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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009/03/11 - ADMIN - Minutes - Charter Commission - RegularOFFICIAL MINUTES CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA March 11, 2009 7:00 p.m. – Westwood Room City Hall 1. Call to Order Chair Fillbrandt called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. 2. Roll Call and Attendance Members Present: Gary Carlson, Lynne Carper, Jim de Lambert, Terry Dwyer, Brian Fiderlein, Steve Fillbrandt, Linda Jennings, Jim Kelly, Pat Skinner and Nathan Prosser. JC Beckstrand arrived at 7:15 p.m. Members Absent: Ken Gothberg, Jan Loftus and Brittney Turner. Others Present: Marcia Honold, Management Assistant/Charter Commission Liaison and Lisa Songle, Recording Secretary. 2a. Requests for Excused Absences Members Excused: Ken Gothberg, Jan Loftus and Brittney Turner. Ms. Honold informed the Commission that Commissioner Marilyn Hoeft had resigned from Charter and introduced new member Nathan Prosser. 3. Approval of Minutes – September 10, 2008 Chair Fillbrandt inquired if anyone had any changes to the minutes of May 14, 2008. It was requested that the second sentence of Item 5a, page 2, be revised to state “. . . to discuss two changes, removing ‘with the Charter Commission’. . .”; and On page 3, last sentence in Item 6, revised to state that “. . . he was not interested in running for Chair again”. It was moved by Commissioner Carper, seconded by Commissioner Dwyer to approve the minutes of September 10, 2008 as amended. Motion was unanimously approved, 10-0. 4a. Amendments to Charter Ms. Honold reviewed the Charter amendments to Section 5.06 Contracts – How Let and Section 3.10 regarding ordinance recodification that were passed by Council at their December 15, 2008 meeting. These changes took effect on March 25, 2009. 4b. Distribution of Bylaws and Charter Roster Bylaws -- Ms. Honold stated that the bylaws have been a standing agenda item for several meetings and was unclear if the issues had been resolved. Ms. Honold indicated that she didn’t recall that a motion to amend the Bylaws to deal with March issue had been made at the last meeting. Commissioner Fiderlein indicated that the city attorney had indicated that any meeting can be designated as the annual meeting. It was the recommendation of the commission to leave the Bylaws as adopted at the September 10, 2008 meeting. Charter Commission Official Minutes March 11, 2009 2 Roster – Ms. Honold indicated that some Consent forms from Commissioners remained outstanding and offered to transmit the roster electronically. The consensus of the Commission was that it could be transmitted electronically. 5a. Election of Officers Chair Fillbrandt indicated that Election of Officers needed to take place and inquired regarding interest of current officers. Ms. Loftus, although not in attendance, had indicated that she was not interested in seeking re-election as secretary. Chair Fillbrandt stated he was not seeking re-election. Chair Nominations: Commissioner Carper nominated Brian Fiderlein as Chair, which was second by Commissioner Carlson. Commissioner Fiderlein accepted. With no other nominations, Brian Fiderlein was elected unanimously as Chair It was moved by Commissioner Carper, seconded by Commissioner Carlson to nominate Commissioner Fiderlein as Chair of the Charter Commission until the next annual meeting of the Charter Commission. The motion was unanimously approved, 11-0. Vice Chair Nominations: Commissioner Carper nominated Commissioner Jennings who declined the nomination. Commissioner Kelly nominated Commission Skinner, which was seconded by Commissioner Jennings. Commissioner Skinner accepted. With no other nominations, Patrick Skinner was elected unanimously as Vice Chair. It was moved by Commissioner Kelly, seconded by Commissioner Jennings to nominate Commissioner Skinner as Vice Chair of the Charter Commission until the next annual meeting of the Charter Commission. The motion was unanimously approved, 11-0. Secretary Nominations: An inquiry was made regarding the duties. Ms. Honold indicated that the duties are as proofreader of the minutes as the City provides a recording secretary to the Commission, but if this Commission decides not to utilize those services, the duties can be expanded. The Commission desires to have a recording secretary. Commissioner Carper nominated himself as Secretary, with a second by Commissioner Jennings. With no other nominations, Lynne Carper was elected unanimously as Secretary. It was moved by Commissioner Carper, seconded by Commissioner Jennings to nominate Commissioner Carper as Secretary of the Charter Commission until the next annual meeting of the Charter Commission. The motion was unanimously approved, 11-0. 