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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-07-06 Minutes, Study CommissionMINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE CITY OF BOZEMAN, MONTANA LOCAL GOVERNMENT STUDY COMMISSION February 7, 2006 The Study Commission met in special session in the Conference Room, Stiff Building, at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7, 2006. Present were Chair Loren Olsen, Marilou Turrentine, Brian Close, and Bill Hayward. Also present was John Trull, Harold Fryslie, Robin Sullivan (Clerk of the Commission) and Celeste Janssen (Secretary of the Study Commission). The meeting was called to order by Chair Loren Olsen at 7:05 pm. Call to order at 7:05 pm Loren Olsen informed the Study Commission of the City Commission's 5-0 vote to appoint Harold Fryslie to the Study Commission. Loren Olsen congratulated Mr. Fryslie and welcomed him. Robin Sullivan, Clerk of the City Commission, swore in Harold Fryslie to the Study Commission. Mr. Fryslie replaces John Trull, who had to resign due to relocation to Belgrade. Robin Sullivan informed the Study Commission that Bozeman has an original charter from 1883. The Study Commission asked Ms. Sullivan for a copy of the charter. Brian Close asked for the oath to be emailed to him. Public comment There was no public comment at this time. Number of City Commissioners The Study Commission discussed Charter topics. They began with a discussion of the number of City Commissioners for Bozeman. The Study Commission is considering advising an increase from 5 to 7 based on either a date or when a certain number of citizens is reached. There may be a need for more Commissioners based on where we are now and where are we are going to be in 2010. Brian Close will email the planning department to find out Bozeman's projected population. The Study Commission discussed different ways to use data from the 2010 Census. The 2011 election could be for four City Commissioners instead of two. Marilou Turrentine suggested putting the issue before the voters in four years. Harold Fryslie said the Census will not publish data immediately, and it might be better to the increase on a General Election ballot, whether or not Bozeman reaches 40,000 by that time. Loren Olsen said he isn't set on a certain number, but he reminded everyone that the Citizen's Panel thought increasing to seven was a good idea at some point. He also reminded us that our MSU training taught that either 5 or 7 Commissioners were ideal. Chris Kukulski has said that it is easier to work with five, rather than seven commissioners. Loren Olsen said he wouldn't want to send the message to future Study Commissions that the Commission needs to continue to increase every ten years. Brian Close said that the Study Commission's report would include reasons for this change. Marilou Turrentine motioned to write in the charter for five current City Commissioners, and to add a provision to require a citizen vote to stay at five of move to seven at some point in the future. Harold Fryslie seconded the motion. Marilou Turrentine, Harold Fryslie, Loren Olsen, and Bill Hayward voted for the motion. Brian Close opposed the motion. Page 1 of 4 Marilou Turrentine wanted to clarify that the increase will be put a ballot, and the date will be determined by the Study Commission to be sometime between now and 2010. Ms. Turrentine motioned to amend the motion as stated. Loren Olsen seconded the motion and all voted in favor. Directly -elected Mayor Brian Close drafted a Section 2.03. Mayor. He gave the Purpose of Mayor's Office, and Powers and Duties. He removed appointment power and he added language to give the mayor "input on agenda as provided in this charter." He also clarified the fact that the mayor has no administrative duties. There are two options for Bozeman having a directly -elected mayor. If the mayor is going to continue to have a two year training period, there will need to be an election for mayor every two years. If the training period is eliminated, then the mayor could have a four year term and start immediately. Harold Fryslie asked about the transition and how terms would be effected during the transition. Brian Close answered that Jeff Krauss will serve until 2008 and Karrin Jacobsen will serve until 2010. The first directly elected mayor would be elected in 2007 or 2009, and would enter office in 2010. Loren Olsen said the Study Commission should determine if the two or four year plan was better, and then get feedback. Mr. Olsen expressed his desire for the directly elected Mayor to be a subvote in the Charter. Loren Olsen noted that some INC people reacted against removing the training period. Brian Close wants the Mayor to be an effective office. Does the training period help the mayor with his purpose? Perhaps, but no other office (including the U.S. President) has a "training period." 