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10-24-1994 Charter Commission Regular MeetingMinutes of the Hopkins Charter Commission October 24, 1994 The Hopkins Charter Commission met on October 24. Present were Warren Woodrich, William Arimond, Dorothy Boen, Randy Engel, Jannette Holen, Paul Lund, Sally Morem, and Harry Smith. City Clerk Jim Genellie was also present. Mr. Woodrich brought the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting. The Commission approved the minutes of October 26, 1993. Election of Chair and Vice-Chair. The Commission proceeded to elect a chair and vice-chair. Commissioner Boen moved and Commissioner Smith seconded the motion to nominate Randy Engel as Chair. There being no further nominations Commissioner Smith moved and Commissioner Lund seconded the motion that nominations be closed and that Mr. Engel be elected as Chair. The vote was unanimous. Commissioner Arimond moved and Commissioner Smith seconded the motion to nominate Paul Lund as vice-chair. There being no further nominations, Commissioner Smith moved and Commissioner Holen seconded the motion that nominations be closed and that Mr. Lund be elected as vice-chair. The vote was unanimous. At this point Mr. Engel took over the gavel. He congratulated Mr. Woodrich on his term as chair. Reports. There were no reports. Consideration of Communications. There were no communications. Unfinished business. The Commission took up the revision of the by-laws. Commissioner Woodrich moved and Commissioner Holen seconded the motion that Article VIII, Section 1, of the Commission by- laws be amended by deleting the phrase "provided that a seven day prior notice of the proposed amendment has been furnished to each member." Commissioner Smith asked about the background of this amendment. Commissioner Woodrich explained that the current language was felt to be unduly cumbersome. The motion was called and approved unanimously. New business. Mr. Genellie explained about the necessity of amending the Charter to bring it into conformance with state law regarding elections dates. After some discussion Commissioner Woodrich moved and Commissioner Holen seconded the motion to amend section 4.01 of the City Charter so that the city election would be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in odd numbered years beginning in 1995. Commissioner Morem reminded the Commission that other parts of the Charter would have to amended to be brought into agreement with the proposed change. Commissioner Woodrich spoke in favor of his motion. He explained that keeping the election in odd years would allow the City to continue to share costs with the school district as well as being in conformance with many of the surrounding cities. He stated that he was in favor of making the change in 1995 since this would extend the terms of the current City Council at a time when there were a number of important issues pending. Commissioner Holen supported the motion by stating that making the change next year would the simplest method of bringing City elections in line with state law. Commissioner Engel said that he supported having the City election in odd numbered years as this would probably attract better candidates. He also said that the other Commissioners had made some good points in favor of making the change in 1995 but wondered whether the current Council would want to extend its terms by six months. Commissioner Lund recommended that the change not take place until 1997. That way the Council members elected in 1995 would know they were being elected for an extra six months. After some more discussion, the motion was voted on. The vote was unanimous that the City elections be moved to November of odd numbered years beginning in 1995. The City Clerk was instructed to prepare an ordinance which would make the necessary amendments to the Charter. The next item of new business was a discussion of Section 2.07 of the City Charter. Mr. Genellie explained that there was some confusion regarding this Section. Considerable discussion ensued. The main points were whether any change was necessary and if so, how should the Section be reworded to clarify it. Commissioner Woodrich moved and Commission Holen seconded a motion that the City Clerk be instructed to prepare some alternative language for this Section that the Commission could review at its next meeting. The vote was as follows: Commissioner Arimond, nay; Commission Holen, aye; Commissioner Lund, nay; Commissioner Morem, aye; Commissioner Smith, aye; Commissioner Woodrich, aye. The motion carried. The next meeting was scheduled for November 15 at 7:00 p.m. Adjournment. Commissioner Woodrich moved and Commissioner Holen seconded the motion to adjourn. The meeting adjourned by unanimous consent.