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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1984 04-25 CHCA BROOKLYN CENTER CHARTER COMMISSION APRIL 25, 1984 8 :00 ,P.M. City Hall AGENDA 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3• Approval of Minutes of March 28, 1984 4. Old Business A. Elections- Reports (1) Gerald Splinter survey of surrounding communities (2) Charter Commission contacts with the Mayor and Council Members (a) Michael Beauchane Mayor Nyquist (b) Dennis Kueng Councilmember Hawes.; (c) Ernest Erickson Councilmember Theis (d) Vince Tubman Councilmember Lhotka (e) Jean Schiebel Councilmember Scott 5. New Business 6. Next Meeting Date 7. Adjournment MEMORANDUM TO: Gerald G. Splinter, City Manager FROM: Tom Bublitz, Administrative Assistant DATE: April 25, 1984 SUBJECT: Municipal Election Survey The table on the following page shows the results of a telephone survey taken to obtain some general information regarding municipal elections in suburban communities. The survey included neighboring communities plus additional municipalities chosen at random. Of the cities surveyed only the City of New Hope had changed their election years for local elections within the recent past. In 1973 the City of New Hope changed from an every year election to even year elections for local offices. New Hope went from a system where local officials were on the ballot every year, with Councilmembers holding a three year term, and the Mayor holding a two year term, to a system where local elections are held only on even numbered years and there are 4 year terms for both Mayor and Council. I was not able to obtain information regarding the specifics of the change, such as the exact extension of various councilmember's terms. It should be pointed out that New Hope is a statutory city and is governed by different state statutes than a home rule charter city. One bit of information I did find out is that the change to an even year election in New Hope and the subsequent extension of Council terms resulted in having three council seats to be elected at a single election. With this result, state statute stipulated that the two individuals receiving the highest vote shall serve for terms of 4 years and the individual receiving the third highest number of votes shall serve for a term of 2 years during the "phase -in" period for the new election calendar. As you can see from the table there is quite a variety of election calendars and length of terms, although a 4 year term for both the Mayor and Council is not an unusual length of term in relationship to other municipalities in the suburban metropolitan area. 'CTION SURV� ZCZPASa II Ward Po1o ulation S Of SVst cil 14,4 or T,ength O=n Ye Odd, Even Terms-- 4 Every Year. °r and 29 81 L May mfrs Municipal EIeC o r and C °un�� l Coun yes MaY ear C, Even Years �b°th 4- May a nd 4 Viers 3g ,151 gobbinsdale Ma yor and Council Cols Cilme Yes 3 l r ea rs d 4 Every year bo Mayor an rs 25,()00 le o r 2 years rs CaL'r'ca� No ley MaY d 4 Every year Council 3 2 years CO an wcilmem�rs 23 000 gichffie Mayor 4 ears N° Even Years C =Ci Mayor an d 4 rs Grove or 2 Years Counci 25.5A5 lmemb yes Mapl MaY y ears 4 ery Y ear 1 and 1 MaY°r rs 00 I Ev m� 49 Golden Valley and Counci CounCJ -l yes Mayor and ears 6 Eery year berth May rs or and 3 year Councilmem�je_ 46 000 CryS May or 4 yea rs N° r- Every year _CounCl May °r and 4erS cil lmemb 23 322 Brooklyn park J Mayor and C sun CounCi No 4 ter--- d 4 Even years both cil MaY cilmembers 36 E dina Mayor a nd Cs C N° 4 4 Even Years both dear years Mayor lcn N� gope Ma yor 2 Y4ears e� oun odd years C° P1YmQU� MEMORANDUM TO: Gerald G. Splinter, City Manager FROM: Tom Bublitz, Administrative Assistant DATE: April 25, 1984 SUBJECT: Revision of Municipal Election Dates I spoke recently with Mr. Stan Peskar, Attorney for the League of Minnesota Cities, regardinig statutory requirements for changing from an every year to an even year municipal election. Mr. Peskar indicated that, in his opinion, a home rule charter city may establish any reasonable means for extending existing Councilmember's terms in order that the change in election -years be implemented. I discussed with him Minnesota Statute 205.20 which establishes a uniform municipal election day for home rule charter cities. Mr. Peskar stated that this statute does not preclude home rule charter cities from establishing even year elections and again he indicated that a home rule charter city may implement any reasonable mechanism for the extension of existing Council member's terms in order to implement the change. Further, he stated that in his opinion a 4 year term for both the Mayor and Council would not appear to be unreasonable. From my discussion with Mr. Peskar it would appear that a home rule charter city has a fair amount of flexibility with regard to the extension of existing Councilmember terms and also the establishment of new terms for the Mayor and Council which would better coincide with an even year election system. i