HomeMy WebLinkAbout1972 04-19 CHCMMinutes of the Proceedings of
Brooklyn Center Charter Commission
April 19, 1972
Call to order: The meeting was called to order at 7:35 P.M. by Vice Chairman
John Winkelman.
Secretarial Assistant: The new secretarial assistant, Barbara Sexton,was
introduced.
Roll Call: Chairman Dorff, Commissioners Bush, Britts, Gillen, Hintzman,
Present 12 Kampmever, McArthur, Olson, Stanley, Vennewitz, Welsh, and
Absent 2 Winkelman were present. Absent were Commissioners Erickson
and Johnson.
Approval of Minutes: The addition of "by the members" was made to the third
to last paragraph to read as follows:
Chairman Dorff then appointed a committee comprised
of Commissioners McArthur, Welsh, and Vennewitz
to draft a resolution relative to the Commission's
consensus that Section 2.02 of the City Charter
should not be changed at this time setting forth
the opinions expressed before the Commission by the
members and other data acquired relative to the
proposed change.
The minutes of April 5, 1972 were approved with the correction.
Time of Meeting: Motion by Commissioner Hintzman and seconded by Commissioner
Olson that the Charter Commission meet the second and fourth
Wednesdays of the month. Motion by Commissioner Stanley and
seconded by Commissioner McArthur that the motion be tabled.
Motion passed unanimously.
Executive Committee: Commissioner Olson read of the minutes of the Executive
Committee meeting of April 13, 1972.
Appointment of Commissioner: Motion by Commissioner Stanley, seconded by
Commissioner Hintzman to instruct Chairman Dorff to send
letter to Judge Rolf Fosseen recommending the appointment
of Vi Kanatz to the Charter Commission. The motion passed
unanimously.
Expiration of term: Commissioner Winkelman announced the expiration of his
term on the Charter Commission on May 9, 1972.
Term of Office: Motion by Commissioner Vennewitz, seconded by Commissioner
Gillen that Chairman Dorff write Judge Rolf Fosseen and ask
what constitutes a term of office before the expiration of
other commissioners' terms in August. Motion carried
unanimously.
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4 -19 -72
Resolution: Commissioner Welsh presented the following resolution to the
Commission;
RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE BROOKLYN CENTER
CHARTER COMMISSION'S DECISION ON THE PROPOSAL
TO AMEND THE CITY CHARTER SECTION 2.02
WHEREAS, the Charter Commission of the City of Brooklyn
Center convened on February 15, 1972; and
WHEREAS, one of the first items of business was to study
Councilman Vernon L. Ausen's proposal to amend Section 2.02 of
the City Charter as presented in a letter of June 7, 1971 to the
then Chairman, Virginia Tesch; and
WHEREAS, the City of Brooklyn Center Charter prohibits
Administrative Boards as set forth in Section 2.02; and
WHEREAS, Councilman Vernon L. Ausen's proposal was to
permit amending of City Ordinances to make it possible for the
establishment of a Board of Appeals to be the final arbiter in
matters such as variances from the zoning ordinances, subject
to appeal of the Board's decision to the City Council by either
the petitioner or the City Manager and subject to applicable
judicial processes; and
WHEREAS, Councilman Vernon L. Ausen's proposed Charter
Amendment was studied at Charter Commission meetings as follows:
February 15, 1972— introduction of Councilman Vernon L. Ausen's
proposal.
—March 1, 1972— reviewal and discussion of proposal.
—March 8, 1972— Councilman Ausen discussed his proposal and
at that time requested the Memo dated
April 16, 1971 from the City Manager Donald
Poss to Councilman Ausen be submitted to
the Commission.
—March 22, 1972— Action was taken to invite Mayor and Council—
men to present their views on Councilman
Ausen's proposal.
—April 5, 1972— Mayor and Councilman appeared before Commission
in separate time intervals to present their
views on the proposal and to be questioned.
Former Charter Commissioner Bill Arrell, and
former Vice Chairman Ward Whalen were present
and invited to state their opinions on proposed
Charter Amendment.
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4 -19 -72
February 26, 1972 communication from Robert
W. Jensen, present Planning Commission
Chairman, was acknowledged;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City of Brooklyn
Center Charter Commission, that the Commission does not approve
amending Section 2.02 of the City Charter as proposed in that it
has been determined:
1. that the best interests of the citizenry, and the
welfare of the City as a whole, would not be best served
by the establishment of an appointive laver of
Legislative Action.
2. that the deliberative time of elected officials is not
handicapped by variance considerations.
3. that there is not a history of complaints by citizens
or petitioners of the present legislative procedure.
4. that the present City Governmental Structure is
uncluttered, closest to people, and the elected
Legislative Body is not insulated from the electorate.
5. that action on variances tends to change City ordinances
by the establishment of precedent.
6. that administrative personnel would be charged with
determining legislative items on appeals as stated
in the proposal.
7. that after fair hearing it has been generally determined
that no problem exists warranting such a change in the
City Charter at this time.
Motion by Commissioner Bush and seconded by Commissioner Kampmever
to adopt the foregoing resolution as presented. motion carried
unanimously.
Committees: Chairman Dorff appointed two committees. Commissioner McArthur
was appointed chairman of the Regular Elections Committee with
Commissioners Vennewitz, Welsh, Hintzman, Glorff and Britts on the
committee. Commissioner Kampmever was appointed chairman of the
committee on Primary Elections and vacancies on the council with
Commissioners Olson, Erickson, Bush, Gillen end Stanley on the
committee.
Next Meeting: Chairman Dorff announced the next meeting of the Charter
Commission to be Mav 10 at 7:30 P.M.
Adjournment: Motion by Commissioner Hintzman, seconded by Commissioner Venne—
witz that the Charter Commission adjourn. Motion carried unanimouslv.
Adjournment at 9 :40 P.M.
Barbara Sexton, Secretary
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