Introduce Ordinance #22-26 Amending the City Charter Prohibiting Membership on City Boards and Commissions of Non-City of Ramsey Residents

Councilors Howell and Musgrove have requested consideration of Ordinance #22-26.  This charter amendment would require all members on the advisory boards and commissions to be City of Ramsey residents.  Currently, up to 1/3 of members may be non-residents, however, the sitting boards and commission members currently all reside within the City.
 

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The current charter regulation is a more restrictive regulation that State Statute.  With that said, having flexibility on the residency status can provide benefits.  In one scenario, you could have a sitting member who moves to another city but holds a desire to continue serving the community.  Under this amendment, upon moving to another city that member would be forced to resign.  A second scenario could be a local business owner may want to serve but would be ineligible if they did not live in Ramsey.

Though the Charter allows up to 1/3 members be non-residents, the City Council holds the authority on who is appointed to serve.  This charter provision does not require the City Council to appoint 1/3 non-residents either.

Per M.S. 410.12, there are two pathways to amend the City Charter.  These include a ballot question or and ordinance adoption.  Within each pathway, there are options with how an amendment may be proposed and enacted.  In no particular order, they are as follows:
 
Ballot Question

1. Via a question proposed by the Charter Commission.
2. Via a petition of voters, equal in number to five percent (5%) of the total votes cast at the last previous state general election in the city.  The text of the amendment is established by the petitioners and reviewed by the Charter Commission.
3. Via Ordinance proposed by Council.  In this scenario, Council would be required to submit the proposed to the Charter Commission for their review.  The Charter Commission shall approve or reject the proposed amendment, or provide suggest a substitute amendment.  Upon review by the Charter Commission, the City Council may submit to the people the originally proposed amendment or the substitute amendment.

Ordinance Adoption

1. The Charter Commission may recommend the City Council amend the charter by ordinance.  Within one month of receiving a recommendation to amend, the City must publish notice of a public hearing of the proposal.  Within one month of the public hearing, the City Council must vote on the proposed charter amendment.  If approved unanimously, the ordinance goes into effect 90 days after passage subject to no petition is submitted by voters forcing a referendum.

This is being handled under normal staff duties.

Staff does not have a recommendation on this matter.

If a motion to introduce Ordinance #22-26 passes.  The ordinance would be brought back for final consideration at the October 25, 2022 City Council meeting.