HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013 04-11 CHCMBrooklyn Center Charter Commission
Meeting Minutes
April 11, 2013
1. Call to Order
Called to order by Chairman Stan Leino at 6:32 PM
2. Roll Call
Secretary Mary O'Connor called the roll. Present were Stan Leino, Jody Brandvold, Gary
Brown, Mark Goodell, Myrna Kragness Kauth, Eileen Oslund, Renita Whicker, Mark Yelich and
Mary O'Connor. Judy Thorbus arrived at 6:35 PM. Excused were Gail Ebert and Harold
Middleton. Not present were Ellen Davis and Robert Marvin.
3. Introduction of New Commissioners
New commissioner Judy Thorbus was introduced.
4. Approval of Minutes
The January 17, 2013, minutes were approved as corrected. Under Section IIIb Approval of
minutes, the words "stated on the forms" and "according to" were deleted as suggested by
O'Connor. The motion was made by Kauth and seconded by Brandvold.
5. Report of Audit Chair, Eileen Oslund.
Total budget: $1,856.40
Expenses
$388.55 Communication with members
$35.54 Retiree plaque
$1,467.85 lawyer fees, Kennedy and Graven
Kauth asked if there wasn't a $1,500 budget limit. Oslund said we can request more. Goodell
suggested we send less paper mail. Leino will ask. Audit report was accepted by motion.
6. Old Business:
a. Concerns of City staff regarding Charter
• They want special elections to be held not later than 200 days following the
vacancy.
• They want the Council to canvass election returns between the third and tenth day
after the election.
• They want a new fire chief not to have to work in fire dept.
• They want to be able to dismiss property being acquired in a condemnation
proceeding.
• They want an Initiative and Referendum election be held not later than 60 days
from the Council's final action.
Leino will put these concerns on the agenda for our next meeting.
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b. City staff replies to Charter inquiries
• They don't have a uniform application for Council vacancies filled by
appointment.
• City Council does not believe a liaison to Planning Commission is compatible
with their independent statutory authority.
• It takes a four-fifths majority of the Council to reduce the budget.
• City Manager Curt Boganey would like to leave "treasurer" in the Charter.
Kauth asked if city code is in other languages. Leino will check.
7. New Business:
a. Review of Charter Chapters 10 through 12
Chapter 10 Franchises
O'Connor questioned the meaning of section 10.02 Term of Franchises. Leino will check.
O'Connor suggested deleting the comma after "proceedings" in Section 10.04.
Chapter 11 Utilities
Kauth suggested changing "water works or light plant" to 'City utility' in Section 11.05.
Chapter 12 Miscellaneous Provisions
Leino suggested electronic publications for Section 12.01.
Mary suggested changing "this State" to “the State of Minnesota and” in Section 12.02.
Mary suggested deleting Section 12.08.
b. Any other new business
Liesl Rohland resigned as Charter Commission member.
Next meeting is July 18, 2013.
8. Adjournment
Kauth made motion to adjourn at 8:17 PM. Motion passed.
Submitted by Mary O'Connor
Secretary