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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025.01.09 CHCMMinutes of the Brooklyn Center Charter Commission Meeting on January 9th, 2025 Called to order by Vice Chair Toby Phillips at 6:33pm. Secretary Ellgren called the roll. Present: • Stanley Leino Chair 2024 arrived at 7:05pm. • Lee Bak • Donald Bumgarner • Gail Ebert • Kathryn Ellgren Secretary 2024 • Gretchen Enger • Dan Jerzak • Jeff Lewis • Toby Phillips Vice Chair 2024 • Steve Shold Audit Chair 2024 • Bud Sorenson Absent: • Robert Marvin Guest: • Barb Suciu, City Clerk • Nahid Khan, Cultural and Public Arts Commission Chair • Kevin Scherber Adoption of Agenda: A motion was made by Commissioner Bumgarner and seconded by Commissioner Ebert to move the election of officers the final item of discussion after new business. Motion passed. Agenda was adopted as modified. Consideration of Minutes: The November 14th, 2024, minutes were adopted with a motion by Commissioner Sorenson and a second by Commissioner Ebert. Motion passed. Report of the Audit Chair: Commissioner Shold stated that there were no expenses this year. Old Business: a) Requested City Clerk's presence and/or City Manager's presence to explain housekeeping changes proposed for City Charter Chapters 2, 4 and 5. Vice Chair Phillips asked City Clerk Suciu to explain the changes being presented. City Clerk Suciu described the clarifications to the election and petition bylaws she was requesting. Commissioner Jerzak asked if this had gone to the City Attorney and she confirmed that it had, and that the changes were to be consistent with state regulations. Commissioner Jerzak stated that he felt that the changes offered clarity and removed ambiguity. The City Clerk explained that having these changes in the document would prevent future clerks from having to reach outside the city to ensure consistency with state bylaws. She also shared that she reached out to neighboring cities and the secretary of state for standardizing the language. Discussion was held. Commissioner Ellgren referenced 410.05 of the state statutes regarding Charter Commissions as a point of clarity. Chair Leino spoke to the ways in which the Charter Commission differed from council appointed boards and commissions. Commissioner Jerzak made the motion to postpone this discussion until the City Clerk could provide corrected language. Commissioner Sorenson seconded. Chair Leino asked if that information could be available for the next meeting and the City Clerk agreed. The question was called. Motion passed. New Business: a) Set Meeting Schedule for 2024 Proposed dates April 10th, 2025, July 10th, 2025, October 9th, 2025, and January 9th, 2026. The proposal was made to switch the Charter meetings to the 4th Thursday of the month instead of the second. These dates would be April 24th, 2025, July 24th, 2025, Oct 23rd, 2025, and January 22nd, 2026. A motion was made by Commissioner Sorenson and seconded by Commissioner Phillips to accept these dates. Motion passed. b) Commissioner Sorenson asked how many members where currently on the Charter Commission, and the body was informed that there are currently three vacancies. All members were encouraged to let other residents know that they could apply. c) Resident Scherber brought concerns about a statute requiring that information be presented in print and the desire to allow information to be presented electronically instead. Discussion was held. Election of Officers: Chair Leino offered the Commission the choice of electing each office individually or as a slate. Commissioner Shold made the motion to continue as the Audit Chair and was seconded by Commissioner Ebert. Chair Leino was nominated by Commissioner Jerzak as Chairperson and was seconded by Commissioner Phillips. Vice Chair Phillips stated his willingness to continue as Vice Chair and Commissioner Bumgarner made the motion and was seconded by Commissioner Ebert. Vice Chair Phillips nominated Commissioner Ellgren to continue as Secretary and was seconded by Commissioner Ebert. Commissioner Enger was asked by Vice Chair Phillips if she would be willing to serve as Public Relations Chair and upon receiving her confirmation the motion was made by Vice Chair Phillips and seconded by Commissioner Ebert. • Chair: Stan Leino • Vice Chair: Toby Phillips • Secretary: Kathry Ellgren • Public Relations: Gretchen Enger • Audit Chair: Steve Shold A motion to approve the slate as nominated was made by Commissioner Sorenson and seconded by Commissioner Jerzak. Motion passed. Adjournment: With a motion by Vice Chair Phillips and a second by Commissioner Jerzak, the meeting adjourned at 7:44 pm. The next meeting is April 24rd, 2025 at 6:30pm.