2.03 (A) Loren Olsen suggested adding "elected" before officials. Bill Hayward suggested putting in "commission." Mr. Hayward wondered in what way would the mayor be a liaison? Loren Olsen said he would be okay with removing this section, but likes language regarding a sense of cohesion and educating the public. Marilou Turrentine is more comfortable with the NCL's version, where there is not a special section on mayoral duties. Bill Hayward said that "other elected officials" could include the county, and this was problematic because the charter has no jurisdiction over any government but Bozeman City Government. Brian Close said he is comfortable with dropping this section. Harold Fryslie agreed. Brian Close suggested combining (a) and (b). Marilou Turrentine said she would like to just include powers and duties and then skip the rest. Harold Fryslie agreed and said there was too much verbiage. He also said that if the mayor is facilitating policy, that can become an executive power. Brian Close explained his process for writing this section. He brought up language from the commentary to clarify the Powers and Duties, and he believes this would encourage stronger candidates to run. Loren Olsen's primary objection is that a strong candidate could loose. Marilou Turrentine said she sees A as too subjective. She believes B is sufficient. Harold Fryslie agreed with Ms. Turrentine. He would like more condense language. Harold Fryslie reminded the Study Commission that some past mayors have not had full-time jobs, and therefore they were able to put significant amounts of time into their positions. Mr. Fryslie suggested giving fewer duties to the mayor, which would encourage more folks to run. He believes that full-time mayors can cause problems for our system. Harold Fryslie said he would vote for taking current duties or he would go along with Marilou Turrentine. Marilou Turrentine added that many duties given to the mayor should actually be done by all commissioners, such as foster cohesion. Bill Hayward suggested changing "may" to "shall" to allow for some flexibility in different leadership. Harold Fryslie questioned what would happen under military law. Brian Close agreed to check state Page 2 of 4 statute Brian Close explained that NCL language gives the mayor power to veto an applicant by not nominating the individual. Brian Close left this section out. Mr. Close added "input on the agenda" because he thinks it is appropriate to give the mayor power push an issue. Everyone stated that they were okay with this section. Brian Close isn't sure about: "assign subject to the consent of Commission agenda items to committees." He will investigate this matter. Brian Close added interference language with a cross reference. Loren Olsen was supportive of this addition. The Study Commission took a short break. Loren Olsen said he is okay with the rest of the section. He asked the Study Commission how they would like to narrow down the two options (2 year or 4 year mayoral term). Brian Close would like to ask the public. Harold Fryslie said if directly -electing the mayor, he prefers the idea of a four year term, but he would be agreeable to electing the mayor for two years and having no training period. Brian Close said another option would be to have a mayoral election every three years. Loren Olsen acknowledged Brian Close's concern about campaign finance issues. He wondered if certain groups would raise lots of money to get their candidate in the mayoral position. If so, perhaps shorter terms would be better. Harold Fryslie said that some argue you will get better mayors with a direct election, but Bozeman has had many good mayors over the years in the current system. Chairman/Mayor Brian Close said the Study Commission seems to have given up on having a rotating chairman or a commission voting on a chairman. Bill Hayward agreed. Harold Fryslie and Marilou Turrentine said they would not support the idea. INC Loren Olsen and Brian Close reported on the meeting and emails with INC. The current draft of neighborhood language is less than one page and numbered to fit the NCL format. The draft establishes that the City Commission will do an ordinance to establish INC and neighborhood groups. It brings INC into the City, and therefore they are subject to democratic procedures. It also lets INC choose its own leadership. Lastly, the drafted language recognizes the Neighborhood Coordinator. The document does not promise money. Brian Close said INC seemed to be happy with the current draft. Loren Olsen said he is okay with the current drafted language. Marilou Turrentine expressed reservation at its length. Bill Hayward said he appreciates removing the promise of finances. However, he sees a problem with providing "assistance" because that could mean many things. New business JP Pomnichowski's email to the Study Commission will be discussed on February 14tn Confirm date for next meeting February 14th 2006 at 6 pm in the Conference Room of the Municipal Building. Next week the Study Commission will set a timetable for upcoming meetings. They will also discuss INC, Communication, Agendas, Commission Procedures, and Size of the Charter. Adjournment at 9:00 pm There being no further business at this time, it was moved by Brian Close, seconded by Marilou Turrentine, that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried unanimously. Page 3 of 4 LOREN OLSEN, Chair ATTEST: CELESTE JANSSEN, Secretary of the Study Commission Page 4 of 4