Adopt Charter Recommended Ordinance #25-09 Amending Chapters 2, 3 and 7 of the City Charter

The City Council reviewed the Charter recommended changes to section 2.5 on January 28, 2025, and provided direction to add language that refers to temporary living situations outside the elected Ward for the Charter Commission to consider. The Charter Commission met on July 17, 2025, and voted to recommend Ordinance #25-09 Amending Chapters 2, 3 and 7 of the City Charter. The amendments were reviewed by the Council on August 12, 2025.

Charter Section 2.5: 
Vacancies for a city council seat currently do not establish a vacancy when a member moves outside their ward but remains in the City of Ramsey.  Staff proposed to recognize that a councilmember elected to a ward seat is expected to represent residents who live within their ward.  Moving to a new house within Ramsey but in a different ward would not allow this direct representation as a ward resident. The ordinance also addresses cases where temporary residency may be required.  i.e. in an emergency situation where substantial damage to their home occurs, thus rendering the home temporarily uninhabitable until repairs occur.

Charter Section 3.1
Council meetings and the noticing process are proposed to be updated to mirror state statute and to better clarify the noticing requirement between a normal special council meeting and an emergency meeting.  

Charter Section 7.6.1
A past practice related to the budget and levy adoption has been to adopt the budget and levy at the same meeting as the public hearing.  The charter requires the adoption to occur at the meeting following the public hearing.  Though a public hearing is required by charter and state statute, it is rare that public input is provided that is relevant to the budget and levy.  Staff proposes to allow for the final budget and levy to be adopted at the same meeting as the public hearing.  This would not prevent the city council from delaying the adoption to implement public input into the final budget should input be received.  Language in the charter is proposed to be amended, to emphasize that the budget and levy shall be adopted following the required public hearing to ensure council considers any public input on the budget.

With an amendment proposed by the Charter Commission, the City Council may amend the charter by ordinance per M.S. 410.12. 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 being submitted by voters forcing a referendum.

Timeline: 
Receive Recommendation from the Charter Commission: August 12, 2025
Public Hearing and Ordinance Introduction: September 9, 2025
Consider Ordinance Adoption / Final Vote by all Councilmembers: September 23, 2025
If approved unanimously, the Ordinance would go into effect on December 26, 2025

This is being handled under normal staff duties. 

Staff recommends adopting Ordinance #25-09 Amending Chapters 2, 3 and 7 of the City Charter. 

Motion to Adopt Ordinance #25-09 Amending Chapters 2, 3 and 7 of the City Charter. 

Roll Call Vote