HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003/05/14 - ADMIN - Minutes - Charter Commission - RegularOFFICIAL MINUTES
CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
May 14, 2003
Council Chambers, City Hall
I. Call to Order
Chair Carver called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
Introductions and Attendance
On April 29, 2003, Chief Judge Kevin S. Burke appointed Irving Lynne Carper to the
Charter Commission. Commissioner Carper’s term shall expire on October 4, 2004.
On April 29, 2003, Chief Judge Kevin S. Burke appointed Steve Fillbrandt to the Charter
Commission. Commissioner Fillbrandt’s term shall expire on January 22, 2006.
The Charter Commission welcomed Commissioner Carper and Commissioner Fillbrandt.
It was moved by Commissioner Ornstein, seconded by Commissioner Ernst, to excuse the
absences of the following members: Nathan Busch and James Schaefer.
The motion passed 12-0.
Mr. Pires said he will no longer be the staff liaison for the Charter Commission. Ms.
Reichert will replace Mr. Pires as the staff liaison.
A. Members Present: Paul Carver, Carol Walsh, Marilyn Hoeft, Irving Carper, Cheryl
Ernst, Steve Fillbrandt, Linda Jennings, David Johnson, Janice Loftus, Michelle
Olmstead, David Ornstein, and Michael Sixel.
Brian Fiderlein arrived at 7:13 p.m.
B. Members Excused: Nathan Busch, James Schaefer
C. Members Unexcused: None
D. Staff Present: Deputy City Manager Clint Pires; City Clerk Cindy Reichert; St. Louis
Park League of Women Voters Celia Andersen; and Recording Secretary Linda Samson.
E. Vacancies: None.
II. Approval of Minutes of March 12, 2003
Commissioner Hoeft requested that for Item V, page 3, paragraph 1, line 1, will have be
changed to is planning.
It was moved by Commissioner Hoeft, seconded by Commissioner Olmstead, to approve
the minutes of March 12, 2003 as amended.
The motion passed 12-0.
Charter Meeting Minutes -2- May 14, 2003
III. 2004 Charter Celebration/Civic Education Opportunities: Task Force Update
Commissioner Walsh said she and Commissioner Jennings and Commissioner Loftus met
with the League of Women Voters.
Commissioner Fiderlein arrived at 7:14 p.m.
Commissioner Loftus suggested inviting current and past mayors, city managers, and
commissioners to attend a dinner with the League of Women Voters and/or an open
house type of event. Ms. Anderson said the League of Women Voters has an elementary
and a high school curriculum called “Skills for Democracy,” and the League of Women
Voters is willing to go into the schools. Commissioner Loftus said the League of
Minnesota Cities has charter information, however, they can not help with any
educational implementation of it.
Commissioner Jennings said the educational component could be scheduled to start in the
spring and fall of 2004. Commissioner Loftus stated that Parktacular could be viewed as
an initiator of events.
Any hope to raise funds through the Minnesota Humanities Commission grant has been
dashed and will probably not happen.
Mr. Pires recommended the Charter Commission maintain communication with the City
Council to affirm the Charter Commission’s direction for the celebration.
Chair Carver said a timeline and status report should be given to the Business Council,
and a status report to the City Council.
Ms. Reichert suggested contacting Cindy Walsh, Director of Parks and Recreation, and
request that Rick Birno, Recreation Superintendent, be involved.
Mr. Pires suggested contacting Lynn Schwartz, Editor of the Park Perspective.
Commissioner Jennings said she has talked to several school principals, and will contact
a school communication director.
Commissioner Carper and Commissioner Olmstead volunteered to help with fundraising.
Commissioner Sixel suggested raising money for the St. Louis Park Community Fund
with an underlying theme of “for the next 50 years.”
Commissioner Walsh suggested the Charter Commission make a donation to the St.
Louis Park Community Fund.
From Commissioner Hoeft, one more marketing technique would be to send information
home with school children.
Commissioner Carper suggested the possibility of a permanent kiosk in one or more high
traffic areas; he also suggested talking to the St. Louis Park Business Council.
Charter Meeting Minutes -3- May 14, 2003
Chair Carver requested that information home with children (students) be added to the
Marketing section of the 2004 St. Louis Park Charter Celebration list.
Commissioner Olmstead said small, local foundations may be interested in the Charter
Celebration, the Commission would just need to do some research.
It was mentioned that some printing could, perhaps, be done by the City. Ms. Reichert
suggested contacting printers and offer them a tag line in exchange for printing.
IV. National Civic League Model City Charter, 8th Edition
Mr. Pires distributed an article on “Renewing the Model City Charter: The Making of the
Eighth Edition” by Christopher T. Gates and Robert Loper from Public Management. He
said the Model City Charter (8th ed.) will arrive in the spring, and it may be another
source for the City’s Charter Celebration.
Commissioner Hoeft distributed information on instant runoff voting.
V. Commissioner Vacancy Status
There are no vacancies on the Charter Commission.
VI. Future Meetings
The next meeting of the charter Commission will be July 9, 2003 at 7:00 p.m.
VII. Adjournment
As there was no other business, at 8:45 p.m., it was moved by Commissioner Fiderlein,
seconded by Commissioner Jennings, to adjourn. The motion passed 11-0.
Minutes prepared by: Respectfully submitted by:
Linda Samson Cynthia Reichert
Recording Secretary City Staff Liaison and City Clerk