2024 Hopkins Charter Commission Annual Report1
Hopkins Charter Commission
Annual Report
2024
The Hopkins Charter Commission met on May 29, 2024. The Commission members attending
included: Dunn, Gadd, Halverson, Hanneman, Hugh, Johnson, Lenz, Maurer and Shirley.
Election of Officers: Commissioner Daniel Lenz was unanimously elected Chair. Commissioner
Jason Gadd was unanimously elected Vice-Chair.
Proposed Charter Amendments for Chapters 2, 4, 6 and 7:
City Clerk Domeier summarized the proposed amendments to Chapters 2 and 4 including: Elected
Officials, Municipal Elections, Candidates and Write-In Vote Tallies. The Charter Commission
unanimously voted to direct staff to draft ordinances amending Chapters 2 and 4.
Finance Director Bishop summarized the proposed amendments to Chapters 6 and 7 including:
Purchases and Contracts, Preparation of the Annual Budget, Disbursements and Accounts and
Reports. The Charter Commission unanimously voted to direct staff to draft ordinances amending
Chapters 2 and 4.
The Hopkins Charter Commission met on July 31, 2024. The Commission members attending
included: Dunn, Gadd, Halverson, Hanneman, Hugh, Johnson, Lenz, Maurer, Schady, Shirley and
White.
Proposed Charter Amendments for Chapters 2, 4, 6 and 7:
City Clerk Domeier summarized the proposed amendments to Chapters 2 and 4 including: Elected
Officials, Municipal Elections, Candidates and Write-In Vote Tallies. The Charter Commission voted
to Adopt Resolution 2024-03 a Resolution Recommending Amendment of the Hopkins City Charter
by Ordinance with 8 ayes and 3 nays and unanimously voted to Adopt Resolution 2024-04 a
Resolution Recommending Amendment of the Hopkins City Charter by Ordinance.
Finance Director Bishop summarized the proposed amendments to Chapters 6 and 7 including:
Purchases and Contracts, Preparation of the Annual Budget, Disbursements and Accounts and
Reports. The Charter Commission unanimously voted to Adopt Resolution 2024-01 a Resolution
Recommending Amendment of the Hopkins City Charter by Ordinance and to Adopt Resolution
2024-02 a Resolution Recommending Amendment of the Hopkins City Charter by Ordinance.
The Hopkins City Council held public hearings on October 1, 2024, on the proposed Charter
Amendments for Chapters 2, 4, 6 and 7.
• Ordinance Amending Chapter 2 – Changing the Mayor’s term from two-years to four-years
o Failed on a 4-1 vote.
• 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.
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• Ordinance Amending Chapter 6 – Updating Charter to align with Legislative Policy regarding
purchasing
o Passed on a 5-0 vote.
• Ordinance Amending Chapter 7 – Updating Charter on outdated finance items (budget prep,
financial reports, disbursements)
o Passed on a 5-0 vote.
The Hopkins City Council held public hearings on October 8, 2024, on the proposed Charter
Amendments for Chapters 6 and 7.
• Ordinance Amending Chapter 6 – Updating Charter to align with Legislative Policy regarding
purchasing
o Passed on a 5-0 vote.
• Ordinance Amending Chapter 7 – Updating Charter on outdated finance items (budget prep,
financial reports, disbursements)
o Passed on a 5-0 vote.
The Hopkins Charter Commission met on November 20, 2024. The Commission members attending
included: Dunn, Gadd, Halverson, Hanneman, Hugh, Johnson, Lenz, Maurer, Schady, Shirley and
White.
Proposed Charter Amendments for Chapters 2 and 4: City Clerk Domeier summarized the Council
Action from October 1, 2024. The Charter Commission voted to Adopt Resolution 2024-05 a
Resolution Recommending Amendment of the Hopkins City Charter by Ordinance with 7 ayes and 4
nays and unanimously voted to Adopt Resolutions 2024-06, 2024-07, and 2024-08 a Recommending
Amendment of the Hopkins City Charter by Ordinance.
The City Council will hold four public hearings on the amendments for Chapter 2 and 4 on Tuesday,
January 21, 2025.
Official Meeting Minutes and Packets are available at: https://www.hopkinsmn.com/AgendaCenter
under the Charter Commission tab.