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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007/03/14 - ADMIN - Minutes - Charter Commission - RegularOFFICIAL MINUTES CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA March 14, 2007 7:00 p.m. – Westwood Room City Hall 1. Call to Order Chair Carper called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. 2. Roll Call and Attendance Members Present: Gary Carlson, Lynne Carper, Brian Fiderlein, Steve Fillbrandt, Tessia Gardner, Ken Gothberg, Jim Kelly, Janice Loftus, John Orenstein and Pat Skinner. Members Absent: Jim de Lambert, Cheryl Ernst, Marilyn Hoeft, Linda Jennings and William Wernz. Others Present: Marcia Honold, Management Assistant/Charter Commission Liaison and Lisa Songle, Recording Secretary. 2a. Requests for Excused Absences Members Excused: Linda Jennings, Jim de Lambert, Marilyn Hoeft. 3. Approval of Minutes – October 30, 2006 Commissioner Gardner requested that her name be added as having attended the October 30, 2006 meeting; that in Section 3., Approval of Minutes, the language be revised to state “to approve the amended minutes of May 22, 2006.”; and that in Section 4(b), Sub-committee reports (IRV and Elections Procedures), that the language in the second paragraph be revised to state “. . .and did not believe that any modifications should be made to the Charter at this time. It was moved by Commissioner Carlson, seconded by Commissioner Fillbrandt, to approve the minutes of October 30, 2006 as amended. The motion passed unanimously. 4. Old Business – There was no old business to discuss. 5. New Business Ms. Honold requested a motion for an agenda change to the order of 5a. and 5b. Chair Carper made an agenda change to the order of 5 a. and 5 b. 5a. Proposed Annual Report for District Court – Year 2006 Ms. Honold reviewed the Annual Report for the Commission. Commissioner Orenstein requested a change in the second to the last paragraph to read “. . .they found that St. Louis Park’s signature and fee requirements were higher. . .”. It was moved by Commissioner Skinner, seconded by Commissioner Loftus, to approve the Annual Report of the St. Louis Park, Minnesota, Charter Commission for District Court for Year 2006 as amended. The motion passed unanimously. Charter Commission Official Minutes March 14, 2007 2 5b. Election of Officers Ms. Honold advised the Commission of the three available positions, Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary. She advised the Commission that Commissioner Jennings did not want to seek reappointment as Secretary. Chair Carper requested nominations for Chair. Commissioner Loftus nominated current Vice Chair Commissioner Fillbrandt who acknowledged, appreciated and accepted the nomination. An election was held and Commissioner Fillbrandt was unanimously voted in as Chair. Commissioner Fillbrandt will assume his duties as Chair at the next meeting. Chair Carper requested nominations for Vice Chair. There being no nominations, Commissioner Fiderlein volunteered to serve as Vice Chair. An election was held and Commissioner Fiderlein was unanimously voted in as Vice Chair. Commissioner Fiderlein will assume his duties as Vice Chair at the next meeting. Chair Carper requested nominations for Secretary. There being no nominations, Commissioner Loftus volunteered to serve as Secretary. An election was held and Commissioner Loftus was unanimously voted in as Secretary. Commissioner Loftus will assume her duties as Secretary at the next meeting. Ms. Honold advised the Commission regarding the upcoming term expirations of Commissioner Gothberg on June 19, 2007 and Commissioner Ernst on November 18, 2007. Ms. Honold stated that if Commissioners Gothberg and Ernst are interested in reappointment, letters would need to be submitted to District Court Chief Judge Lucy Wieland for reappointment in mid-May for Commissioner Gothberg and in mid-October for Commissioner Ernst. If they are not interested in reappointment, the City would need to solicit candidates for these openings. 6. Future Meetings 6a. Determine future projects/needs Chair Carper requested advice of Ms. Honold regarding any future projects or needs. Ms. Honold advised the Commission regarding a City Council requested change to the start time of their study session meetings to 6:30 p.m. instead of 7:00 p.m. but didn’t believe that it required any attention of the Commission. She also indicated that many items are being considered at the legislature and if there is anything that would impact the City and its Charter the Commission would be notified to call a meeting. Ms. Honold advised that Commission that by statute they are only required to meet annually. Chair Carper stated that he sees no reason to have a meeting before October, 2007. However, if there is activity before that time, incoming Chair Fillbrandt will call a meeting. The Commission set their next meeting for October 10, 2007. Commissioner Gardner informed the Commission that she is getting married in August and will be moving to Minnetonka. Ms. Honold informed the Commission that she will no longer be able to serve and that they will need to inform Judge Wieland. The City will advertise for a replacement. Commissioner Gardner’s commission expires on January 19, 2010. Charter Commission Official Minutes March 14, 2007 3 7. Communications Ms. Honold informed the Commission of two upcoming events: 1) that the City Council set a regular schedule for recognition of volunteers on our boards and commissions, with the first being set for April 16; 2) there will be a session for all board and commission volunteers on Parliamentary Procedure on April 30. Chair Carper inquired of Commissioner Loftus regarding the vision process. Commissioner Loftus informed the Commission that she is not an active participant but encouraged the Commission to view the State of City address to Twin West which is broadcast on the City’s website in which City Manager Harmening and Mayor Jacobs gave excellent presentations, some which touched on the vision process. Ms. Honold advised the Commission about a recent Council workshop which focused on Vision and at which four strategic directions over an 18- month period will be formally presented to the Council on Monday, March 19, 2007. Ms. Honold offered to forward the staff report to Commission if desired. 8. Adjournment There being no further business to discuss, Chair Carper called for a motion to adjourn. Motion by Commissioner Carlson, seconded by Commissioner Gardner, to adjourn the meeting at 7:35 p.m. The motion passed 10-0. There was a motion by Commissioner Gothberg, seconded by Commissioner Skinner to thank Chair Carper for his service as Chair to the Commission. The motion passed 9-0, with Commissioner Carper abstained. Respectfully submitted by: Lisa Songle, Recording Secretary