Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017/03/21 - ADMIN - Minutes - Charter Commission - RegularOFFICIAL MINUTES CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA March 21, 2017 7:00 p.m. – Westwood Room, City Hall 1. Call to Order Chair Carper called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. 2. Roll Call and Attendance Members Present: Maren Anderson, Jim Brimeyer, Lynne Carper, Jim de Lambert, Terry Dwyer, David Dyer, Ken Gothberg, Ron Jarvi, Jr., Sara Maaske, and Henry Solmer. Members Absent: JC Beckstrand (absence excused), Gary Carlson (absence excused), Matthew Flory (absence excused), Brian Fiderlein (absent), and David Obray (absent) Others Present: Melissa Kennedy, City Clerk (staff liaison) 3. Approval of Minutes a. February 22, 2017 Charter Commission Meeting It was moved by Commissioner Gothberg, seconded by Commissioner Maaske, to approve the minutes of February 22, 2017. The motion passed 10-0. 4. Old Business a. Update on Proposed Charter Amendment – verbal Ms. Kennedy provided an update on the timeline for consideration of the proposed charter amendment to eliminate municipal primary elections and change candidate filing requirements. She stated the city council would hold a public hearing for the first reading of the ordinance amendment on April 17 and the second reading would be scheduled for May 15. She noted unanimous approval of all seven council members would be required for approval of the amendment. She explained if no petition was received within 60 days of the ordinance being published, the ordinance would take effect 90 days after adoption and publication (August 16). Chair Carper stated he was asked by another commission member to bring the discussion related to candidate filing fees back to the forefront for possible reconsideration. He reminded the commission that at their previous meeting the commission’s recommendation was to increase the number of signatures required on a nominating petition and to keep the filing fee the same. Commissioner Gothberg stated he felt the commission discussed this topic at great length at their previous meeting and did not feel additional consideration was necessary. He added that the cost is irrelevant if the fee were to only increase from $20 to $50. Commissioner Solmer stated that the current filing fee was established many years ago and the argument could be made to increase it beyond $50 to reflect today’s market. He added the point of increasing the fee is not to make running for office cost prohibitive, but to try to discourage frivolous candidates from filing for office. Charter Commission Minutes -2- March 21, 2017 Ms. Kennedy stated that the notice of the public hearing for the ordinance amendment would be published on March 23, and by law the notice would contain the text of the amendment which reflected the commission’s recommendations from the meeting in February. Chair Carper stated the commission could evaluate what the effects were of increasing the number of signatures required on a nominating petition and could bring back another amendment in the future if needed to increase the filing fee. Commissioner Brimeyer stated it might be best to wait and evaluate the effects of both changes, including elimination of the primary. He noted he was not totally sold on the idea that the proposed amendments would have the desired effect, but he is open to seeing what happens in the 2019 election. Commissioner Gothberg stated it takes more effort for a candidate to obtain 50 signatures than to write a check. Commissioner Anderson asked if increasing the fee would offset staff costs. Ms. Kennedy stated it would not. Commissioner Maaske stated the commission may also want to consider ways to make elections more accessible for candidates, such as combining the at-large positions and asking voters to vote for up to two candidates in a single race. Commissioner Dyer confirmed that if approved the proposed amendment would not apply to the 2017 election cycle. Chair Carper stated the proposed charter amendments would go to council as previously proposed, with no change to the candidate filing fee and this could be evaluated again in the future if necessary. 5. New Business a. Election of Officers Chair Carper stated that the Election of Officers for Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary takes place at each annual meeting. Chair Carper asked for nominations for Chair. Commissioner Maaske stated she would like to be considered for the position. It was moved by Commissioner Gothberg, seconded by Commissioner Carper, to appoint Commissioner Maaske as Chair of the Charter Commission until the next annual meeting of the Charter Commission. The motion passed 10-0. Chair Carper asked for nominations for Vice Chair. Commissioner Dyer stated he would like to be considered for the position. It was moved by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Carper, to appoint Commissioner Dyer as Vice Chair of the Charter Commission until the next annual meeting of the Charter Commission. The motion passed 10-0. Charter Commission Minutes -3- March 21, 2017 Chair Carper asked for nominations for Secretary. Commissioner Dwyer stated he would like to continue serving in this position. It was moved by Commissioner Carper, seconded by Commissioner Maaske, to appoint Commissioner Dwyer as Secretary of the Charter Commission until the next annual meeting of the Charter Commission. The motion passed 10-0. b. Proposed Annual Report for District Court – Year 2016 Chair Carper inquired if anyone had any corrections or additions to the Annual Report to the District Court for the year 2016. There were no corrections or additions. It was moved by Commissioner Dwyer, seconded by Commissioner Dyer, to approve the 2016 Charter Commission Annual Report for submittal to Hennepin County District Court. The motion passed 10-0. c. Legislative Update Ms. Kennedy provided an update on the contents of the omnibus elections bill. She noted she would continue to monitor this bill, and other legislation that may arise, that would require future action or discussion by the Charter Commission. 6. Future Meetings Commissioner Maaske stated the next annual meeting of the Charter Commission is scheduled for March 20, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Westwood Conference Room on the 3rd floor of City Hall. 7. Communications - None 8. Adjournment Chair Carper adjourned the meeting at 7:52 p.m. Respectfully submitted by: Melissa Kennedy, City Clerk