HomeMy Public PortalAboutCharter Review Committee Minutes 08-29-2012 Charter Review Commission Minutes
August 29, 2012
Community Board Room
Members Present:
Chairman Bill Agan
Secretary/Vice Chair Jeff Ritter
Member Loyce Greer
Member Janece Hill
Member Doug Knowlton
Member LaRue Wall
Audience Present:
None
Chairman Agan called the meeting to order at 7:10PM
1. Read and Approve minutes from last meeting
(August 2 and 8, 2012)
Member Knowlton motioned to approve the minutes from the August 2, 2012 meeting.
Member Wall seconded.
The motion was approved by unanimous vote.
Member Wall motioned to approve the minutes from the August 8, 2012 meeting.
Member Greer seconded.
Member Knowlton abstained from voting due to absence from the meeting.
The motion was approved by unanimous vote of those voting.
Secretary Ritter stated he was happy the Commission was meeting again to finish
reviewing the Charter in order to present the best proposed Charter document as possible
to the City Council. Ritter also stated that whatever the City Council decides to do with
the Charter is up to them, but at least the Commission will have presented a fabulous
proposed Charter.
Member Wall agreed with Secretary Ritter and stated we must all refocus on completing
the Charter to the best of our ability.
Secretary Ritter indicated that he had talked with a few members of the City Council and
said that the Commission would be finished in 4 to 6 weeks.
Chairman Agan stated that the City Council wished for the Commission to finish and
present a proposed Charter for them to consider. Chairman Agan indicated that the
members of the City Council would consider amending the Charter when time and
money allowed—this year, or next, or some future time.
n
.-� 2. Review City Charter.
Section 5.01 - Elections
The consensus was to follow Attorney Elam's recommendation and simply state that
elections would be held according to State Law and re-number the provisions.
Section 5.02—Regulations of Elections
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed.
Section 5.03—Filing for Office
The consensus was to follow Attorney Elam's recommendation and refer qualifications
back to section 3.02, and to re-number the provisions.
Section 5.04—Official Ballots
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed.
Section 5.05—Conducting and Canvassing Election Results
Discussion regarding a plurality and majority votes needed. Attorney Elam had indicated
that with 3 year terms, State Law requires a majority—which is 51%, not simply the
candidate with the greatest number of votes. Paragraph 4 must read to require a majority
of votes or 51%.
Section 5.06— Taking of Office
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed.
Section 5.07— Oath of Office
The consensus of the Commission was to remove "elected or appointed".
Section 6.01 —General Authorityfor Initiative, Citizen Referendum, Recall and Required
Signatures.
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the current Charter percentage
requirements and current language.
Member Knowlton stated he felt strongly that there should be a 6 month period from the
time of election, re-election, or from a recall election before a person could be eligible to
be recalled.
Section 6.02—Form of Petitions: Committee of Petitioners
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed.
Section 6.03 —Filing, Examinitation and Certification of Petitions
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed.
Section 6.04—Amendment of Petition
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed.
Section 6.05—Effect of Certification of Referendum Petition
Discussion by all regarding possible removal of this Section as per Attorney Elam's
recommendation.
Member Greer stated that she felt strongly it should remain in the Charter as clearly
protecting Citizen's rights in the event of Referendum and to make it clear.
Secretary Ritter agreed that in the event of a Referendum, the ordinance in question
should not be enforced during the time it is in question before the Referendum Election.
Member Knowlton also agreed and felt strongly the section should be included.
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed.
Section 6.06—Consideration by Council
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed.
Section 6.07—Submission to Voters
Attorney Elam stated that elections must be held on uniform election days.
The consensus was to change verbiage to reflect the election is to be held on the next
uniform Election Day.
Section 6.08—Form of Ballot for Initated and Referred Ordinances
Although Attorney Elam recommended the removal of this section due to the fact it is a
State Law, the strong consensus of the Commission was to keep this section because it
clearly states for the City Council and the Citizens exactly how the ballots are to be
worded to prevent confusing wording.
Section 6.09—Results of Election
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed.
Section 6.10—Repealing Ordinances: Publication
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed.
Section 6.11 —Recall: General
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed.
Section 6.12—Recall: Filing Procedure
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed.
Section 6.13 —Recall: Petitions
According to Chapter 277 of the Election Code, the time frame is 180 days instead of 30.
Section 6.14—Recall: Elections
Attorney Elam stated that elections must be held on uniform election days.
The consensus was to change verbiage to reflect that the election is to be held on the next
uniform Election Day.
Section 6.15—Ballots in Recall Elections
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed.
Section 6.16—Results of Recall Elections
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed.
Section 6.17—Limitations on Recalls
Member Knowlton recommended adding "or within 120 days of his/her upcoming re-
election"to the section.
The consensus was to add Member Knowlton's recommended language.
Section 6.18—Failure of Council to Fail or Refuse to Order a Recall Election
The consensus of the Commission was to keep the language as proposed.
3. Assignment for Next Meeting
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday SeptembeI012 for the Commission to
continue reviewing the Charter.
The Commission will begin with Article VII—Financial Procedures
4. Public Comments
None
5. Adjournment
Member Knowlton motioned to adjourn.
Member Wall seconded.
Chairman Agan adjourned the meeting at 8:40PM.
Jeff Ritter-Secretary - �'
ill Agan-Chairman