04-27-2016 CHCMCHARTER COMMISSION
MINUTES
April 27, 2016 - 5:30 p.m.
1. Call to Order
Chair Walser called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
Members Present: Marlin Torgerson, Roger Tiede, James Brodd, John Hassinger,
Don Walser, Chris Kleiman, Steve Mulder, and Mark Lewandowski
Member Absent: Mary Inglis
Others Present: Marc Sebora, City Attorney and Matt Jaunich, City Administrator
2. Approval of Minutes from December 1, 2015
Motion by Tiede, second by Kleiman, to approve the minutes as presented. Motion
carried unanimously.
3. Review Ordinance No. 16-755 — Adopting Revisions to Section 2.04 of the City
Charter as Approved by the Hutchinson City Council
Marc Sebora, City Attorney, presented before the Commission. Mr. Sebora
explained that on March 8, 2016, the City Council approved Ordinance No. 16-755
which amends the City Charter to change mayoral terms from two years to four
years. State law requires the City Council to forward the ordinance to the Charter
Commission for their feedback. The Charter Commission can either propose
amendments to the ordinance or not. The intention of the Council is to submit the
Charter revision as a question to the voters at the general election in November.
Marlin Torgerson provided history on the topic of changing mayoral terms from two
years to four years. 2010 voted down by CC. 2013 discussed again and left as is.
2014 discussed again. The Council then turned down the ordinance. Brought to the
CC for the fifth time in 2015. Now bringing to the CC again in 2016. Torgerson
questioned the Council's trust in the CC. Mr. Torgerson provided data on various
cities and their mayoral term lengths. Mr. Torgerson also reviewed the various
forms of government. Torgerson questioned the learning curve timeline for a new
mayor and does not believe that it takes more than two years.
Kleiman asked if this issue has been before the voters before. Lewandowski
mentioned that he spoke to several people regarding this and they were comfortable
with two year term. They were okay with it going to a vote, but indicated that they
would still vote for a two year term.
Mulder asked about the process and why this is coming back to the Charter
Commission.
Mr. Sebora explained that the Council has the authority to adopt an ordinance for
this Charter amendment. Statute requires it come before the Charter Commission
prior to it going to the voters.
Brodd questioned having the mayor's term be voted on during a presidential election
year. Jaunich noted that the Council's rational was higher voter turnout.
Motion by Brodd, second by Lewandowski, to not approve Ordinance No. 16-755,
keeping mayoral terms at two years but keeping other revisions as written. Mulder
noted his merits of the terms.
All in favor 6, against 2. Motion carried 6 to 2.
4. Review Ordinance No. 16-758 - Ordinance Adopting Revisions to Sections of
Charter as Previously Discussed and Approved by Charter Commission
Marc Sebora explained that last year the Charter Commission had forwarded
proposed changes to eight sections of the City Charter to the City Council for their
approval. The Council was in agreement with six of the eight changes and therefore
could not approve the proposed ordinance because it could not separate out the
sections. Mr. Sebora provided a proposed ordinance for the Charter Commission to
consider which included the six sections of the Charter that had been proposed
revised previously that the Council was in agreement with. These revisions are
mostly housekeeping issues. Mr. Sebora explained that
Motion by Brodd, second by Hassinger, to approve various sections of the Charter
to forward to the Council for their consideration. Motion carried unanimously.
5. Items From the Floor
Matt Jaunich, City Administrator, spoke about Section 2.09 of the Charter. Mr.
Jaunich stated that the Council felt that since these revisions were made by a vote of
the people in 2000, it should remain as written. Mr. Jaunich noted that with the
additional language now contained in 4.02, where an election can be canceled, it
takes care of some of the concerns that the Charter Commission had previously.
6. Adj ourn
Motion by Tiede, second by Torgerson, to adjourn at 6:00 p.m. Motion carried
unanimously.