11-20-2024 Charter Commission Regular MeetingHOPKINS CHARTER COMMISSION
AGENDA
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
5:30 p.m.
RASPBERRY ROOM AT HOPKINS CITY HALL
1010 1ST ST. S., HOPKINS, MN
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM PREVIOUS MEETING
a. July 31, 2024, Charter Commission Regular Meeting Proceedings
3. OLD BUSINESS
1. Next Steps for the 2024 Charter Amendments: Chapters 2 and 4
4. ADJOURNMENT
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Minutes of the Hopkins Charter Commission
July 31, 2024
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
The Hopkins Charter Commission met on July 31, 2024, in the Raspberry Room at City
Hall, 1010 1st St. S., Hopkins. Chair Lenz called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m.
Present were Commission Members Dunn, Gadd, Halverson, Hanneman, Hugh,
Johnson, Maurer, Shirley and White. Commission Member Schady participated via
interactive technology pursuant to Minn. Stat. Section 133D.02. Also present was City
Clerk Domeier, Special Projects and Initiatives Manager Imihy Bean and City Attorney
Riggs.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
Motion by Halverson. Second by Hanneman.
Motion to Adopt Agenda and Approve May 29, 2024, Charter Commission
Regular Meeting Proceedings.
Ayes: Dunn, Gadd, Halverson, Hanneman, Hugh, Johnson, Lenz, Maurer,
Schady, Shirley and White
Nays: 0. Absent: None. Motion carried.
OLD BUSINESS
4.1. 2024 Charter Amendment: Chapters 2 and 4
City Clerk Domeier summarized the proposed amendments to Chapters 2 and 4 noting
that the meeting packet included data requested at the last meeting.
Commissioner White questioned if a voter may feel disenfranchised if their vote now
leads to a longer term. City Attorney Riggs did not anticipate any issues to that effect.
Commissioner Gadd supported ensuring consistency in leadership by moving the mayor
position to a 4-year term. Commissioner White concurred and supported even year
elections as well. Commissioners Shirley and Halverson supported only a two-year
mayor term. Commissioner Hanneman stressed that you have continuity with a mayor
serving a 4-year term. Commissioner Maurer supported a 4-year term.
Motion by Hanneman. Second by Maurer.
Motion to Adopt Resolution 2024-03 a Resolution Recommending Amendment
of the Hopkins City Charter by Ordinance.
Ayes: Dunn, Gadd, Hanneman, Johnson, Lenz, Maurer, Schady, and White
Nays: Halverson, Hugh, Shirley. Absent: None. Motion carried.
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Motion by Shirley. Second by Dunn.
Motion to Adopt Resolution 2024-04 a Resolution Recommending Amendment
of the Hopkins City Charter by Ordinance.
Ayes: Dunn, Gadd, Halverson, Hanneman, Hugh, Johnson, Lenz, Maurer,
Schady, Shirley and White
Nays: 0. Absent: None. Motion carried.
4.2. 2024 Charter Amendment: Chapters 6 and 7
City Clerk Domeier and City Attorney Riggs summarized the proposed amendments to
Chapters 6 and 7.
Motion by Hanneman. Second by Gadd.
Motion to Adopt Resolution 2024-01 a Resolution Recommending Amendment
of the Hopkins City Charter by Ordinance.
Ayes: Dunn, Gadd, Halverson, Hanneman, Hugh, Johnson, Lenz, Maurer,
Schady, Shirley and White
Nays: 0. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Motion by Johnson. Second by Hugh.
Motion to Adopt Resolution 2024-02 a Resolution Recommending Amendment
of the Hopkins City Charter by Ordinance.
Ayes: Dunn, Gadd, Halverson, Hanneman, Hugh, Johnson, Lenz, Maurer,
Schady, Shirley and White
Nays: 0. Absent: None. Motion carried.
City Attorney Riggs explained the charter amendment by ordinance process.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by White. Second by Hugh.
Motion to Adjourn the meeting at 6:15 p.m.
Ayes: Dunn, Gadd, Halverson, Hanneman, Hugh, Johnson, Lenz, Maurer,
Schady, Shirley and White
Nays: 0. Absent: None. Motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted,
Amy Domeier, City Clerk
CITY OF HOPKINS Memorandum
To: Hopkins Charter Commission Members
From: Amy Domeier, City Clerk
Date: November 20, 2024
Subject: Next Steps: 2024 Charter Amendments for Chapters 2 and 4
On July 31, 2024, the Charter Commission adopted Resolution 2024-03 recommending
that the City Council adopt Ordinance 2024-1212 which would amend the Mayor’s term
from 2-years to 4-years. The Charter Commission also adopted Resolution 2024-04
recommending that the City Council adopt Ordinance 2024-1213 which would change the
municipal elections from odd-year to even-years, updated candidate filing dates to match
state statute and provide a clear process for tallying write-in votes during municipal
elections.
On October 1, 2024, the City Council held the required public hearings for both ordinances.
The summary of votes was as follows:
• Ordinance Amending Chapter 2 – Changing the Mayor’s term from two-years
to four-years
o Failed on a 4-1 vote.
o Ayes: Garrido, Hanlon, Hunke, Kuznia
o Nays: Goodlund
• Ordinance Amending Chapter 4 – Moving from odd-year to even-year
elections, aligning candidate filing requirements with state statute and
requiring a written request to count write-in votes
o Failed on a 4-1 vote.
o Ayes: Garrido, Hanlon, Hunke, Kuznia
o Nays: Goodlund
The City Attorney will be in attendance to discuss the next steps and options in the Charter
Amendment process.
City Clerk