CHM 09/09/2013
CITY OF FRIDLEY
CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING
September 9, 2013
CALL TO ORDER:
Chairperson Nelson called the Charter Commission meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
Deb Skogen received the order from the Court appointing Novella Ollawore and Richard Walch that day.
Commissioners Ollawore, Walch, Findell, Jorgenson, and Reiland took the oath of office for their appointment or
reappointment.
ROLL CALL:
Members Present: Commissioners Borman, Braam, Findell, Jorgenson, Kranz, Nelson, Ollawore, Reiland,
Reynolds, and Walch
Members Absent: Commissioners Flickinger, Hoiby, Holm, Scholzen and Soule
Others Present: Deb Skogen, City Clerk/Staff Liaison
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Commissioner Braam MOVED and Commissioner Reiland seconded a motion approving the meeting agenda.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON NELSON DECLARED THE MOTION
CARRIED.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Braam MOVED and Commissioner Findell seconded a motion approving the Charter Commission
meeting minutes of May 6, 2013.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON NELSON DECLARED THE MOTION
CARRIED.
ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS
A. Legislative Update
Deb Skogen reviewed the 2013 legislative updates to election law. She none of changes affected the
Charter. Absentee ballot voting can now be down without providing an excuse. Election administrators
are able to process absentee ballots seven days before Election Day. The number of individuals a voter
may vouch for was decreased from 15 to 8. With the new election equipment, the language was amended
to remove one compartment in the ballot box no longer requiring the division between write in and non-
write in ballots. Lastly, there are five pilot cities that will use electronic rosters for registration on
Election Day and they will provide feedback to the Electronic Roster Task Force. The one other change,
unrelated to elections, was allowing cities to have a tax exempt status from sales tax, with the exception of
municipal liquor stores.
DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATION OF AMENDING CHAPTERS 7, 8, 11 AND 12
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Deb Skogen said since the May 6 meeting she had reviewed the Council and Charter minutes pertaining to
Section 8.01. She also talked with Community Development Director Hickok regarding terminology in the
Comprehensive Plan. The current charter reads “transportation lines”, the changes made by the Commission in
May were “transportation modes, corridors, and/or facilities”. After reviewing the language in the Comprehensive
Plan with Director Hickok, they agreed it would be appropriate to use the same terminology as the Comprehensive
Plan and the Metropolitan Council. The suggested language was “public transportation services and facilities”.
Adopted 10/07/2013
CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 9, 2013 PAGE 2
After discussing the wording in that section, it was suggested some changes were needed and they decided to list
the items separately as bullet points, hopefully making it a little easier to understand. The language would be
stricken after, “It may include provisions for….” with a colon placed after “for:” with bullet points reading as
follows:
“…It may include provisions for:
Zoning;
Platting and development of new areas;
Planning and location of public works of art;
Public buildings;
Parks;
Playgrounds;
Bridges;
Public transportation services and facilities;
Other public facilities;
Designing and improving streets;
Designing and improving public places;
Other matters which may seem essential to the City plan.”
The Commissioners then discussed the required total needed for voting to Section 8.05 and Section 11. 08, whether
each section should remain the same as written or have the same language making it more consistent. After some
discussion, the Commissioners recommended changing Section 11.08 to read:
“…abolition of the commission will be at the discretion of the Council by a majority shall require an affirmative
vote of at least four (4) members of the City Council.”
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After reviewing the additional changes made May 6, the Commissioners determined the amendments were
completed.
Commission Borman MOVED and Commissioner Kranz seconded a motion recommending the ordinance be
returned to the City Council as amended for them to continue the public hearing and adoption.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, THE VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS AND CHAIRPERSON
NELSON DECLARED THE MOTION CARRIED.
DISCUSSION OF BYLAWS
The Bylaws were reviewed to discuss the feasibility of providing for electronic voting. In May it was determined
that if something was urgent and those at the meeting determined they wanted more input, that electronic voting
might be a possibility. After further discussion, it was determined that this would be considered public information
and the Commissioners preferred to have their e-mail address continue to be private and not allow electronic
voting.
A question was raised as to whether electronic voting would violate the open meeting law. Deb Skogen said she
was not sure whether or not it would violate the open meeting law.
There was further discussion about allowing a member to attend a meeting electronically. Deb Skogen said the
individual would have to be in a location that would be open to the public, same as at the meeting itself. She was
not sure if a notice had to be posted. The Commissioners felt that may be the direction of the future and asked if
she could provide additional information at the next meeting.
After further review of the Bylaws, the following amendments were made:
Adopted 10/07/2013
CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 9, 2013 PAGE 3
III. MEETINGS
A. “Commission meetings shall will be held in the Fridley City Hall Municipal Center; or a designated
public location upon proper notice.”
C. “Special meetings….a special meeting upon proper notice.
D. “Number of appointed Charter Commission Members”
Commissioner Reiland MOVED and Commissioner Braam seconded a motion recommending the changes and
sending it to all Commission members at least two weeks before the next meeting, as required by the Bylaws to
allow the Commissioners to vote at the next meeting.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON NELSON DECLARED THE MOTION
CARRIED.
Deb Skogen will prepare the proposed amended bylaws and mail to all Commissioners as soon as possible after the
meeting, but at least two weeks before the next meeting.
DISCUSSION OF CHAPTER 1
Commissioner Jorgenson MOVED and Commissioner Borman seconded a motion tabling the discussion of
Chapter 1.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON NELSON DECLARED THE MOTION
CARRIED.
DISCUSSION OF PROS AND CONS OF BEING CHARTER CITY
Commissioner Borman MOVED and Commissioner Jorgenson seconded a motion tabling the discussion on the
pros and cons of being a charter city to the February 2014 meeting.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON NELSON DECLARED THE MOTION
CARRIED.
FUTURE MEETING TOPICS
Chairperson Nelson said the next meeting would include the following topics:
Amendment of Bylaws
Remote Meetings/Data Practices
Chapter 1
ADJOURNMENT:
Commissioner Borman MOVED and Commissioner Jorgenson seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting.
UPON A VOICE VOTE, ALL VOTING AYE, CHAIRPERSON NELSON DECLARED THE MOTION
CARRIED AND THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 8:31 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
________________________ ________________________
Debra A. Skogen, Commissioner Donald Findell, Secretary
City Clerk/Staff Liaison
Adopted 10/07/2013