HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012 06-28 CHCMMINUTES OF JUNE28, 2012
BROOKLYN CENTER
CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING
Called to order by Chairman Stan Leino at 6:30PM.
Roll Call:
Secretary Gary Brown called roll:Gary Brown, Ellen Davis (arrived at 7:47), Mark Goodell,
Stan Leino, Robert Marvin,Harold Middleton, Mary O’Connor, Eileen Oslund, Eric Pone, Bee Yang and
Mark Yelich were present.
Excused Absence:Gail Ebert
Absent:Renita Whicker
Consideration of Minutes:
Motion by Yelich, seconded by Marvin to approve minutes of June 13, 2012,
approved unanimously 10-0.
Old Business:
Considerationof Amendment to Adopt Ward System for City Council SeatsChairman Leino invited
residents who desired to address the charter commission to speak:
th
Michael Parks, 3218 64Ave. N., indicated he had a problem with the city’s at-large council
representation because he believed that the at-large representation was illegal according to previous
federal court cases.
Dan Ryan, 6442 Indiana Ave.,(Council Member), indicated that Parks had made several allegations
regarding the legality of the at-large system presently in place in Brooklyn Center as well as many
other cities, should be addressed by the city attorney. He indicated that he felt that the minorities
were spread throughout the city and the premise of non representation was not founded.
Former Mayor Phil Cohen, 5501 Humboldt Avenue N., does not like the fact that if we changed to
ward system he could only vote for 25% of the council. He believes that the demographics should
be checked.He felt thatPark’s proposal dilutes the representation.
Chairman Leino then closed the meeting for citizen input and opened commission discussion;
Pone disagreed with all three citizens, against bi-polar government-African Americans are not
invited to the table (to be elected), wants more people to believe they can run and be elected to the
city council.
Leino doesn’t want to change for change sake but wants citizen’s to decide.
Goodell: How does at-large system create barriers to access to the council?
Pone wants tomake council bigger and representation more “local”.
Marvin wants council members more responsive to the citizens.
Middleton is concerned about proximity of council members to each other.
Marvin feels Parks’ letter is not relevant.
Brown stated that all of the townships in Minnesota and Wisconsin are elected at large, Parks’
points are not valid.
Oslund asked if we know if voters vote for people running for council in the same geographic area
that they livein?
Dan Ryan then added that lines on a map do not generate more people voting.
Yelich passed around the updated proposed changes to the charter. He stated that he was concerned
about the cost of making the changes, that this was a significant undertaking, household incomes
were low in Brooklyn Center, and that it was hard to find enough time to run for council.
He further pointed out the city’s goal of cultural diversity and that many people do not vote for two
candidates even though they can to make sure theircandidate is elected.
Motion by Yelichthat Charter Commission send the issue to the council for consideration.Brown offered
a friendly amendment to the motion to pass a resolution asking the city councilto put on the ballotthis fall
as we know what the city council’s position is, secondedby Marvin.Pone does not feel the proposed
changes go far enough. Motion fails 8-2 with O’Connorand Goodell opposing passage (requires two thirds
of entirecommission for passage).
Eminent Domain:Dan Ryan asked why Charter Commission has this as an issueas he does not see a
problem?Where is the mischief to be remedied? He then read a statement. Commissioner Brown asked
Ryan if he would be willing to offer an ordinance to deal with the commission’sconcerns? Ryan indicated
that he could not speak for the entire council but would be willing to offer the ordinance to the council for
consideration.
Mayor Cohen pointed out where the city council has made several good uses of eminent domain.
Marvin did not agree that these were good uses.
Commissioner EllenDavis arrived to the meeting.
Goodell asked the Chair to give an overview of the issuewhich the Chairman Leino did.
Davis thinks that 60 days is more than enough time.
Marvin does not like the indefinite length of time.
O’Connor stated a concern that the city is forced to purchase the property within 90 days the way
the current verbiage is written.
Pone will not support any condemnation amendments and that elected officials are just presenting
excuses.
Oslund concerned about two issues going to thevoters.
Middleton stated that citizens cannot comprehend these complicated issues.
Goodell there are many variables but he is not opposed to eminent domain.
ChairmanLeino asked for a motion.
Yelich state that general public does not see eminent domain asa tool.
Motion by Marvin, seconded by Pone,to consider City Attorney’s amendments one by one. Motion passed
10-1 with Leino voting nay.
Motion by Brown, seconded by Middleton to not make any changes to Chapter 9.Motion passed 10-1 with
Yelich voting nay.
Motion by Yelich, seconded by Marvin to amend Chapter 2 for Charter Changes that would allow Council
Members to be elected by Ward versus At-large and pass onto Brooklyn Center City Council for a vote on
the ballot this fall. Motion by Pone, secondedby Marvin, to call the question, passes 11-0. Original
motion then voted on, and passes 9-2 with O’Connor and Goodell voting nay. Motion passes with required
2/3 majority.
Marvin asked to discuss eminent domain at the next meeting.
Future Meeting Dates:
Next meeting July 26, 2012.
Adjournment:
Motion to adjournat 8:49PMbyYelich seconded by Brown, passed 11-0.
Submitted for consideration,
Gary E. Brown, Secretary