CHM 04/25/2005 - 00027091CITY OF FRIDLEY
CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING
April 25, 2005
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairperson Jorgenson called the Charter Commission meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Members Present: Peter Borman, Gary Braam, Don Findell, Anita Gerrety, Craig Gordon, Nancy
Jorgenson, Kathleen Linder, Pam Reynolds, Cindy Soule and Francis Van Dan
Members Absent: Char Fitzpatrick, Carol Hoiby, Bill Holm, and Janet Johnson
Others Present: Deb Skogen, City Clerk/Staff Liaison
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Commissioner Gordon MOVED and Commissioner Braam seconded a MOTION to approve the agenda.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JORGENSON DECLARED THE MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
APPROVAL OF MARCH 28, 2005, CHARTER COMMISSION MINUTES:
Commissioner Gordon MOVED and Commissioner Borman SECONDED a motion to approve the March 28,
2005, Charter Commission Minutes.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JORGENSON DECLARED THE MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
1. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
Deb Skogen explained that letters were sent to the Court regarding the termination of Commissioner Monden and
the appointments and reappointments. At the present time there is one opening left.
2. DISCUSSION OF MISSION STATEMENT
Chairperson Jorgenson explained that during Commissioner Van Dan's absence, Commissioner Soule agreed to
facilitate a discussion of the mission statement.
Commissioner Van Dan said that Commissioner Soule provided five mission statements as examples and felt it
was important to identify what the Charter Commission's duties were, not who or what the Commission was
because that was in the state statutes.
Chairperson Jorgenson said there were a lot of people in the community who had no idea what the Charter
Commission. She understood Commissioner Van Dan's concern that the mission statement describe the duties of
the Commission; but she also felt important that the mission statement include who the Charter Commission was.
FINE
CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING OF APRIL 25, 2005
PAGE 2
Commissioner Van Dan felt the Commission did not accomplish putting together a mission statement at the last
meeting.
Commissioners Borman and Linder both agreed the Commission had worked as a team to come up with the
mission statement they did.
Commissioner Van Dan disagreed and felt they should readdress the mission statement.
Commissioner Soule said that the mission statement was put in the minutes and commissioners were to have
thought about it between meetings.
Commissioners Soule and Reynolds were both unsure of the last sentence and wondered it should be left out as it
belonged to the elected officials.
Chairperson Jorgenson said the job described in the last sentence really belonged to the city manager and felt they
needed more discussion.
Commissioner Van Dan said they should say the Charter, just like the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights,
grants certain rights to the cities as to how they want to be governed. She said the power emanates from the
people, although they are not elected
Commissioner Gordon said most mission statements are usually short, maybe a paragraph or so. Commissioners
Gordon and Soule then began to facilitate the discussion to begin rewriting the mission statement. After the
discussion, this is the following mission statement that was agreed on by those present:
The Fridley home rule charter is the fundamental law by which city
government has to operate. The Charter Commission is comprised of
court appointed citizens under Minnesota state law. The Commission,
in response to the needs of the community or state legislature,
discusses and refines the charter. Changes to the charter can also be
initiated by the citizens.
ADJOURNMENT:
Commissioner Gordon MOVED and Commissioner Van Dan seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON JORGENSON DECLARED THE MOTION
CARRIED AND THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 8:15 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra A. Skogen,
City Clerk/Staff Liaison
FINE
Kathleen Linder, Secretary