RS2024-559 - Proposed Charter Amendments to be Heard August 6

July 30, 2024

Colleagues,

Thank you for taking some time to review my synopsis of RS2024-559 proposed by your Charter Revision Committee and considered by the Charter Revision Commission.  I am very appreciative of the work of the committee members, the depth of discussion, and consideration of options available to us.   I am grateful for the attention to detail of the Charter Revision Commission and its support of our committee’s work.  We are fortunate to have the insight of both attorneys Hannah Zeitlin and Margaret Darby who guided our work.

A brief overview of the Charter Revision process:

• We are permitted to adopt a resolution proposing amendments to the Charter twice during our term in office.  Should this resolution pass, the next opportunity will be in 2026.
• The resolution must include a brief description of each proposed amendment, so its meaning is clearly presented.
• The resolution must include a statement as to the fiscal impact of the proposed amendment.

How did the Committee develop the proposed resolution?

• Proposals were requested in January 2024 from our Metro departments and Councilmembers.
• I have attached a copy of the timeline in order to review and address the proposals presented.
• Once the final proposed amendments were recommended by the committee, the Charter Revision Commission convened to receive and study the proposals with public comment and to make recommendations to the Metropolitan Council concerning the amendments to the Metropolitan Charter.   I have attached a copy of the report of that July 12, 2024 meeting from Clerk Austin Kyle.  Please see the following link to that meeting:  July 12 2024 Charter Commission Meeting.

What was the nature of the general Committee discussions?

• Concerns about incorporating too many amendments on the ballot given the inclusion of the transit referendum.  
• Thoughts that it made sense to put these structural amendments in place during the next referendum when there potentially could be other required amendments in the interest of continuity.
• Preferences that emergent proposals only should be included in this resolution.
• Recommending the reduction in age eligibility would encourage more young people to vote while there were concerns relative to life experience and balancing school/Council life.

What were the actions of the Charter Revision Commission?

• Two proposals were unanimously approved
  1. A proposal to designate an eligible officer within the Finance Department to serve as interim Finance Director in the event of a vacancy.
  2. A proposal to change the age of eligibility to run for Metro Council amending that from the age of 25 to, instead, requiring that they be a qualified voter.
• Two proposals were disapproved
  1. An alternate proposal to designate the metropolitan treasurer as Interim Finance Director
  2. A proposed amendment not to hold Council meetings during the month of September
• One proposal is going to be withdrawn at the request of the department so there was no action taken
  1. A Fire Dept proposal to remove the US citizenship requirement for NFD employees
• A recommendation from the Commission was to adopt an amendment to revise the Charter proposals in a format that is consistent with the requirements of Charter Section 19.02(a).

I look forward to the discussion on the floor August 6 of this resolution.  

Regards,

Sheri Weiner

Charter Revision 2023 to 2027 Timeline for RS2024-559.pdf 

Charter Revision Commission - RS2024-559.pdf