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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017/12/06 - ADMIN - Minutes - Charter Commission - Regular OFFICIAL MINUTES CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA December 6, 2017 5:30 p.m. – Community Room, City Hall 1. Call to Order Chair Maaske called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m. 2. Roll Call and Attendance Members Present: Maren Anderson, JC Beckstrand, Jim Brimeyer, Gary Carlson, Jim de Lambert, Terry Dwyer, David Dyer, Matthew Flory, Ken Gothberg, Sara Maaske, Erin Smith, and Henry Solmer. Members Absent: Lynne Carper, Ron Jarvi, Jr., Andrew Rose Others Present: Nancy Deno (Deputy City Manager/HR Director), Soren Mattick (City Attorney) 3. Approval of Minutes It was moved by Commissioner Beckstrand, seconded by Commissioner Flory, to approve the minutes of October 24. The motion passed 12-0. 4. Old Business a. Proposed Charter Amendments related to Ranked Choice Voting and Campaign Finance Contribution Limits Chair Maaske asked the commission if they would first discuss campaign finance contribution limits then ranked choice voting. Commission was in consensus of this order of discussion. Chair Maaske asked Attorney Mattick to provide information on the finance contribution limits. Mr. Mattick stated that the limits in the charter could change to reflect limits allowed in Minnesota Statutes. If limits change again, this language would allow for a change with no other action or amendments needed. There was discussion by commission. It was moved by Commissioner Brimeyer and seconded by Commissioner Carlson to recommend to the city council to amend the ordinance section 12.04 Contributions as presented by the City Attorney Mattick. Motion passed 12-0. Chair Maaske asked City Attorney Mattick to provide information on the request from council on ranked choice voting and the draft of possible charter amendments. He stated the council adopted a resolution that requested the charter commission study and make a recommendation to the city council as to whether the city’s ch arter should be amended to provide for the use of RCV. If the charter commission moved ahead, the language is brief and an example has been provided. The change would be adding 4.08 Voting Method. With language the voters elect the city’s elected officer by single transferable voting (also known as “ranked-choice voting” or “instant-runoff voting”). The City Council must provide by ordinance the method of counting the votes and breaking a tie. He stated the question of the charter commission is at the policy level, and the Charter Commission Minutes -2- October 24, 2017 method of how the votes are counted and technical matters would be developed and approved by the City Council if this is the method that is put in place. Chair Maaske stated at the last meeting the commission discussed public process. She asked that the commission discuss public process. Commissioner Gothberg stated that discussion on a public process would assume that we are interested in possibly moving in the direction to change the charter and he stated he is not certain that is the direction of the commission. He stated he would like to hear an update from each member to determine what commissioners have to say since the last meeting. Commissioner Beckstrand asked Attorney Mattick about the term single transferable voting. Attorney Mattick stated this is the language used by Minneapolis to define this change in voting. In the past it was also called instant runoff voting and there also has been a legal question of use of the term ranked choice voting. Commissioner Beckstrand stated it may be confusing to use this term. Attorney Mattick stated he would do further research on this, and that language and terms used must be able to withstand a constitutional challenge. There was discussion about the overall need for education and helping people understand. Commissioner Maaske asked to hear from each commissioner. Commissioner Solmer stated he is interested in making the change to allow ranked choice voting. He discussed the Ward 1 recent election. He also stated he watched Minneapolis and they were able to get their counts completed in one day. Commissioner Smith stated she is in the same place as the last discussion and would like to move forward with ranked choice voting. Commissioner Gothberg stated he cannot support ranked choice voting and does not see any problem to be solved. He stated there is no defined need and feels it encourages deal-making. There are additional financial resources needed to make this happen. It is estimated an additional one hundred fifteen to one hundred forty five thousand dollars is needed and these funds could be used to better serve residents or for real problems. He talked about how RCV does not guarantee 50%, how to handle a tie and factors against non-traditional or spoilers. He stated he received two calls to support RCV and when he asked them why St. Louis Park he was told it is for better state and federal results, and they were told to go back to the cities. He stated this method is not allowed for federal or state elections. He stated that if the charter commission determines it should move ahead, this should go on the ballot and let the people make the determination. Commissioner Flory stated he is open, not an opponent, and is a skeptic. He questioned what problem RCV is trying to solve, and said he is not sure of a problem. He would like it on a ballot, to have a public process, to discuss this as “measure twice, cut once” before any decision is made. He is not convinced any change is needed and also that Minneapolis elected Mayor Sayles Belton in the past without RCV. Commissioner de Lambert stated he is in favor to pursue. Charter Commission Minutes -3- October 24, 2017 Commissioner Carlson stated he has not changed his opinion since the last meeting. He discussed how he watched the administration of