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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013 01-17 CHCACHARTER COMMISSION JANUARY 17, 2013 Brooklyn Center, Minnesota City Hall Council/Commission Conference Room AGENDA 1. Call to Order: 6:30 p.m. 2. Roll Call 3. Presentation of Plaque to Edward Nelson 4. Consideration of Minutes of the October 18, 2012 Meeting 5. Election of Officers for 2013 a. Chairman b. Vice Chairman c. Secretary d. Audit Chair e. Public Relations Chair 6. Report of Audit Chair 7. Old Business a. Concerns of City staff regarding Charter b. Costs of special elections to fill Council vacancies c. Lack of liaison for Planning Commission d. Timeline sufficiency for special elections e. Uniform applications for Council vacancies? f. Add electronic records to investigations of City affairs g. Has an ordinance ever been enacted under Section 3.03? h. Do we have written preparations for public danger or emergency under Section 2.06? 8. New Business a. Set Meeting dates for 2013 b. Review of Charter Chapters 5 through 8 c. Any other new business? 9. Adjournment (Draft) MINUTES OF OCTOBER 18, 2012 BROOKLYN CENTER CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING Called to order by Chairman Stan Leino at 6:30 PM. Roll Call: Secretary Gary Brown called roll; Gary Brown, Stan Leino, Gail Ebert, Mark Goodell, Robert Marvin, Harold Middleton, Mary O’ConnOr, Eileen Oslund, Renita Whicker, and Mark Yelich were present. Excused Absence: Eric Pone, Ellen Davis Absent: Bee Yang Consideration of Minutes: Motion by Goodell, seconded by Marvin to approve minutes of July 26, 2012, approved unanimously 9-0. Old Business: Commission Members reviewed Charter Chapters 1-4. Chairman Leino was directed to ask the City Council why the Planning Commission does not have a liaison member from the City Council and does the city clerk have “uniform applications” and are the timelines stated on the forms according to Section 2.05b paragraph 1, relative to vacancies on the City Council? Has an ordinance ever been adopted by the City Council compelling attendance by absent council members according to Section 3.03? Commission Members Oslund and Middleton left the meeting at 8:00 PM. New Business and Future Meeting Date: Charter Chapters 5-8 will be reviewed at next meeting on January 17, 2013. Adjournment: Motion to adjourn at 8:10 by Brown, seconded by O’Connor, passed 7-0. Submitted for consideration, Gary E. Brown, Secretary Chairperson Leino, You have asked that staff respond to the questions below: Please let me know if you have questions regarding any of my responses. 1.As a general matter, does the City staff have any concerns about the City Charter? Before the staff engages in research regarding this issue, the City Council will be advised and we will follow the Councils direction. 2.What is the approximate cost for a special election for a Council vacancy? The typical cost of a special election is the range of $9,000-$10,000. This is the cost for each election day. If there was a required primary and a general election then the cost would double. 3.Why is the Planning Commission exempt from having a Council liaison? This matter will be reviewed with the City Council and response will be forwarded to the Commission. 4.Does the City have a uniform application for Council vacancies under Section 2.05b? The City does not have an application form for Council vacancies 5.Are the timelines sufficient for staff to conduct a special election under Section 2.05a? The time lines in the City Charter are inconsistent, insufficient and incompatible with State Statutes governing elections. 6.Has an Ordinance ever been enacted under Section 3.03? No. 7. Does the City have a set of procedures in place for Mayoral action in a public emergency or danger under Section 2.06? The City has a Council adopted comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan which sets forth procedures, lines of authority and protocols for managing natural, manmade disaster and or emergencies that occur in the City. This Plan developed by the North Suburban Emergency Management Planning Region incompliance with MN Stat Statute Chapter 12, places overall direction in the hands of the City Manager and or the Emergency Management Director. Given this Council adopted plan it appears the need to apply Section 2.06 would be extremely rare. The apparent procedure for enacting Section 2.06 is a majority vote of the City Council.