CHM 02/22/2010 - 29990CITY OF FRIDLEY
CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING
February 22, 2010
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairperson Soule called the Charter Commission meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Members Present: Commissioners Peter Borman, Gary Braam, Marion Flickinger, Carol Hoiby, Bill Holm,
Rick Nelson, Pam Reynolds, Noel Ryan and Cindy Soule
Members Absent: Commissioners Don Findell, Nancy Jorgenson, Ted Kranz, Lois Scholzen and Keith
Shaw
Others Present: Deb Skogen, City Clerk and Cindy Ruschy, Staff Liaison
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Commissioner Braam MOVED and Commissioner Ryan seconded a motion approving the meeting agenda.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOULE DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Reynolds suggested the word "tile" be changed to "title" on the top paragraph of page 3.
Commissioner Braam MOVED and Commissioner Ryan seconded a motion approving the Charter Commission
meeting minutes of January 25, 2010. with the change to page 3.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOULE DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
A. Report of Nominating Committee
Commissioner Hoiby reviewed the Nominating Committee Report making the recommendation that Cindy
Soule serve as Chairperson, Rick Nelson serve as Vice Chair and Carol Hoiby serve as secretary for the year
2010 -11. The actual election will take place at the March meeting.
B. Review of By -Laws Amendment
Chairperson Soule viewed the 2010 proposed by -law amendment. The vote on this amendment will take place
at the March meeting.
C. Reappointment of Commissioners
Commissioner Holm MOVED and Commissioner Hoiby seconded a motion to recommend the reappointment
of Commissioners Flickinger, Kranz and Ryan to serve an additional four year term and to submit their names
to the Chief Judge upon the approval of Commissioner Kranz electing to serve an additional term.
Adopted 03 -22 -2010
CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING OF FEBRUARY 22, 2010 PAGE 2
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOULE DECLARED THE MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
DISCUSSION OF CHAPTER 7 — HOLM AMENDMENT
The Commission discussed the proposed amendments to Chapter 7. Commissioner Reynolds did not want to see
recycling taken out of fees because the original petitioners for this language meant to include them. She suggested
the City turn recycling back to Anoka County.
Commissioner Borman didn't understand why the City couldn't charge the actual cost for the service because this
service was mandated by the State. He suggested turning recycling back to the citizens and letting them pay for it
individually from their garbage service. He said he was tired of big government and wanted to know what kind of
controls Commissioner Reynolds wanted to place on the City
Commissioner Reynolds said she did not think the City was required to provide recycling services; and that the
County does not have a program.
Commissioner Holm said it is the same argument as the water and sewer and the voters said not to make changes.
He said while recycling was a big industry, the cost fluctuates and the citizens should pay the cost.
Commissioner Reynolds said the contract offers profit sharing and that single store — no rebates would cost more
money.
Deb Skogen asked Commissioner Reynolds if the language were changed to omit recycling from fees if a
referendum petition would again be circulated.
Commissioner Reynolds said yes, if additional fees were created.
Commissioner Nelson said without taking recycling fees, the city could not recoup recycling fees.
Commissioner Holm thought the City would have to go to the voters.
Commissioner Hoiby said this was their city and they needed to support their city.
Commissioner Holm said some people did not want to support the city.
Commissioner Ryan wanted to know who "these people" were — and why they want to run the city.
The Commissioners discussed the volatility of recycling products; that the prices charged can change daily to
weekly to monthly, and that there are warehouses full of paper stock. They then briefly discussed how many
people they thought recycling in the City.
Commissioner Flickinger said recycling fees were not an issue 10 years ago.
Chairperson Soule suggested going through the amendment section by section.
Commissioner Hoiby MOVED and Commissioner Nelson seconded a motion to review each proposal separately.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, THE MOTION PASSED 7 -1 -1 WITH COMMISSIONER HOLM VOTING NAY AND
COMMISSIONER REYNOLDS ABSTAINING.
Commissioner Holm MOVED and Commissioner Braam seconded a motion to revise Section 7.02.2.D. back to
51% of the votes cast rather than a majority of the votes cast.
Adopted 03 -22 -2010
CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING OF FEBRUARY 22, 2010 PAGE 3
UPON A VOICE VOTE, THE MOTION PASSED 7 -2 WITH COMMISSIONERS BORMAN AND RYAN
VOTING NO.
Commissioner Reynolds MOVED and Commissioner Holm seconded a motion to keep recycling fees in Section
7.02.3.A and to remove recycling fees in Section 7.02.3.13 or for clarification purposes to make no changes in these
two sections.
Commissioner Holm said while he would prefer to remove recycling from fees, he could compromise and leave it
in because of the additional 2% allowed in Section 7.02.1. that it can add.
Commissioner Ryan said she did not see where the Commission was compromising.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, THE MOTION PASSED 5 TO 4 WITH COMMISSIONERS RYAN, NELSON, HOIBY
AND BORMAN VOTING NAY.
Commissioner Holm MOVED and Commissioner Braam seconded a motion changing Section 7.02.3.D.4 from
majority of the votes cast on the ballot question to 51% of the votes cast on the ballot question.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, THE MOTION PASSED 7 -2 WITH COMMISSIONERS RYAN AND BORMAN
VOTING NAY.
Commissioner Nelson MOVED and Commissioner Braam seconded a motion that Section 7.02.4 be moved from
Section 7.02.3
UPON A VOICE VOTE, THE MOTION PASSED 8 -1 WITH COMMISSIONER BORMAN ABSTAINING.
Commissioner Borman would like to see this amendment come back for more review.
DISCUSSION OF CHAPTERS 4 AND 5 PERTAINING TO ELECTIONS
Deb Skogen reviewed the legislative changes that are occurring and that the State Primary has been changed from
September to August. She said the Commission should review these sections of the Charter based on the changes,
but that the changes may not be complete until the end of April or beginning of May.
Commissioner Borman MOVED and Commissioner Holm seconded a motion tabling the discussion of Chapters 4
and 5 until staff was informed as to the changes.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
ADJOURNMENT:
Commissioner Nelson MOVED and Commissioner Ryan seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON SOULE DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED
AND THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 8:10 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Debra A. Skogen,
City Clerk/Staff Liaison
Carol Hoiby, Secretary
Adopted 03 -22 -2010
Adopted 03 -22 -2010