11-15-2005 Charter Commission Regular Meeting 1
Minutes of the Hopkins Charter Commission
November 15, 2005
The Hopkins Charter Commission met on September 27. Present were Commission
members Dorothy Boen, Roger Gross, Fran Hesch, Karen Jensen, Steve Lewis, Jerre
Miller, Robert Miller, and Emily Wallace-Jackson.
The meeting was brought to order at 6:32 p.m.
Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting
Commissioner moved Boen and Commissioner Jensen seconded the motion to approve
the minutes of the September 27, 2005 meeting. The motion was approved unanimously.
Communications
There were no communications.
Old Business
Ranked Ballot Voting
Staff drafted an ordinance that implements ranked ballot voting. The ordinance was
drafted with the assistance of the City Attorney and Mr. Tony Solgard. Two ordinances
were presented to the Commission, one that would mandate implement this voting system
in 2007 and one that would postpone the implementation if the City Clerk certifies that
the City is not ready.
Commissioner Hesch explained the reasoning behind the section that would require the
City Clerk to certify that the City is ready to implement ranked ballot voting. The
consensus of the Commission was that this was a good idea.
Mr. Solgard suggested some additional wording changes to the ordinance. He thought
that the ordinance's use of the phrase "first choice votes" was confusing.
Commissioner Lewis had a question regarding the designation of “first choice.” The
second time around the choices would not be “first choice.” The Commission discussed
language changes that might address this issue. First choice was changed to highest
ranked.
The Commission discussed other language and whether definitions were needed in the
ordinance.
The Commission then discussed whether to present this ordinance to the voters or
whether to present it as an ordinance to the City Council.
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Commissioner Robert Miller said that he thought the most appropriate method would be
to send it to the City Council.
Commissioner Lewis moved and Commissioner Boen seconded the motion to approve
Resolution 2005-02, recommending that the Hopkins City Council adopt Ordinance
2005-958 amending the City Charter. The vote was unanimous.
Commissioner Robert Miller suggested that individual meetings be held with the Council
Members prior to January 17 to explain the proposed method of voting.
The Commission set its next meeting for Tuesday, March 28 at 6:30 p.m.
Adjournment
Commissioner Gross moved and Commissioner Lewis seconded the motion to adjourn.
The meeting adjourned by unanimous consent.