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HomeMy WebLinkAbout19870409 Charter MinutesCHARTER COMMISSION MINUTES April 9, 1987 Minutes of the regular meeting of the City of Hastings, Charter Commission, held Thursday, April 9, 1987, 7:30 P.M., at St. Philips Lutheran Church, 15th Street and Pleasant, Hastings, Minnesota. The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P.M. by Chairman Winton Hartman. Members present were as follows: Winton Hartman Jeanne McGree Rick Law Dick Lee Earl Beltz Michael Hovgaard Agnes Kobierowski Members absent were as follows: Janice Johnson Judith Gilbert Dick Dobrick Chairman Hartman announced that a quorum was present. Following his greeting to members, he introduced Bonnie Johnson, Computec Services, and explained that she would be producing the minutes of this and future meetings in accordance with a motion passed at the meeting of February 12, 1987. The minutes of the previous meeting had been distributed by mail, and Earl Beltz moved that they be approved. Second by Mike Hovgaard and carried. Chairman Hartman called attention to the packet that had been placed before each member and explained the various pieces of material contained in the packets. One item was the most recently updated Hastings City Charter con- taining all the amendments that were passed at the special election. Also included was a "Model Charter for Minnesota Cities" from the League of Minnesota Cities which he urged members to study prior to the next meeting. A pamphlet stating the advantages and disadvantages of a Home Rule Charter supplied by the League of Minnesota Cities was included along with some state government information regarding Chapter 410: information on statutes which control the establishment and operation of a city under Home Rule Charter. An "Information Service" sheet from the League of Minnesota Cities concerning Councils in Third Class cities was discussed and corrections were made in the information regarding Hastings. Chairman Hartman announced that he wished to present a strategy proposal for the Commission's work far the coming 18 month's. He proposed scheduling 4 quar- terly meetings. Between the meetings, the committee's would meet and prepare recommendations. The advantage to this would be that when the Commission meets, it would have members who have researched what will be talked about making the Commission better prepared for the meeting. He stated that he believed that the Charter Commission in the last 2 years has made some major recommendations and .changes in the City Charter. Barring an emergency that would require the Com- Charter Commission Meeting Minutes April 9, 1987 Page 2 of 3 mission to act on the request of the Council or citizens that file a petition, it would be unwise for the Commission to make any recommendations for changes in the Charter before the elections in the fall of 1988. The strategy he pro- posed was that the next meeting of the full Commission be on July 9th. The Committees would do their work and come to the July meeting with some recom- mendations for consideration of the full Commission. Once the Committees have reported to the Commission in July and the Commission has reached some consen- sus as to the direction it wants to go, the Commission shall make the public aware of its proposals and goals-and create an opportunity at the next full meeting of the Commission for public hearings on the Commission`s recommenda- tions so that the public could be adequately notified allowing them to have an opportunity to attend the meetings and speak for or .against the Commission's recommendations. After having the benefit of the public input at the October meeting, the Committees that have made recommendations to the Commission would have a chance to reconsider their recommendations in light of the public input, prepare a final draft and make any corrections they believe are required. At the January 14, 1988, meeting, the Committee appointed to study the By-Laws could dictate that the Commission be organized annually at its January meeting or that January would be the month for the election of officers. The full Commission would hear the Committee reports again and refine the Charter amendments and proposals as recommended by the Committees. At that meeting the Commission would also set the subsequent meetings between then and the November elections so as to have an opportunity; to prepare the formal proposals that would be presented to the public for consideration at the election. This would give the Commission enough work time to have a completed package ready in July, 1988, so there would be an opportunity for a further public hearing before the matter is put on the ballot. Rick Law moved that the foregoing proposal be adopted. Second by Dick Lee and carried. A list of the proposed Committees, their members and duties were provided each member. They are as follows: 1. Committee on Charter Commission By-laws and Rules of Procedure and City Officials Conflict of Interest comprised of Dick Dobrick, Chairman, Judith Gilbert and Michael Hovgaard. The Committee is charged with studying data regarding Chapter 410.05 of Minnesota Statutes which provides that "The Charter Commission shall make rules including quorum requirements with reference to opertion and procedures." The Committee shall recommend a set of By-Laws for the Commission operation including, but not limited to, the election of officers, quorum, agenda order, opportunity for public in-put, committee appointments, Robert's Rules of Order, etc. The Committee shall also study data on conflicts of interest on the part of City officials in the conduct of the City's business and the practice of other Minnesota Charter cities of the Third Class in this regard and recommend, if desirable, amendment to the Hastings City Charter . Charter Commission Meeting Minutes April 9, 1987 Page 3 of 3 2. Committee on Public Information Regarding the Work and Recommendations of the City Charter Commission comprised of Dick Lee, Chairman, Earl Beltz and Rick Law. The Committee is charged with preparing a public information program regarding charter commissions as established by the Minnesota Statutes, the functions of charter commissions and an awareness of the on- going work of the Charter Commission in the City of Hastings. It is the hope of the Commission that the public information program will stimulate citizen in-put and participation in the work of the City Charter Commission and an awareness of what the Commission is doing. 3. Committee on Appointment of the Acting Mayor of the City of Hastings and The Appointment of the Committees of the City Council of Hastings and Their Make-up comprised of Jeanne McGree, Chairman, Janice Johnson and Agnes Kobierowski. The appointment of the acting mayor and the council committees has been a continuing matter of contention in the annual organization of the City Council, at times degenerating into a farce. The committee is charged with studying the available data on this subject including, but not limited to, the practice of other Minnesota cities of the Third Class and recommend, if desirable, amendment to the City Charter covering the procedures to be followed in the annual organization of the City Council. Richard Lee moved that the foregoing committee appointments and the charges of the committees be approved. Second by Rick Law and carried. There being no further business to come before the meeting, Rick Law moved that the meeting adjourn. Second by Jeanne McGree and carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:30 P.M. /bj Respectfully submitted, ~~ctC// Bonnie Johnson, ecording Secretary