11/08/2007 - City Council Special
MINUTES
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2007
5:30 P.M.
EAGAN ROOM ? EAGAN MUNICIPAL CENTER
City Councilmembers present: Mayor Maguire, Councilmembers Bakken, Carlson, and
Fields. Councilmember Tilley not present.
City staff present: City Administrator Hedges, Director of Administrative Services
VanOverbeke, and Director of Communications Garrison. City Attorney Dougherty was also
present.
I. ROLL CALL AND ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
Mayor Maguire called the meeting to order.
Bakken moved, Fields seconded a motion to adopt the agenda. Aye: 4; Nay: 0
II.CANVASS OF BALLOTS ? N0VEMBER 6, 2007 MUNICIPAL ELECTION
City Administrator Hedges introduced the item. Hedges and Director of Administrative
Services VanOverbeke provided the Council with a summary of the special election results,
including a vote of 8.7% in favor of the proposed Charter, and 91.3% in opposition to the
Charter (see last page of minutes for a summary of the Charter election results).
Carlson moved, Fields seconded a motion to canvas the ballots of the November 6, 2007
municipal election. Aye: 4; Nay: 0
III. OTHER BUSINESS
The City Council discussed the results of the Charter question on the ballot.
Carlson moved, Bakken seconded a motion to send a letter under Mayor Maguire?s
signature to the Charter Commission on behalf of the City Council asking that the Commission
disband in accordance with the Commission?s original bylaws and in the spirit of what the voters
have communicated in the past two elections when a Charter has been proposed. Aye 4; Nay: 0
The City Attorney, per the inquiry of the City Council, addressed the issue of access to
Charter Commission records. The City Attorney stated that per the opinion of the State Department
of Administration, the Charter Commission is responsible for maintaining their records and making
those records available for inspection.
The City Council discussed the need for Legislative reform to ensure that Charter
Commissions cannot continually proposed amendments to charters that then require cities to hold
Special City Council Minutes
November 8, 2007
Page 2
and pay for special elections. It was noted that changes are needed to the State statute whether the
Eagan Charter Commission disbands or not.
Maguire moved, Bakken seconded a motion to have Mayor Maguire and Councilmember
Bakken work together with legislators between now and January to propose legislation to reform
the current statutory provisions with regard to Charter Commissions, and once proposed legislation
and/or an official positions statement is prepared on behalf of the City, the matter is to be brought
before the City Council for formal consideration. Aye: 4; Nay: 0
The City Council discussed the City?s policy for reimbursing Charter Commission expenses.
The Council reiterated that the City should only pay for Charter Commission expenditures
mandated by State Statute. The City Council asked Director of Administrative Services
VanOverbeke to communicate this policy and the action taken by the Council at the November 8,
2007 workshop to Charter Commission member Betty Fedde.
IV. VISITORS TO BE HEARD
There were no visitors to be heard.
V. ADJOURNMENT
Fields moved; Bakken seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:18 p.m.
Aye: 4, Nay: 0