Minneapolis and St. Paul and this second time was much smoother. He talked to candidates and they told him it was more positive campaigning. He does not see a need for a referendum because there is a reverse referendum process if needed. Commissioner Brimeyer stated he hasn’t changed his mind since the last meeting but he has changed his thinking. He met with a group of individuals, one who owns assisted living in the city and was told the seniors in the building are confused about voting with the current method and did not think this change is in their best interest. He was told that it is important that people are able to understand and use a voting system and RCV would be too confusing. Commissioner Brimeyer stated he is interested in holding listening sessions and if we move ahead, extensive educational processes. He suggested the League of Women voters could and should assist with both. He suggested that it will take time to make the decision and various options of informational panels that would be put in place for education and listening sessions. He wanted to make sure to reach out to all populations in the city and people who do not traditionally attend public meetings and get their input. He stated he disagrees with concerns on the financial cost because if there was a referendum it would be costly to run that process. He does not agree that this should go on a ballot. Commissioner Beckstrand stated he is in the middle, he is not convinced and wonders what problem is trying to be solved. He stated he needs more evidence, more than anecdotes; he has not seen a study. He stated he did not know of the media event early in the week and wonders why he was not contacted by those hosting the event and why the commission was excluded, not part of the process. Commissioner Beckstrand stated he wants more data that would allow him to make a more informed decision. He is in favor of a public process with listening sessions and allowing others to communicate and ask questions. Commissioner Anderson stated she is on the fence. She is open. She has heard that ranked choice voting is difficult for the public and has talked to people in Minneapolis. Commissioner Anderson has concerns of the costs and if funds are used for this it takes the funding away from other things that are needed. Commissioner Dwyer stated he is in favor of ranked choice voting and has observed Minneapolis and St. Paul. He stated we are not solving a current problem today and this may help solve future issues. He agreed that there is not a lot of data at this time. He stated that we have created plurality by eliminating the primary. Commissioner Dyer stated he would be in favor of moving ahead with rank ed choice voting. He stated that this should be done by a vote of the people since it is about the vote of the people. Chair Maaske stated she is on the fence. She stated she is in favor of more voter turnout and to widen the field. Chair Maaske stated she is not convinced that RCV makes it easier to choose to run for office as a new candidate. She fails to see the problem and wants to hear from residents. Chair Maaske talked about how it may be good to explore some other options such as our current ward and at-large system, that there may be other different ways to study. Chair Maaske stated that no matter where we head, she would like to have a very robust public process. She continued to discuss various types of public process, locations, method of listening sessions, education and outreach possibilities. Charter Commission Minutes -4- October 24, 2017 Commissioner Brimeyer talked about funds, no need for referendum. Commissioner Gothberg stated a good public process is needed and ballot is a method that includes a detailed public process requiring education and communication. He stated it is important to get other populations involved and this could easily be put on the next ballot. Commissioner Flory talked about other possible changes with voting and possibly exploring at- large and wards. He talked about education sessions and getting more people out to vote. There was more discussion in general about at-large and ward seats. The commission discussed public process for the charter commission. Questions were about what the commission may want for a public process, what it would look like, where, how many, how to reach people, how to gather information, neighborhoods. Questions came up on how to inform, what to inform, how to get others to provide information on the current process, what is the purpose, how to educate, how to reach people of color to run, how public process in Vision was conducted, listening sessions by ward, how long are the sessions, how long would this process take. There was comment on possible large education session to be recorded then determine how to hold listening sessions and locations. Commission discussed having the charter commission executive committee form a small group to study and draft a public process for review by the full commission. The commission talked about the small work group and having 4 or 5 members. Motion was made by Commissioner Beckstrand and seconded by Commissioner Gothberg to have the executive members work as a small group with 2 additional members to develop a proposed model for public process and report back to the commission on their recommendation at their next regular meeting. Members would be Chair Maaske, Vice Chair Dyer, Secretary Dwyer, Commissioner Beckstrand and Commissioner Smith. Motion approved 12 - 0 5. New Business 6. Future Meetings The Charter Commission scheduled their next meeting for January 10th at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in City Hall. 7. Communications - None 8. Adjournment It was moved by Commissioner Carlson, seconded by Commissioner Anderson, to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed 12-0. The meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted by: Nancy Deno, Deputy City Manager