HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998 Annual Report-Judge MetzenAA~TINGS CHARTER COMMISSION
HASTINGS CITY HALL
101 East Fourth Street
Hastings, MN 55033
January 21, 1999
The Honorable Chief Judge Leslie M. Met2en
DAKOTA COUNTY JUDTCTAL CENTER
1.560 West Highway 55
Hastings, MN 55033
RE: Hastings Charter Commission - Annual Repart
Court File No. C1-76-80641.
Dear Chief Judge Metzen:
As required by Minnesota Statutes Chapter 410, the Hastings Charter
Commission submits to you, as Chief Judge, this Annual Report.
The Hastings Charter Commission met four times in 1.998. The
Charter Commission met in February, April, July and November.
During the first half of the year, the Charter Commission conducted
a comprehensive review of City Charter Chapter V, titled Taxation
and Finance. The Charter Commission revised Chapter V by making
changes that better defined the budget process for the City of
Hastings. Additionally, numerous "hausekeeping° changes were also
made in Chapter V. The City Charter recommended to the Hastings
City Council this charter amendment be adopted through the
Ordinance procedure. The Hastings City Council unanimously adopted
two readings of these changes to Chapter V of the City Charter.
The Charter Commission also discussed if the City Charter should be
amended to require persons to file for a specific at--large council
seat. At the present time, the Hastings City Council is composed
of a mayor, one council member from each of the four wards and two
at-large council members. A person who desires to run for the at-
large council position, does not file for a specific at-large seat.
The two at-large council seats will be filled by the two candidates
who receive the highest number of votes. The commission held
discussion on possibly changing this format so that a person would
file for a specific at large council seat. After considerable
discussion on this topic, the Charter Commission voted to not
change the present method of filing for the at large council seats .
Chief Judge Metzen
Dakota County Judicial Center
Page 2
Presently, the Charter Commission is studying whether to amend the
Charter to eliminate the Mayor's authority to unilaterally conduct
formal investigations into City affairs. The Charter Commission is
studying whether those types of investigations should be conducted
only with the approval of the majority of the City Council.
Respectfully submitted,
HASTINGS CHARTER COMMISSION
by Terry Sieben
Chairperson