5b. Proposed Annual Report for District Court – Year 2008 Ms. Honold presented the Annual Report that was prepared for the Commission. With no amendments, Commissioner Fiderlein moved for approval of submission of the Annual Report to the District Court for 2008, which was seconded by Commissioner Dwyer. With no further discussion, the Commission voted unanimously for submission to the District Court of the 2008 Annual Report of the Charter Commission. It was moved by Commissioner Fiderlein, seconded by Commissioner Dwyer to submit the 2008 Charter Commission Annual Report to Hennepin County District Court. The motion was unanimously approved, 11-0. 5c. Paperless Agenda Charter Commission Official Minutes March 11, 2009 3 Ms. Honold presented the staff report on the transition to a paper agenda. She indicated that the City Council transitioned to paperless agenda in late 2007 for environmental and transparency reasons. Ms. Honold indicated that currently there is no section on the city’s website for the Charter Commission. Ms. Honold inquired if this is something the Commission wanted to consider. Commissioner Carper inquired if the City Charter was available on the website. Ms. Honold indicated that yes it was, as part of the City Code. Commissioner Fiderlein expressed his desire to have the minutes and Charter on the website for the public aspect. Chair Fillbrandt and Commissioner Beckstrand agreed. An inquiry was made regarding the availability of archived information. The Commission indicated their desire to investigate this opportunity further. 6. Future Meetings Chair Fillbrandt deferred future projects/needs to Commissioner Fiderlein. Incoming Chair Fiderlein requested suggestions for items for the Commission to work on. It was decided that the Commission would reconvene in September to receive an update regarding the Commission’s presence on the City’s website and paperless agenda. Commissioners Jennings inquired if there was any legislation that would require them to meet. Commissioner Carlson indicated that there was a bill to allow Council’s amendment to Section 410, but it wouldn’t affect the City’s Charter. Commissioner Carper reminded the Commission that they can call a meeting if needed. Ms. Honold informed the group that Minneapolis has passed the first round with respect to Instant Runoff Voting. It was the consensus of the Commission that they did not want to do anything at this time but it can be discussed with incoming Chair Fiderlein. The next meeting of the Charter Commission is called for Wednesday, September 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the Westwood Room. 7. Communications Commissioner Beckstrand requested that Commissioner Carlson update the Commission on the state tort claims liability modification of Senator Latz. Commissioner Carlson indicated they would be reinstating the state cap and that the bill moved forward. Commissioner Fillbrandt inquired if electronic distribution of Charter materials (agenda, minutes, etc). was allowed. It was indicated that the bylaws would be reviewed to see if there was anything mentioned regarding mailed verus other methods of distribution. Commissioner Beckstrand indicated he would like the Commission to explore two items – historic preservation and green space, and felt that this was the appropriate platform. Commissioner Beckstrand indicated that he would do some background work with respect to these possibilities and report back at the next meeting. Ms. Honold informed the group that the results of a community survey had just been released and encouraged all Commissioners to visit the City’s website to view the survey. She thanked the Commission their work, indicating that our Charter is used as a model by many other cities. 8. Adjournment There being no further business to discuss, Chair Fillbrandt called for a motion to adjourn. Charter Commission Official Minutes March 11, 2009 4 Motion by Commissioner Kelley, seconded by Commissioner Beckstrand to adjourn the meeting at 7:47 p.m. The motion passed unanimously. Respectfully submitted by: Lisa Songle, Recording Secretary