HomeMy WebLinkAbout20250326 Charter Review Commission Meeting Minutes2025 CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION
MINUTES OF MEETING
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025
1. Call to Order:
The meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m.
II. Roll Call
Commissioners
Ms. Victoria Forsberg
Ms. Shelly Heuser
Mr. Jim Johnson
Mr. Gerald L. Koza, Jr.
Dr. Alexander Okwonna - absent
Mr. E. Craig Slater - Chair
Mr. Travis Spiegelhauer
City Staff
Katie Leininger
Lawrence Provins
Gladis Sanchez
111. Consideration and Possible Action: Vote to Accept Minutes of
March 5, 2025 Meeting
The minutes of the March 5, 2025, meeting were approved
without correction or objection.
IV. Consideration and Possible Action: Discussion and Review
of Charter and Proposed Amendments
The Commission revisited the following sections:
A. The Commission discussed potential changes to Article 3. The
City Council
Section 3.04 Compensation
Commissioner Shelly Heuser recommended that a
Cost -of -Living Allowance (COLA) salary increase for
the City Council.
Motion passes.
City Attorney's stated that this should be addressed
through an ordinance and would not require a Charter
amendment
Section 3.09 - Rules of procedure
Commissioner Jim Johnson recommended
implementing instant voting using buttons and a
display screen to show the results.
Motion passes.
City Attorney's stated this would be a matter of policy
and funding, not a Charter amendment.
Section 3.10 — Procedures for passing of ordinances or
resolutions
Commissioner Jim Johnson recommended that the
wording in the Charter and ordinances be revised to
state, 'Publication in accordance with State law,' in
order to meet or exceed state law requirements.
Motion passes.
B. The Commission discussed potential changes to Article 4.
Administrative Services
a. Section 4.01 - City manager
b. Section 4.02 — Department of police
c. Section 4.03 — City secretary
d. Section 4.05 — Department of finance
e. Section 4.06 — Municipal court
f. Section 4.07 - City attorney
g. Section 4.09 — Fire department
h. Section 4.10 — Department of public works
i. Section 4.12 — Department of parks, recreation and
beautification
j. Section 4 13 — Other departments
Chair Slater proposed that City Council review
departments that have been referenced in the Charter.
Motion passes.
C. The Commission discussed potential changes to Article 5
Elections.
a. Section 5.01 — Regular elections
b. Section 5.02 — Qualified voters
c. Section 5.03 — Conduct of elections
d. Section 5.04 — Filing for office
e. Section 5.05 — Ballots
f. Section 5.06 — Election by majority
S o changes recommended.
D. The Commission discussed potential changes to Article 6.
Legislation by the People, Recall Initiative Referendum
a. Section 6.01 - General power
S ection 6.02 - Scope of recall.
S ection 6.03 - Petition for recall
S ection 6.04 - Form of recall petition
S ection 6.05 - Various papers constituting petition
S ection 6.06 - Presentation of petition to the city
council
S ection 6.07 - Public hearing to be held
S ection 6.08 - Election to be called
S ection 6.09 - Ballots in recall election
S ection 6.10 - Result of recall election
S ection 6.11 - Recall, restrictions thereon
S ection 6.13 - Initiative
S ection 6.14 - Referendum
S ection 6.15 - Voluntary submission of legislation by
the council
S ection 6.16 - Form of ballots
S ection 6.17 - Publication of proposed and referred
ordinances
S ection 6.18 - Adoption of ordinances
S ection 6.19 - Inconsistent ordinances
S ection 6.20 - Ordinances passed by popular vote,
repeal or amendment
S ection 6.21 - Further regulation by city council
S ection 6.22 - Franchise ordinances
S o changes were recommended to Sections 6.01
through 6.22, except Section 6.17
S ection 6.17 — Publication of proposed and referred
ordinances
Commissioner Victoria Forsberg recommended that
the wording in the Charter and ordinances be revised
to state, 'Publication in accordance with State law,' in
order to meet or exceed state law requirements.
The motion passes.
V. Future Business
The Commission confirmed it would meet on April 16, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., to
review Articles 7 and 8
VI. Adjournment
Adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
Minutes approved as submitted and/or corrected on �'® ZOj,"
2025.
Craig er, Chair
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