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HomeMy WebLinkAbout19910411 Charter MinutesMINUTES CFIARTER COMMISSION CITY OF HASTINGS, MINNE30TA April 11, 1991 Present: Shawn Moynihan Dave Osberg Barb Thompson Virginia Brown Earl Beltz Agnes Kobierowski Absent: Presiding: Call to Order & Quorum Judy Gilbert Denice Kehn Robert Stoneberg Chairperson Edith Kaiser Edith Kaiser Pat Mathison Tam Novak The meeting was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Chairperson Edith Kaiser and she declared a quorum to be present, item I The first order of business was a redistricting update by Barb Redistricting Thompson. Barb presented maps to the Commi~iort outluung Update existing wards and also a 1990 census map showing census blocks. These census blocks show how the population is distributed throughout the community. What has been done so far is to take all the census block figures and insert them into the existing wards to give an idea of how the population is divided within existing voting wards The existing voting wards were regrouped in 1986, at which time there was not a census, The decision to regroup the wards was made by the Council based on a growth and development issue. City Attorney Shawn Moynihan indicated to the Commiesion that law prohibits any ward changes in any year ending with a "1" or before the Legislature has been redistricted in a year ending with a "~". It must be redistricted within 45 days after the Legislature has been redistricted or May 10, 1992, whichever is first. Changes to be made should be made no later. than May 10, 1992 and as early as the Legislature redistricts. Discussion was had dealing with the imbalance of population {due to growth) especially in Wards 1 & ~ and haw essential redistricting is Item II City Attorney Shawn Moynihan and City Administrator Dave Discussion of Osberg addressed the Commission regarding proposed Charter Proposed changes. Mr. Moynihan submitted to the Commission various Charter Changes changes {printed material listing these changes was given to Commi~lon members) that were talked about last year and a couple that came up subsequent to Charter Commission discussion. Rather than going through each individual section (some were self explanatory) leave it open to specific questions that need to be addressed. Virginia Brown had a question about Section 3.11 (power of the City Administrator). She had previously mentioned the issue regarding the exception of the Police Chief and terminatlOn etc., why was this charter ever set up? T.t was Virginia.'s suggestion that this be changed so that all department heads are under the City Administrator. She felt that it was not normal form to have one department head separated from the supervision of the city administrator. Mr. Moynihan offered a suggestion as to why this might have been done; historically this has been this way for some time, it may have been a political decision at the time to make the Police Chief position more of a political position responsible to political officialslelected officials vs. the public/public officials. Earl Beltz mentioned that the Commiesion (6 years ago) had the same questions. They had the Chief of Police and the Mayor to a meeting and after listening to their input the Charter Comm~~an at that time decided to leave it as it was structured. Mr. Beltz suggested that the Commiesion should probably go through the same thing (inviting the chief of police and mayor to the next meeting) to relieve any fears or feeling they might have about this issue. Edith Kaiser clairified far the Commission that Vu-ginia Brown wants a full board discussion of this issue, Ms. Brown will get a full Board discussion at the next meeting complete with the Chief of Police, City Administrator, and the full Commission. Edith Kaiser informed the Commission that she also had a problem with an item, that item being the exclusion of the fire department from the ethics and she would like to know why that is It was discussed that this issue also be addressed at the next meeting. Mr. Moynihan explained to the Commission that there axe two ways that amendments can be adopted; f) if the Charter Commiesion passes a resolution recommending to the Council that the Council adopt these amendments by ordinance, it takes three readings and must be a 1~~an. ~mous vote of all Council members, 2} the second way to make Charter G`ammi4aiolls recommendations effective is to go to the voters/electian. The immediate way to handle this is to pass a resolution from this body to the Council recommending that they adopt whichever ones are approved by ordinance. Then if the Council. paages it (they must have three readings like any other ordinance and upon passage it will become effective 90 days after it has passed}. Virginia Brown made a motion that 3FSy 10, 11, 41, 403, 405, 406, 4.0'l, 506, 608y 509, 603, 604, and 713 be presented before the Council for their approval and recommendation The motion was seconded by Pat • Mathison, the motion was ~~animously carried. Ism III Kane New Business Item N Old Business Mr. Moynihan. and Mr. Osberg will put together a resolution so there is a written resolution for the Council. This will be presented as the recommendations of the Charter Commiesion and the Council will either vote that night or table it. It was Mr. Moynyhan`s suggestion to the Council that if there is anyone that might vote against one of these (politely tell us) and it will be pulled from the packet other wise each one will have to be voted on individually because one "no" vote will kill everything. The Council must approve these ~ynAnima~9jy, if someone is absent they cannot vote. Virginia Brown made a motion that more discussion be held at the next meeting regarding section 3.11 and invite the Police Chief and the Mayor to attend the next meeting. Edith Kaiser requested that some history be gathered between -now and the next meeting. Earl Beltz suggested that it may be beneficial to also ask the previous Mayor to share background information. This was seconded by Agnes Kobierowski The motion was approved. Item Y Adjournment Motion: Second: Earl Be1tz Virginia Brown Motion carried unRn~mously. Meeting adjourned at 8c30 pm. Next Meeting Thursday, July 11, 1991, 7;i~ ~ZE~ NOTI~' ~A.RI.Il''R 53AR?~G T~f1p Respectfully submitted: