Loading...
CR 95-05 Revision of City Charter .. . , . December 27,1994 ~ Council Report 95-5 REVISION OF CITY CHARTER ProDosed Action Staff recommends that the Council approve the fonowing motion: Approve Ordinances #94-748 and #94-749 for first reading. This action will continue the process of amending the City Charter. Overview The Hopkins City Charter was adopted in 1947. It was last updated in 1993. The Hopkins Charter Commission met in November and voted to make two changes in the City Charter. Ordinances #94-748 And #94-749 were drafted by city staff and distributed to the Charter Commission. The Commission met on November 15, 1994 and voted to recommend the adoption of Ordinance #94-748 by the Hopkins City Council. The Commission met again on November 29, 1994 and voted to recommend the adoption of Ordinance #94-749. e The City Council must approve the Ordinance unanimously and may not change any of the language contained within the Ordinance. Otherwise the amendments would have to be returned to the Charter Commission for approval. Primary Issues to Consider . What changes are being recommended in the Charter? SUDDortine Information . Analysis of the issues. . Ordinances #94-748 and #94-749 a J A. Genellie 'ty Clerk . . e Council Report #95-5 Page 2 Analvsis of the Issues . What changes are being recommended in the Charter? Currently, City elections are held in May of odd numbered years. The Minnesota Legislature adopted a law in 1994 which requires all local elections to be held in November. The local unit of government has the choice of when to move its elections to November, it must be done by 1998, and whether to have its elections in odd or even numbered years. The Charter Commission is recommending that the City of Hopkins continue to have its election in odd numbered years, and that the change to November be made in 1995. The Charter Commission felt that Hopkins should continue to hold its elections in odd numbered years for the following reasons: 1. The Hopkins school district and several surrounding communities will be holding their elections in November of odd numbered years. 2, More attention will be given to local races if they are not on the same ballot as state and national contests. The Commission also felt that, if the City must change its election date, it should be done as soon as possible. The effect of this change would be to move the 1995 election from May to November. Councilmembers'terms .would begin on first day ofJanuary following the election. The proposed change would extend the terms of the current councilmembers by six months. The second recommended change to the Charter is more of a housekeeping measure. The language in Section 2.07 concerning salary and expenses was somewhat unclear. This Section has now been split into two subdivisions, the first concerning salaries and the second concerning expenses. Alternatives 1. Approve Ordinances #94-748 And #94-749 for first reading. This action would continue the process of amending the City Charter. 2. Return Ordinances #94-748 and/or #94-749 to the Charter Commission with suggestions for changes. This action would require at least one more meeting of the Charter Commission where the Commission could review the CounciPs suggestions. 3. Vote to not adopt Ordinances #94-748 And #94-749. This would end the process of the amending the City Charter. Staff recommends Alternative # 1. . --- -- --- CITY OF HOPKINS HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA . ORDINANCE NO. 94-748 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF HOPKINS UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE HOPKINS CHARTER COMMISSION PURSUANT TO M.S.A. CHAPTER 410.12, SUBD. 7 The City Council of the City of Hopkins, upon recommendation of and from the Hopkins City Charter Commission does hereby ordain and thus amend and adopt the following change s , deletions, and amendments of or from the following chapters and sections of the Hopkins City Charter: Section 1. Section 2.03, Subdivision 2 is amended as follows: Subdivision 2. The Mayor will serve for a term of two years, and the four Councilmernbers shall serve for terms of four years each. The terms of all elected officials shall commence on July January 1st and all shall serve until their successors are elected and qualify. Section 2. Section 2.06, Subdivision 1 is amended as follows: Section 2.06. THE MAYOR. Subdivision 1. The Mayor shall be the . presiding officer of the Council and shall vote on all motions before the Council as any other member thereof. A president pro tempore shall be chosen by the full City Council at the first Council meeting ln July January after a municipal election. The president pro tempore shall serve as presiding officer in the Mayor's absence, and as Acting Mayor in case of the Mayor's disability or absence from the City. In cases where the Mayor and the President Pro Tempore are both absent, the Councilmernber, who has served the longest, shall perform as acting Mayor. Section 3. Section 4.01, Subdivision 1 is amended as follows: Section 4.0l. MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. Subdivision l. The regular election for the choice of the elected officials of the City shall be held on the third Tuesday in Hay first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in odd numbered years beginning in 1995. The City Manager shall give notice of all elections in the manner prescribed by the laws of . Minnesota for cities of the same classification as Hopkins, but failure to glve such notice shall not invalidate such election. e -- -- .- - ..-- . First Reading: January 31 1995 . Second Reading: January 17, 1995 Date of Publication: January 25, 1995 Date Ordinance Takes Effect: April 261 1995 Mayor Attest: city Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY: . City Attorney Signature Date . CITY OF HOPKINS HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA . ORDINANCE NO. 94-749 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF HOPKINS UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE HOPKINS CHARTER COMMISSION PURSUANT TO M.S.A. CHAPTER 410.12, SUBD. 7 The City Council of the City of Hopkins, upon recommendation of and from the Hopkins City Charter Commission does hereby ordain and thus amend and adopt the following changes, deletions, and amendments of or from the following chapters and sections of the Hopkins City Charter: Section 1. Section 2.07 is amended as follows: S1\L1'IlIES Section 2.07. Sl\.L1'.IUES J\ND EXPENSES. Thc HtJ.yor and membcr::; of the City Council :Jh.:lll e.:lch recei7e .J.n .:lnnual :Jo.I.J.ry .J.o the Council may by ordin.J.ncc cot.J.bli::;h in :Juch .J.ffiount .J.:J they deeffi re.J.::;ono.ble. No chJ.nge In ::iUch oo.liJ.rieG .:Jh.:lll t.J.Jce effect until JEter the next :Jucceeding municiptJ.I election. The H.J.yor .J.nd Councilmembero :Jh.J.Il be p.J.id .J. re.J.:Jon.J.ble :J urn . for e.J.ch d.J.Y o.nd/ or their rC.J.son.J.ble expen::;c:J incurrcd '..:hilc tro.TvTcling out::;ide of the City on the City'::; bu::;ine:Jo. The City H<1no.ger .J.nd 0.11 other cmploycc:J of the City :::;htJ.II rcceivc ::;uch :J.J.I.J.ric:J I ',':.J.gc:J1 .J.nd c)cpcn8C8 .J.O from timc to time m.J.Y bc fixcd by thc City Council. SALARIES AND EXPENSES Section 2.07. SALARIES. Subdivision l. The Mayor and members of the City Council shall each receive an annual salary as the Council may by ordinance establish in such amount as they deem reasonable. No change in such salaries shall take effect until after the next succeeding municipal election. The city Manager and all other employees of the City shall receive such salaries as from time to time may be fixed by the City Council. Subdivision 2. EXPENSES. The Mayor and Councilmembers shall be paid a reasonable sum for each day and/or their reasonable expenses incurred while traveling outside of the city on the City's business. The City Manager and all other employees of the City shall be paid their reasonable expenses incurred while traveling outside of the City on the City's business. . -- - . First Reading: January 3, 1995 . Second Reading: January 17, 1995 Date of Publication: January 25, 1995 Date Ordinance Takes Effect: Apr i 1 26, 1995 Mayor Attest: City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY: City Attorney Signature Date . .