HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-10-10BROOKYLN CENTER CHARTER COMMISSION
Thursday, October 10th, 2019
City Hall Council/Commission Conference Room
AGENDA
1. Call to Order – 6:30pm
2. Roll Call
3. Adoption of Agenda
4. Consideration of Minutes
5. Old Business
a. Review status of charter revision to section 7.10
b. Review language for update to charter section 2.05 regarding process for filling
city council vacancies
6. New Business
a. Discuss possible requirement of city leadership to be residents of Brooklyn
Center
7. Adjournment
Brooklyn Center Charter Commission
Meeting Minutes
July 18th, 2019 Draft
Called to order by Chairman Mark Goodell at 6:30 pm.
Chairman Goodell called the roll.
Present:
Mark Goodell
Donald Bumgarner
Gail Ebert
Kathryn Ellgren
Charlene Johnson
Lars McCritty arrived at 7:20pm
Molly Merrimack
Judy Thorbus
Susan Warner
Excused:
Stanley Leino
Robert Marvin
Absent:
Michael Elliott
Guests:
Barbara Suciu, City Clerk
Consideration of Minutes:
April 18, 2019, minutes were adopted with a motion by Susan Warner and a second by Charlene
Johnson. Motion passed.
Commissioner Donald Bumgarner was presented with his Certificate for Perfect Attendance.
Old Business:
a) Review language for an update to charter section 2.05 regarding the process for filling city council
vacancies.
Commissioners Ebert, Bumgarner, and Leino provided the commission with updated language,
removing the option for the city council to fill a vacancy and inserting a provision to have vacancies
filled by the most recent general election runner up. Debate was held. Commissioner Ellgren was
opposed due to concerns that it circumvented the will of the Brooklyn Center citizenry. City Clerk
Suciu suggested changing the language from “runner-up” to “the candidate with the next highest ballot
count.” Commissioner Warner expressed concern over allowing a replacement to be taken from
anything further down than second place. Commissioner Merrimack asked about putting a percentage
threshold on the replacement. Chair Goodell stated the next possible steps- table the discussion until
next time or vote to send it on to the citys attorney. Commissioner Warner asked about the actual cost
of a special election. City Clerk Suciu guesstimated it to be around $15,000. A d iscussion arose about
the likelihood of this scenario ever taking place due to changes in current federal special election law.
Commissioner Judy Thorbus moved to table the discussion until the next meeting to allow the revision
committee to meet again. Commissioner Gail Ebert seconded. The motion passed.
b) Review changes to charter section 7.10 suggested by city staff.
Commissioner Ellgren moved to accept the changes as written. Commissioner Warner
seconded. Verbiage will be sent to the City Clerk and City Manager for further processing.
New Business:
a) Discuss possible requirements of city leadership to be residents of Brooklyn Center.
Commissioner Warner was unable to provide research on this topic at this time.
Commissioner Ebert asked who would be considered “city leadership” under this requirement.
Commissioner Susan Warner moved to table this discussion until the next meeting. Commissioner Judy
Thorbus seconded. The motion passed.
b) Chair Mark Goodell welcomed the two new commissioners, Molly Merrimack and Lars McCritty.
Adjournment:
With a motion by Commissioner Charlene Johnson and a second by Commissioner Gail Ebert, we
adjourned the meeting at 7:28 pm.
The next meeting is October 10, 2019, at 6:30 pm.
Kathryn Ellgren
Charter Commission Secretary