Minutes 10/23/2006 oillii
If ' Ill l,� Co111 M M I SS I O N
SAINT PAUL CH
III 1V,
II ) l IL
f
SAINT PAUL, ,,it , lif,: 1.illf un,‘INNESOTA 55102
Saint Paul Charter Commission
Regular Meeting
Monday, October 23,2006
City Hall
Room 220
Agenda#1, Call to Order
Bridget Faricy, Chair of the St. Paul Charter Commission, called the regular
meeting of the Commission to order at 4:35 p.m.
Commissioners also present included: Jeff Suttor-Maas, Richard Kramer, Virginia
Rybin, Richard McCarthy, Triesta Brown, Brian Alton, Bob Connor, and Sig Johnson
Commissioners with an excused absence included: John Van Hecke, Gladys
Morton, and Greg Copeland.
Also in attendance: Judy Hanson, Charter Commission's Attorney, and Bill
Johnson,Administrative Secretary to the Charter Commission.
Agenda#2,Approval of the Minutes
Richard McCarthy moved to approve the minutes of June 19th with the following
corrections:
1) Under the Charter Review Committee report the first sentence reads as follows,
"The Committee moved final approval on the following amendments."
2) Under Adjournment the sentence reads as follows, "Seeing no further business
Chair Faricy adjourned the regular meeting of the St. Paul Charter Commission at
5:20 p.m."
Virginia Rybin seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
46 S
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
Agenda#3,Welcome to New Charter Commission Members
Chair Faricy welcomed Brian Alton to the Charter Commission. A brief
presentation on the mission of the Commission was given followed by a discussion of
recruitment of new members.
Agenda#4, Citizen Comments.
No citizens were present.
Agenda#5,Reports of the Standing Committees
Charter Review Committee report by Jeff Suttor-Maas
Commissioner Suttor-Maas stated that the committee has not met for several
months and the next meet will occur when a new committee has been appointed.
Communications Committee report by Sig Johnson
No report was given.
Agenda#6, Old Business
Judy Hanson, Charter Commission's Attorney, stated the 22 sections that have
been approved by the Commission will be going before the City Council in November.
Chair Faricy stated that she would be attendance at the City Council meeting to clarify
any questions that may arise. She encouraged other members to join her at the meeting.
Ms. Hanson also stated that section 11.03 subsections 4, 5 and 6, as well as,
section 17.03 are still being worked on be the City Attorney's Office. Section 14.01.1(4)
will be forwarded to the City Council for their consideration.
Agenda#7,New Business
New Member Recruitment
Chair Faricy stated that there was a misunderstanding with the Chief Judge's
Office as to whether applications were submitted or simply misplaced. The Chair
indicated that the Commission is still in need of three additional new members. The
Commission recommended that copies of all applications be presented to both the Chair
and Chief Judge. Brochures and applications were handed out to all Commissioners.
Review and Establish Priorities for the Upcoming Year
Chair Fancy asked for recommendations as to possible priorities for the upcoming
year. The following suggestions were made:
1) Continue to look for further revision in order to modernize the Charter.
2) Have a representative of the Mayor's Office discuss legislative initiatives.
3) Examine moving the city council elections to the same year as the mayoral
elections.
4) Examine ways to ensure the city council abides by the Charter.
5) Examine increasing the size of the council.
6) Examine at-large members on the council.
7) Examine whether elected officials should be required to take a leave of
absence in order to run for another office.
8) Substitute the word"ward"for"district"in the charter
9) Examine the relationship between the city government and district
councils
10) Examine codifying the district councils in the charter
After further discussion, the Commission will have Judy Hanson look into the ward/
district issue, suggestion number eight.
Bob Connor moved that the legislative representative from the Mayor's Office,
Wendy Underwood, comes to the next Charter Commission meeting and gives a brief
presentation on the legislative priorities of the city. Richard Kramer seconded the motion
and it passed unanimously.
Chair Faricy also handed around a sign up sheet for Commissioners to indicate
their preference on which of the current standing committees they have an interest on
serving.
Review Schedule and Notification Policy
Virginia Rybin moved that a phone call be placed to all members as soon as
possible if a tentatively scheduled meeting is cancelled. Sig Johnson seconded the motion
and passed on a voice vote.
The Chair announced that the next two tentatively scheduled meetings are
November 20th and December 18th
Agenda#8, Other Business
None was presented
Agenda #9,Adjournment
Seeing not further business, Chair Faricy adjourned the regular meeting of the St.
Paul Charter Commission at 5:50 p.m.