11-15-1994 Charter Commission Regular MeetingMinutes of the Hopkins Charter Commission
November 15, 1994
The Hopkins Charter Commission met on November 15. Present were Randy Engel, William
Arimond, Dorothy Boen, Richard Brubacher, Paul Lund, Sally Morem, Henry Pokorny, and
Warren Woodrich. City Clerk Jim Genellie was also present..
Mr. Engel 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 24, 1994.
Consideration of Communications.
There were no communications.
Unfinished business.
1) Approval of Resolution 94-1. Commissioner Engel went over the background of the proposed
amendment to the City Charter. Commissioner Woodrich moved and Commissioner Boen
seconded the motion to approve Resolution 94-1 recommending, to the City Council, adoption of
Ordinance 94-748.
Commissioner Pokorny questioned the designation of a president pro tempore in Section 2.06.
He suggested that the Commission consider changing it to mayor pro tempore. Commissioner
Engel asked if the term president pro tempore occurred elsewhere in the Charter. Mr. Genellie
said that he did not think that it did. The Commission decided not to change the language.
Commissioner Pokorny also had a concern about the statement in Section 4.01 to the effect that
the failure to give notice of an election did not invalidate the election. Commissioner Engel
responded that this wording was probably intended to cover situations where there might be a
communication breakdown between the City and the newspaper or other events beyond the
City's control.
Commissioner Brubacher asked why the Commission chose to have the elections in odd
numbered years rather than even numbered years. Other Commission members responded that
having the election in odd numbered years focused attention on local elections, allowed the City
to share costs with the school district, and was in concert with several surrounding communities.
After some more discussion, the motion was voted on. The vote was unanimous to approve
Resolution 94-1.
Commissioner Engel asked about the process of amending the Charter. Mr. Genellie responded
that the proposed ordinance would have to be approved by the City Council after a first and
second reading and then published in the official newspaper. The amendments would take effect
90 days after publication unless, within 60 days after passage and publication of such an
ordinance, a petition requesting a referendum on the ordinance is filed with the city clerk. Such a
petition would require a referendum on the amendments.
The next item of unfinished business was a discussion of Section 2.07 of the City Charter.
Commissioner Engel explained the background of this issue. Commissioner Morem said that the
proposed language was similar to what she had envisioned. Commissioner Pokorny stated that
the proposed language would allow a per diem.
Commissioner Woodrich suggested some additional language that would require all requests for
expense payments that are submitted by Councilmembers be approved as a separate item on the
Council agenda. A discussion ensued about the need to put restrictive language on expenses in
the Charter.
At the end of the discussion, Commissioner Morem moved and Commissioner Woodrich
seconded the motion to approve the new language for Section 2.07. Mr. Genellie will prepare an
ordinance and resolution for the Commission's next meeting.
The next meeting was scheduled for November 29 at 7:00 p.m.
Adjournment.
The meeting adjourned by unanimous consent.