HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017/08/21 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session®rl$t. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES
M I N N E S O T A CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
AUGUST 21, 2017
The meeting convened at 7:05 p.m.
Councilmembers present: Tim Brausen, Steve Ilallfin, Anne Mavity, Thom Miller, and Susan
Sanger.
Councilmembers absent: Mayor Jake Spann and Gregg Lindberg.
Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), City Attorney (Mr. Mattick), Deputy City
Manager/Human Resources Director (Ms. Deno), City Clerk (Ms. Kennedy), and Recording
Secretary (Ms. Pappas).
Guest: None
1. Campaign Contribution Limits
Mayor Pro Tem Sanger requested a summary on this topic
Mr. Harmening stated that the City Chatter limits campaign contributions to $250 per year, and
State Statute limits campaign contributions to $600 in an election year. After several questions
from candidates to staff on this issue, the city attorney was asked to provide a legal opinion on
which provision should govern.
Mr. Mattick explained after thorough review of the language in statute, his opinion is that the
statute governs in this specific instance, and a candidate may accept contributions up to $600 in
an election year. He stated the legislature increased the contribution limits in 2014 and it is clear
that there was intent to make sure this provision of statute would supersede home rule charter
provisions related specifically to campaign contribution limits.
Councilmember Hallfrn asked what the information in the candidate filing packet said regarding
campaign contributions. Ms. Kennedy stated each candidate receives a copy of the Charter
provision which limits individual contributions to $250 per year. The reporting form, produced
by the secretary of state's office, contains the language from statute which limits individual
campaign contributions to $600 in an election year.
Mayor Pro Tem Sanger stated although she understood the reasoning behind Mr. Mattick's legal
opinion, she was not happy about the fact that the statute challenged local control and cities were
not made aware of it. She stated her larger concern related to why cities were not asked for
comments when this changed at the state level.
Councilmember Brausen noted that this change was made in statute in 2014, and Governor
Dayton signed it into law at that time.
Mr. Mattick stated that he did look back at the updates that were provided by the League of
Minnesota Cities after the 2014 legislative session and there was no information related to this
particular statute. He noted it is not uncommon for pieces of legislation to be included in larger
bills and this may have been passed without much attention because a majority of the cities in the
state simply follow the contribution limits outlined in state law. He added it is somewhat
uncommon for a charter city to establish specific contribution limits in a charter provision.
Study Session Minutes -2- August 21, 2017
Councilmember Mavity noted that she had to return money to a donor because she thought the
limit was $250.
Ms. Kennedy apologized for the confusion and stated staff notified candidates once the
determination was made that the statutory limit should govern.
Mr. Mattick noted an amendment to this particular Charter provision would be recommended.
Councilmember Brausen stated the council may want to add this topic to the list of priorities for
the city's lobbyist.
Councilmember Mavity stated this would be a low priority item given the long list of topics the
council typically asks their lobbyist to focus on during a legislative session.
The meeting adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
Melissa ennedy, City Clerk /Susan Sanger Acting Mayor Pro Tem