HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019 01-17BROOKYLN CENTER CHARTER COMMISSION
Thursday, January 17th, 2019
City Hall Council/Commission Conference Room
1. Call to Order - 6:30pm
2. Roll Call
3. Adoption of Agenda
4. Consideration of Minutes
5. Audit Report
6. Election of Officers
7. Old Business
a. Review language for update to charter section 2.05 regarding process for filling
city council vacancies
8. New Business
9. Adjournment
Brooklyn Center Charter Commission
Meeting Minutes
July 19, 2018 Draft
Called to order by Chairman Mark Goodell at 6:30 pm
Roll Call: Chairman Mark Goodell called the roll.
Present:
• Mark Goodell
• Mawuli Blabuh
• Donald Bumgarner
• Gail Ebert
• Kathryn Ellgren
• Robert Marvin
• Mary O'Conner
• Beverly Rieschl
• Judy Thorbus
• Susan Warner
• Mark Yelich
• Micheal Elliott arrived at 6:33pm
• Stanley Leino arrived at 6:47 pm
Excused:
• Charlene Johnson
Absent:
• Abraham Rizvi
Guests:
• Meg Beekman, Community Development Director
Adoption of Agenda:
A motion was made by Robert Marvin and seconded by Judy Thorbus to approve the agenda. The
motion passed. A motion was made by Gail Ebert to suspend the rules and move the new business 6a
and 6b to before the discussion of the old business. Mark Yelich seconded. The motion passed.
Consideration of Minutes:
The April 19, 2018 minutes were approved as amended with a motion by Robert Marvin and a second
by Don Bumgarner. Motion passed.
Old Business:
a. Review Special Election alternative research:
Council members provided their research findings. The majority of cities follow state procedure.
Charter cities are allowed to supersede the state law per the League of Cities, information provided by
Mark Yelich. The question was raised by Chairman Goodell as to what the commission would like to
do moving forward. Mary O'Conner and Gail Ebert proposed working to clarify the current verbiage in
Section 205 of the Brooklyn Center City Charter. Stanley Leino made a motion that the commission
leave the current charter substantively as is but to bring mark-ups to review proposed changes to
Section 205. Robert Marvin seconded the motion. Mark Yelich wanted to be able to still consider other
changes to the current charter section 205. Motion was withdrawn by Stanley Leino and Robert
Marvin. It was decided that this item would be continued in old business at the October 11, 2018
Charter Commission meeting. Chairman Mark Goodell will query the city council as to what suggested
changes they would be seeking as well as a historical record of the amount of Brooklyn Center
municipal special elections.
New Business:
a) Request for Consideration of reduction period before ordinances go into effect after publication.
Meg Beekman, Community Development Director brought a request to reduce the 30 day wait
period to 1 day. The relevant section is Section 3.09 in the City Charter. She answered questions from
the Charter Commission regarding why this change was requested and the hoped for results of making
such a change. Gail Ebert moved that discussion of the proposed changes be moved to the next
meeting. Stanley Leino seconded. Michael Elliott felt that the discussion should happen now. Mark
Yelich proposed that we ask questions now. Chairman Goodell reminded us that we were currently
under a motion. Michael Elliott proposed an amendment to the motion to allow questions while still
tabling the debate for next meeting. Gail Ebert agreed to the amendment. Stanley Leino agreed. The
motion passed.
b) Update on Brooklyn Center's Comprehensive Plan
Stanley Leino moved to accept the written documents regarding the plan and end discussion.
Gail Ebert seconded. The motion passed.
c) Receiving electronic copies of the Charter Commission documents.
Stanley Leino moved to have Charter Commission packets sent electronically to those on the
Charter Commission who wish to receive them electronically. Kathryn Ellgren seconded. The motion
passed. Chairman Goodell will talk to the City Clerk about options for this.
d) Stanley Leino asked to have a discussion of ranked choice voting added to the October 11, 2018
agenda.
Adjournment:
With a motion by Robert Marvin and a second by Mary O'Conner, we adjourned the meeting at 8:31
p.m.
The next meeting is October 11th, 2018 at 6:30pm.
Kathryn Ellgren
Charter Commission Secretary
Brooklyn Center Charter Commission
Meeting Minutes
October 11th, 2018 Draft
Called to order by Chairman Mark Goodell at 6:31 pm.
Roll Call: Mark Goodell called the roll.
Present:
• Mark Goodell
• Mawuli Blabuh
• Donald Bumgarner
• Gail Ebert
• Kathryn Ellgren
• Charlene Johnson
• Beverly Rieschl
• Judy Thorbus
• Mary O'Conner arrived at 6:38 pm
• Stanley Leino arrived at 6:48 pm
Excused:
• Susan Warner
• Mark Yelich
Absent:
• Micheal Elliott
• Robert Marvin
• Abraham Rizvi
Adoption of Agenda:
A motion was made by Beverly Rieschl and seconded by Judy Thorbus to approve the agenda. The
motion passed.
Consideration of Minutes:
July 19, 2018 minutes were approved pending correction of spelling errors on Mark Goodell's name
with a motion by Judy Thorbus and a second by -Beverly Rieschl.
Motion passed.
Old Business:
a) Special Election Alternatives: Chairman Goodell opened the floor to any commission members
who wished to propose changes to the current wording of section 205. Mary O'Connor proposed
holding the special election vote until the next standard voting day. Don Bumgarner proposed a motion
to have the vacant position offered to the 3rd and 4th place runner up from the most recent vote in lieu of
holding a special election. Charlene Johnson seconded the motion. Stanley Leino asked to ensure
clarity of the wording of the proposed replacement. Chairman Goodell asked if there would be a
threshold require for the 3rd and 4th place winners to be considered a viable replacement. Kathryn
Ellgren wanted a percentage threshold. Mary O'Connor called the question. The question was called.
Motion to begin drafting a replacement for section 205 in regards to filling city council vacancies
passed 8 to 2. Stanley Leino, Don Bumgarner and Mary O'Connor will draft verbiage for the proposed
motion. Mark Goodell will consult the League of Cities and the City Staff to see if this measure will
run counter to MN election law. Mary
b) Discussion of consideration of a reduction period before ordinances go into effect after
publication: concerning charter section 3.09. Meg Beekman provided ordinances research from other
cities. Discussion was held regarding whether the 30 day hold was offered any advantages for residents
or clear and present disadvantages for doing business with Brooklyn Center. Stanley Leino moved to
keep section 3.09 as is. Beverly Rieschl seconded. Chairman Goodell stated that he id feel that this
discussion deserved more research and reminded the commission that the discussion could be re-
opened at a later date. The motion passed.
New Business:
a) Discussion of Ranked Choice Voting: Stanley Leino brought the issue forward for discussion.
As there is no definitive desire of the charter commission to move this idea forward, the discussion was
tabled to be possibly considered at a later date.
b) Mary O'Connor informed the Charter Commission that this was her final meeting with the
Commission and that she was not pursuing re -appointment at this time. Chairman Goodell thanked her
for her years of service both as a member and as for taking on the role of secretary.
C) Stanley Leino brought up reinstating the Nominating Committee to the Charter Commission.
Gail Ebert, Kathryn Ellgren, Stanley Leino and Judy Thorbus volunteered to be on this committee.
Adjournment:
With a motion by Stanley Leino and a second by Gail Ebert, we adjourned the meeting at 8:16 pm.
The next meeting is January 11th, 2019.
Kathryn Ellgren
Charter Commission Secretary