HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-GOV-2004-04-26 Governance Committee Meeting Minutes
April 26,2004
Committee members Attending: Pam Mackesey,Joel Zumoff,Robin Holtham-Korherr,David
Whitmore,Michael Taylor
Other City Officials Attending: Maria Coles, Martin Luster, Carolyn Peterson
1. Meeting called to order by Pam Mackesey at 7:02 p.m.
2. No minutes to approve.
3. Agenda Items
Maria Coles added discussion of public comments to the agenda.
4. Public Comment: None.
5. Response to Public: None.
6. Announcements and Reports.
Pam Mackesey announced that the Tompkins County Bar Association was holding free legal
seminars on May 3. David Whitmore announced he attended a tenants' rights discussion the
previous week. Michael Taylor added that the mayor would be appointing members to a tenants'
committee soon. Whitmore also announced that Tompkins County Area Development was
holding a meeting April 28.
7. City Clerk's Quarterly Report.
City Clerk Julie Conley Holcomb gave details on the number of services provided by the clerk's
office in the first quarter. She also stated that her department is having difficulty meeting long-
term goals due to staffing needs. She outlined her department's goals and responded to questions
from the committee regarding staffing needs. Staff members Cindy Dey and Sarah Myers were in
the audience.
8. Watercraft Ordinance.
Mayor Peterson and Pam Mackesey informed the committee of their meeting with the
Intermunicipal Organization to discuss the need for uniform watercraft ordinances. Committee
members asked about the issues of enforceability,noise levels, and hours of operation.
Ordinance was moved by Holtham-Korherr, seconded by Zumoff.
Holtham-Korherr moved to amend section 316.16(b)Hours of Operation to begin at"8:00 a.m."
and was seconded by Taylor. After discussion, amendment failed(2-3-0).
Taylor moved to amend section 316.16(b)Hours of Operation to begin at"9:00 a.m."and was
seconded by Holtham-Korherr. After discussion, amendment passed(4-1-0).
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Vote on watercraft ordinance passed unanimously(5-0-0).
City Attorney Luster noted that a public hearing would have to be held prior to the Common
Council vote on the ordinance. Notice of public hearing was required at least thirty days before
the public hearing. Mackesey said she would notify the clerk to publish notice of the hearing
which would be held at the June 2 Common Council meeting.
9. Financial Disclosure Form.
Substantial discussion on the floor regarding certain sections of the form.
Whitmore moved to amend section HI to read "5%percent or more"and to delete section H2,
and Holtham-Korherr seconded. Amendment passed unanimously(5-0-0).
Discussion of deletion of section 3B. Zumoff called the question. Passed unanimously(5-0-0).
Vote to delete section 3B passed(3-2-0).
Whitmore moved to link form to ethics code by changing the wording in the certification
statement, and Holtham-Korherr seconded. Motion passed unanimously(5-0-0).
Other changes were made to the document without votes: section F deleted reference to minor
children; section I was changed to reflect disclosure of loans given and/or received; and section I
was changed to disclose only gifts received.
Vote on final form of document passed unanimously(5-0-0).
10. City Charter Revision.
City Attorney Luster stated that the city may go about a revision of its charter in a number of
ways. He said the easiest and most widely used way was to have the mayor appoint a
commission to determine possible revisions. Another way would be to have the Common
Council appoint a similar commission. A third way would be the public submitting revision
recommendations. The council seemed to back the idea of the mayor appointing a commission
and to make sure that its members represented diverse elements of the community. The city
attorney's office will have interns available this summer to focus their energies on this task.
11. Discussion of Common Council's Public Comment Period.
Alderperson Coles wanted the committee to address the issue of public comments at Common
Council meetings being limited to three minutes when a group of speakers all want to speak
concurrently on the same issue. The committee will consider some way of allowing a group that
has the same view on an issue to speak longer than three minutes by allowing one or two speakers
to represent that group's view. Suggestions mentioned were one person speaking for six or seven
minutes or two people speaking for five minutes each.
12. Adjournment.
Holtham-Korherr motioned to adjourn, seconded by Taylor. Motion passed unanimously(5-0-0).
Meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
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