seconded by Commissioner Braam to approve the agenda. Commissioner Van Dan requested to be placed on the agenda. Chairperson Findell placed Commissioner Van Dan under Discussion of future items as 6A. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON FINDELL DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY AND THE AGENDA WAS APPROVED AS AMENDED. APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER 27 AND OCTOBER 24, 2004 CHARTER COMMISSION MINUTES: MOTION by Commissioner Gordon seconded by Commissioner Borman to approve the September 27 and October 24, 2004, Charter Commission Minutes. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON FINDELL DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 1. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS A. Ms. Skogen stated that there was one opening due to the resignation of Commissioner Garcia. The resignation was necessary due to Mr. Garcia moving out of the City of Fridley, which made him ineligible to serve on the Commission. The opening is posted on the web and on cable. Also discussed was Commissioner Johnson's inability to attend any meeting until next fall due to her work commitments. The Commissioners felt as long as it was excused it was okay. Commissioner Gerrity said that Commissioner Johnson would understand if there was someone that was eager to join the commission if the Commission were to request she resign due to her lack of ability to attend. Ms. Skogen stated that Commissioner Monden had not attended any meetings in the past year and had not called to say she would not be at any of the meetings. Chairperson Findell will contact Commissioner Monden to see what her intentions are and get back to Ms. Skogen prior to the January meeting so inform the rest of the Commission. Draft CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING OF NOVEMBER 22, 2004 PAGE 2 B. 2005 Calendar Ms. Skogen handed out the 2005 City Council Calendar so the Commissioners could determine their meeting dates for 2005. The past practice has been to meet on the 4"' Monday of the months they meet. Commissioner Gordon MOVED and Commissioner Borman seconded a motion to hold the 2005 Charter Commission meetings on the 4"' Monday of January, February, March, April, May, September, October and November. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON FINDELL DECLARED THE MOTION UNANIMOUS AND THE CALANDER WAS APPROVED. 2. DISCUSSION OF MISSION STATEMENT Commissioner Van Dan said she did not have anything prepared for this evening, but recommended that everyone come prepared to discuss this issue at the next meeting. 3. DISCUSSION OF GLOSSARY /INDEX Commissioner Van Dan addressed the Commission to let them know she did not care about what the City Attorney thought about changes to the glossary or index and that the Commission was not there to support the City Council but to be an oversight for the Council to defend individual rights. Commissioner Van Dan stated they were a sovereign, independent Commission all appointed by the Chief Judge of the District Court. Commissioner Van Dan felt the city council had try to impose a phony sales tax that they did not have authority to do and that after the voters adopted a new amendment to the Charter, the outgoing mayor worked with a group to water down the amendment. Chairperson Findell said that the committee was necessary because they had to work to find something that was acceptable to the bonding authorities and that it was necessary to re -write the amendment. Commissioner Van Dan felt that some members of the Charter Commission had met outside of the Commission to prepare an amendment that was what the City Manager had wanted. She said she had been on the Commission for a long time and felt that the Commission was doing business differently and started talking about a problem with her neighbor. Commissioner Findell asked how it was germane to the discussion of the glossary and requested clarification. Commissioner Van Dan stated the Commission had to be a watch dog and the Charter has to protect the individual citizen's rights. Chairperson Findell said that the Charter provides for a representative government to make decisions. He felt about 90% of the citizens approved with representative government and did not want to make the little decisions, like the cost of utility fees. There was further discussion and Commissioner Van Dan was ruled out of order. Chairperson Findell asked if there were further comments on the glossary /index and whether anyone had found any words to define in chapters 1 and 2. Commissioner Gordon suggested mayor pro tem be defined (Section 2.03. There was a discussion about who would replace the mayor on a temporary basis or if there was a vacancy. Currently the mayor pro tem would replace the mayor on a temporary basis and the councilmember at large would replace the mayor if there were a vacancy. Commissioner Gordon also suggested defining "enumeration" found in Section 1.02 Draft CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING OF NOVEMBER 22, 2004 Chairperson Findell suggested the Commissioners review Chapters 3 and 4 for the January meeting. 4. ITEMS FOR FUTURE DISCUSSION PAGE 3 Ms. Skogen suggested discussing the need for an absentee ballot board due to the increase in the number of absentee ballots. She will prepare information for the Commission for the January meeting. Commissioner Van Dan said she had no further comments at this time. ADJOURNMENT: MOTION by Commissioner Gordon seconded by Commissioner Braam to adjourn the meeting. UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON FINDELL DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED AND THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 8:10 P.M. Respectfully submitted, "axaw 6t? Jeo - Debra A. Skogen, City Clerk/Staff Liaison Draft Anita Gerrety, Secretary