HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008/05/14 - ADMIN - Minutes - Charter Commission - RegularOFFICIAL MINUTES
CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
May 14, 2008
7:00 p.m. – Westwood Room City Hall
1. Call to Order
Chair Fillbrandt called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
2. Roll Call and Attendance
Members Present: JC Beckstrand, Gary Carlson, Lynne Carper, Jim de Lambert, Terry Dwyer,
Brian Fiderlein, Steve Fillbrandt, Ken Gothberg, Linda Jennings, Jim Kelly, Janice Loftus, Pat
Skinner and Brittney Turner. Marilyn Hoeft arrived at 7:13 p.m.
Members Absent: John Orenstein.
Others Present: Marcia Honold, Management Assistant/Charter Commission Liaison and Lisa
Songle, Recording Secretary.
2a. Requests for Excused Absences
Members Excused: John Orenstein.
2b. Introduction of New Members
New Members JC Beckstrand, Terry Dwyer and Brittney Turner were introduced and welcomed
to the Charter Commission.
2c. 2008 Term Expirations
Ms. Honold advised the Commission regarding the upcoming term expirations of Commissioners
Lynne Carper on October 4, 2008 and Pat Skinner on November 21, 2008. Ms. Honold stated
that if those Commissioners with expiring terms were interested in reappointment, letters would
need to be submitted to District Court Chief Judge Lucy Wieland. If reappointment is not
sought, the City will need to solicit candidates for those openings.
Commissioner Gothberg asked staff to update the roster to reflect his recent reappointment and
new term expiration of June 19, 2011.
3. Approval of Minutes – March 14, 2007
Secretary Loftus requested that her name be spelled correctly on page 2, paragraph 4. Secretary
Loftus also pointed out a misspelling and requested a correction to Judge Wieland’s name on
page 2, section 6a., paragraph 3.
It was moved by Secretary Loftus, seconded by Vice Chair Fiderlein to approve the minutes of
March 14, 2007 as amended. The motion passed 12-0-2 with Commissioners Hoeft and Jennings
abstaining.
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Vice Chair Fiderlein requested that prior to proceeding further that the Agenda be and item 5a
Election of Official be moved to ahead of Item 4, Old Business.
It was moved by Vice Chair Fiderlein, seconded by Commissioner Kelly to approve a change in
the Agenda to move the Election of Officers from New Business to before Old Business. The
motion passed unanimously.
5a. Election of Officers
Chair Fillbrandt moved for nominations.
Commissioner Fiderlein nominated Chair Fillbrandt for Chair. Chair Fillbrandt acknowledged,
appreciated and accepted the nomination. Commissioner Carper nominated Vice Chair Fiderlein
for Chair who declined the nomination. An election was held and Chair Fillbrandt was
unanimously voted in to remain as Chair.
It was moved by Commissioner Fiderlein, seconded by Commissioner Gothberg to approve Steve
Fillbrandt as Chair of the Charter Commission, assuming these responsibilities at the present
meeting and serving until the next annual meeting of the Charter Commission. The motion
passed unanimously.
Commissioner Carper nominated Vice Chair Fiderlein for Vice Chair. Vice Chair Fiderlein
acknowledged, appreciated and accepted the nomination. An election was held and Vice Chair
Fiderlein was unanimously voted in to remain as Vice Chair.
It was moved by Commissioner Loftus, seconded by Commissioner Kelly to approve Brian
Fiderlein as Vice Chair of the Charter Commission, assuming these responsibilities at the
present meeting and serving until the next annual meeting of the Charter Commission. The
motion passed unanimously.
Commissioner Fiderlein nominated Secretary Loftus for Secretary. Secretary Loftus
acknowledged, appreciated and accepted the nomination. An election was held and Secretary
Loftus was unanimously voted in to remain as Secretary.
It was moved by Vice Chair Fiderlein, seconded by Commissioner Hoeft to approve Jan Loftus
as Secretary of the Charter Commission, assuming these responsibilities at the present meeting
and serving until the next annual meeting of the Charter Commission. The motion passed 13-0-1
with Secretary Loftus abstaining.
4. Old Business
4a. Charter Bylaws – Housekeeping Item
Ms. Honold requested a housekeeping change to the Charter Bylaws and that the Commission
consider removing the March reference to the annual meeting in Section 9b as suggested by the
City’s attorney. The change was being suggested to the allow flexibility in the annual meeting of
the Charter Commission which is required by law to meet at least once during each calendar
year.
After much discussion, the Commission decided to table the item to their next meeting scheduled
for September 10, 2008 and requested that staff look further in to the annual meeting
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requirements and how a date change would affect official terms and to bring that information
back to the Commission.
It was moved by Commissioner Carper, seconded by Vice Chair Fiderlein to approve the May
14, 2008 meeting of the Charter Commission as the Annual Meeting of the Charter Commission
for 2008. The motion passed unanimously.
4b. Roster of Members
Ms. Honold informed the Commission regarding release of private data and the request for a
roster of Charter Commission members for internal and external purposes. Presently law permits
only the release of the name of commissioners without a signed release. It was the consensus of
the Commission that staff send out the Tennessen Warning to the Commission along with a
Private Data Release Form and that a membership roster be built based on the information
returned from the Commission on Private Data Release Form.
5. New Business
5a. Item moved after Item No. 3, Approval of Minutes.
5b. Proposed Annual Report for District Court – Year 2007
Ms. Honold reviewed the Annual Report for the Commission. Commissioner Carper inquired
about approval by the Commission of the report with Ms. Honold replying that a motion by the
Commission approving the Annual Report was needed.
It was moved by Commissioner Carper, seconded by Commissioner Dwyer to approve the
Annual Report of the St. Louis Park, Minnesota, Charter Commission for District Court for Year
2007 as presented. The motion passed unanimously.
5c. Legislative Update
Ms. Honold updated the Commission on legislative items affecting Charter Commissions,
including Best Value Contracting. Ms. Honold then deferred to Commissioner Carlson who
works for the League of Minnesota Cities, to provide an overview of this year’s legislative
session.
6. Future Meetings
6a. Determine future projects/needs
Chair Fillbrandt solicited the Commission regarding any future projects or needs and the
following items were discussed:
• Potential Bylaw Changes;
• Charter Changes based on Legislative Action
• Election of Officers
• Best Value Contracting
Vice Chair Fiderlein inquired of Staff to check with City Council regarding anything they may
want the Charter Commission to look in to.
The Commission set their next meeting for September 10, 2008.
It was moved by Commissioner Kelly, seconded by Commissioner deLambert to set the next
meeting of the Charter Commission for September 10, 2008. The motion passed unanimously.
Communications
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8. Adjournment
There being no further business to discuss, Chair Fillbrandt called for a motion to adjourn.
Motion by Vice Chair Fiderlein, seconded by Commissioner Hoeft to adjourn the meeting at
8:13 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted by:
Lisa Songle, Recording Secretary