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Home My WebLink About1991 10-23 CHCAr r( r _7 TT N o; UT 1 92 1 yK E-I. HALI 1"3NiDik il Call to Order Foll C al l 3. AD-_)roval of Septem 25, Correspondence to Post/Nortli IgCil, Y'Ptutes (Enclosed) West NewzS Re 'Fre amlble Fiidings u S n P Ss 2, Stat of Section 2 3B, Report from Sub Com C. ro=ents from Go Council Vacan Aes 5 New Fu sin ,05, Vacam ies in the Council -ni t tee on Freamble to Claarter iclfe R(---: Appointment, Process in Filling Z. N �xt Y Date 3. I- lee et in AdJ otrnme r__l r 'y_ CENTER October 15, 1991 6301 SHINGLE CREEK PARKWAY BROOKLYN CENTER, MINNESOTA 55430 TELEPHONE EMERGENCY POLICE FIRE 911 Mr. Charles LeFevere, City Attorney 470 Pillsbury Center 0 Minneapolis, MN 55402 RE: Section 2.05, Brooklyn Center Charter i v� IV Dear Mr. LeFevere: This letter is to advise you that the Brooklyn Center Charter Commission has been working on changing the above mentioned section of the charter. At its September 25, 1991, meeting, the Charter Commission has a whole has accepted the following as their intent for the proposed reading to be: A person appointed to fill a vaca ouncil position cannot serve for more than one year. If the remaining term of the vacant position exceeds one year, plus the minimum time required to accomodate the resignation, announce the filings, and allow for the primary and general elections rocess, then the vaennev must be filled by a special e ction.k'If more than two people file for a vacant council position in special election, a primary shall be required.___ 1 Please incorporate this intent into the existing charter wording "gn a way in which you feel would be appropriate to achieve this result. Being our next regular meeting is next Wednesday, the 23rd, we realize you would not have enough time to prepare this information. We would, however, appre- ciate receiving this wording from you by mid November so it could be distributed to members for our November meeting, which will probably be on November 20. Thank you for your assistance on this matter. you can contact me at 533 -5746. Sincerely, Edward Commers, Chairperson g BROOKLYN CENTER CHARTER COMMI&AGWA—R— r CITY OF COOKLYN If you have any questions, cb z El BROOKLYN CENTER CHARTER COMMISSION SUB- COMMITTEE ON CHARTER PREAMBLE MEETING MINUTES October 19, 1991 10 A.M. Conference Room A Present: Bev Wolfe (Chair), Tony Kuefler, Everett Lindh, and Eileen Oslund Chairperson Bev Wolfe started the meeting at 10:05 a.m. The Administrative Assistant stated that there was only one city that had a preamble to their charter that we had copies of -St. Louis Park. That wording was passed around as well as the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. Each member had their ideas to be included in a preamble. Ideas were then discussed as a group. After discussion, the following points were agreed upon: 1. To encourage broader representation in all phases of city government and city staff that reflects the diversity of the community. (Members felt this would address the item of diversity.) 2. To provide for openness in all phases of city government that encourages communication from people to government as well as government to people. (Members felt this would address the item of communication.) 3. People have both the right and duty to participate in all phases of government. (Members felt this would address the responsibility of the people.) Commissioner Oslund's suggestions concerning fostering a sense of community, and insuring fair taxation for the protection, recreation, and economic well -being of the community was favorably received by the sub- committee. She will put together some wording on these ideas. It was decided that the sub committee would meet again on Saturday, November 9th at 10 a.m., at which time the sub committee will review Commissioner Oslund's wording (on sense of community and fair taxation), as well as incorporating the above three major points into something the entire commission can look at as a whole at their November meeting. The meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m. yz� pectfully submitted, Carole Blowers, C.P.S. Administrative Assistant w 0 M E M O R A N D U M DATE: October 22, 1991 TO: BROOKLYN CENTER CHARTER COMMISSION FROM: BEV WOLFE RE: CITY COUNCIL'S SELECTION PROCESS FOR COUNCIL VACANCIES. As I noted at the September meeting, I was very surprised to learn last year that the city council does not have a formally established procedure for filling council vacancies. It is done ad hoc with new procedures used each time an opening occurs. For example, when an opening occurred two years ago, the candidates were not interviewed. Last year the candidates were interviewed, but the interviews were conducted privately and were not open to the public. Candidates did not receive copies of the council's adopted procedures until the interview process was almost completed. Also, the council adopted a voting procedure that permitted council members to vote for multiple candidates until the field was reduced to two candidates. Given that the city council is an elected body, I think it is preferable that more established procedures be established. These could either be formally adopted by the counsel, or put into the charter by this commission. In any event, they should be continually in effect so that when an opening occurs they can be followed quickly. Below are some suggestions for procedures for filling vacancies. (1) As soon as a vacancy occurs, the council shall designate a date(s) for interviewing candidates. Both the vacancy and the dates of the interviews should be publicly posted. (2) A form for applicants to fill out should be available. Currently the council just accepts resumes. Certain information, including the candidate's eligibility to hold office, should be requested on this application. When I participated in the process, I was never asked if I was a citizen or a convicted felon. It would be embarrassing if the council put someone on who was not eligible. Perhaps the forms used for filing when running for elected office could be used. (3) Interviews should be held in a forum that is open to the public. The council should develop a standard list of questions to ask all candidates. Any potential conflict of interests on the part of the candidates should be discussed during these interviews. As least two candidates last year had potential conflict of interest problems. The public has no way of knowing if these potential conflicts were even considered by the council in its decision. (4) A forum should be provided where either through speaking to the council or through written letters, others can publicly express their support or opposition to certain candidates. Council members should not allow someone to lobby with them on behalf of or in opposition to a candidate unless this lobbying is made public. All candidates should have an opportunity to respond to any opposition. Since all pertinent information about a candidate must be made public to influence the voters, it should similarly be made public if it influences a council person. (4) The council or commission should devise a list of stated (and written) criteria that it is considering when filling a vacancy. For example, experience in city government or other civic affairs, representation 40 of the community's diversity, administrative abilities, etc. Last year, some but not all council members expressed their criteria just before the vote. It would be preferable if this criteria was made known before the interview process. (5) Council members should adopt a voting procedure where they are allowed to only vote for one candidate (as a voter is often limited to). Provisions for runoffs if no candidate receives a majority of the votes. If desired, a provision for a final vote once someone has received a majority to provide for a unanimous ballot. Each council person's vote should be a matter of public record. The purpose of these provisions is to make the process more open and provide greater accountability. Although you may not agree with all of the suggested procedures, some type of more institutionalized procedures should be adopted. Adoption of such procedures would also make the process easier for the city council members so they do not have to scramble to come up with a procedure each time a vacancy occurs. Although provisions providing for special elections may make this unnecessary, the special elections provisions has been the subject of debate for nearly two years and is not yet part of the charter. Established procedures for filling council 2