HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-02-01 PACKET 04.E.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA
MEETING ITEM # (�f
DATE 2/1/2012 ®®
PREPARED BY
Administration
Ryan Schroeder
DEPARTMENT HEAD
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT
COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST
Consider authorizing staff to advertise for volunteer City Charter Commission applicants.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Authorize staff to advertise for applicants.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
❑ MEMO /LETTER:
❑ RESOLUTION:
❑ ORDINANCE:
❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION:
❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION:
❑ OTHER:
ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS
Additional information will be sent out on Monday.
City dministrator Date
COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN
DocumenQ
City of
Cotta Grove
J Minnesota
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Ryan R. Schroeder, City Administrator
Date: January 30, 2012
Subject: Petition to become Home Rule Charter City
As Council is aware, on January 5, 2012 a petition was received by the District Court
requesting that the Court authorize and seat a Charter Commission in the City of Cottage
Grove. If seated, that Commission would be charged with the responsibility to write a Home
Rule Charter document that then, ostensibly, would be presented to the voters of the City to
affirm or deny.
With presentation of the petition the petitioners also presented a number of suggestions for
persons to be seated by the court on the Commission. It is unknown how the petitioners
gained the applicants for the Commission. It is suggested that the City ensure that the general
public is aware of the opportunity to offer their assistance.
The City Clerk's office has received a copy of the petition with petition signatures and is in the
process of verification. The required threshold is 1335 verified signatures. The review process
itself is quite tedious and I've been informed the review is about 25% complete. If the review
continues at the same pace as has occurred to this point in time we are anticipating about 160
hours of effort in review. Given that we fit this activity within other operational duties it appears
that completion of the review likely will not occur until at least March. The Court has signaled
that the City will be provided time sufficient to complete this review.
It is notable that a Charter Commission varies from a typical advisory commission
appointment. Initially, the Council does not make the appointment; instead the District Judge
holds this responsibility. Further, the District Judge has apparent absolute authority and
discretion in how he determines to make appointments to the commission. He also has the
apparent authority to determine the size of the commission between seven (7) and fifteen (15)
commissioners. The Charter Commission would meet as it deems appropriate and necessary.
Meetings of the Commission are public. The responsibility of the Commission is to draft a
Charter document to be presented to the City Council who would then be tasked with
scheduling an election to determine if the voters are in support of the Charter document.
Council Action: By motion direct staff to provide community outreach regarding the potential
Charter Commission application opportunity.