Sec. 4.01. Legislative power.
The legislative power shall be vested in the council, which shall be composed of seven (7) councilmembers.
Sec. 4.01.1. Council districts.
Each member of the council shall be elected from a separate district which is substantially equal in population to all other districts. Each councilmember shall be a resident of the district from which elected. Voters may only vote for a candidate for the council district seat within which the voters reside.
Sec. 4.01.2. Initial districts.
The division of the city into seven (7) contiguous districts of substantially equal population, and the serial numbering of same will be effected by a resolution of Charter Commission after public hearings on said districting. The public hearing shall be held after published notice of said hearings, and opportunity to speak shall be allowed members of the public upon such reasonable terms as the commission shall adopt. The commission shall adopt its districting resolution by a majority vote of its entire membership, and file it in the office of the city clerk at least sixty (60) days prior to the day on which filings open for the first city primary election occurring after the 1980 city election. The council shall provide for a sum of money, adequate for this purpose, to be used by the commission to hire staff to aid it in preparing its districting plan.
Sec. 4.01.3. Mandatory redistricting.
After every federal decennial census the Charter Commission shall redistrict in the manner described above. The commission shall redefine the council districts so as to make them substantially equal.
Sec. 4.02. Quorum and rules.
A majority of the council shall constitute a quorum, but a smaller number may adjourn from time to time and compel the attendance of absent members under such terms and penalties as the council may prescribe. The council shall determine its own rules and order of business and shall keep minutes of its proceedings. The minutes shall be a public record. Within thirty (30) days after approval of the minutes, the official minutes, with a condensed version of the discussion, which includes the action on resolutions and ordinances and other official proceedings, shall be published in the official newspaper of the city.
(C.F. No. 05-908, 10-26-05)
Editor's note--Section 4.02 amended by resolution adopted July 22, 1993, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 1992, Section 410.12, approved by the voters at the general election conducted on November 2, 1993.
Sec. 4.03. Organizational meeting and officers.
At the first meeting after taking office, or as soon thereafter as practicable, the council shall elect from its members a president and a vice-president. At the same time, the council shall elect a secretary of the council, who shall not be a member of the council, or it may designate the city clerk or other officer or employee to act as secretary. The officers of the council and the secretary of the council shall serve at the pleasure of the council.
Sec. 4.04. Business meetings.
The council shall hold at least one (1) meeting each week, except during any week when such meeting would be the fifth meeting in that calendar month. Notice of the date, time and place of any council meeting shall comply with the requirements of state law and any additional requirements adopted by the council. The president of the council may call special meetings of the council, and the secretary of the council shall do so on written request signed by four (4) councilmembers. Special meetings may be held anywhere in the city. Notice of the date, time and place of special meetings shall be served upon each member of the council and the mayor in a manner prescribed by the council. The business conducted at special meetings shall be confined to that stated in the notice. (C.F. No. 98-59, § 1, 3-4-98)
Editor's note--Section 4.04 amended by Ord. No. 15895, C.F. 266021, adopted Oct. 7, 1975; by Ord. No. 17507, § 1, C.F. 87-1376, adopted Nov. 4, 1987; and by Ord. No. 17568, § 1, C.F. 88-580, adopted June 7, 1988, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 410.12.
Sec. 4.05. Meetings and records public.
All meetings of the council, boards, committees and officers, whether elected, appointed or employed, shall be open to the public under regulations fixed by administrative ordinance. All proceedings, records and documents belonging to the city shall be accessible to the public under restrictions fixed by ordinance. All such proceedings, records and documents shall be prima facie evidence of the facts therein stated, and copies, when certified by the person entitled to the official custody thereof, shall be received in evidence in all courts with the same force and effect as the original.
Sec. 4.06. Employees of the council.
The council may provide by administrative ordinance for positions it deems necessary for the performance of its duties; provided, however, that each councilmember's personal staff shall be limited to one (1) full-time equivalent aide and one (1) secretary. (C.F. 91-1645, 9-19-91)
Sec. 4.07. Investigations.
The council may make investigations into the affairs of the city and the conduct of any department, office or agency and for this purpose shall have the power to administer oaths and require the presence of witnesses and production of evidence by subpoenas obtained by order from the district court on application from the council.
Sec. 4.08. Independent audit.
The council shall provide for an annual independent audit of all city accounts and may provide for such additional audits as it deems necessary. Any audit of all city accounts made pursuant to law by the state public examiner or other state officer designated by law shall be deemed an independent audit. |
