HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 05-16-2000 SpecialAdopted Minutes
Special City Council Meeting
May 16, 2000
A Special Meeting of the Plymouth City Council was called to order by Mayor Tierney at 7:20
p.m. in the Moony Lake Room, City Center, 3400 Plymouth Boulevard, on May 16, 2000.
CITY COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Tierney, Councilmembers Johnson, Bildsoe, Slavik,
Brown, Black, and Harstad.
ABSENT: None.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Johnson, Assistant City Manager Ahrens, and City Clerk
Paulson.
OTHERS: Charter Commission Chairman Sipkins.
Mayor Tierney reported the Charter Commission has proposed an amendment to the Charter
requiring that special elections, not held in conjunction with general election dates, be conducted
by mail ballot. She feels this amendment would be too extreme. She asked if the Charter
Commission considered utilizing primary election dates also.
Charter Commission Chairman Sipkins stated the Charter Commission never discussed the issue
to utilize primary elections, only general elections. He explained the purpose of the proposed
amendment is to increase voter turnout on any issues that have historically been special
elections. He stated he is unsure if there were many ballot questions that weren't bond related.
Assistant City Manager Ahrens stated the only ballot questions that would be affected by the
proposed mail ballot election are Charter amendments, bond referendums, and initiative
referendums.
Councilmember Johnson questioned what would happen if the Council approves this proposed
Charter amendment, and the voter turnout isn't what the Council anticipated? How would this
issue be removed from the Charter? She stated she would prefer a Charter amendment with an
ordinance attached, similar to the super majority issue, that would provide mechanisms if needed
to undo the action in the future.
Charter Commission Chairman Sipkins stated there could be a number of speculative scenarios.
The Charter Commission was very pleased with the 41 % voter turnout for the 1991 Special
Election to change the election year and recommended the proposed Charter amendment based
on that information.
Councilmember Johnson stated what if the Council needed to take action on a time sensitive
issue, such as purchase of property, or a critical issue where there wouldn't be the flexibility
needed to quickly take action. She also questioned the possible unintended consequences of the
amendment.
Adopted City Council Minutes
Special Meeting of May 16, 2000
Page 2 of 5
Charter Commission Chairman Sipkins stated that the Charter amendment would not preclude
the issue of presenting any issue to the voters. It may just change the election method used for
voting on that issue.
Councilmember Slavik suggested the Council discuss adopting the proposed Charter amendment
as an ordinance. She stated this issue is becoming a political issue, and she prefers that not
occur.
Charter Commission Chairman Sipkins stated this amendment was not proposed for reasons of
political distrust, but rather to increase voter turnout and establish good public policy.
Councilmember Slavik stated by placing this issue on the November ballot, many voters might
perceive that the Council is "sneaking" an issue by them.
Mayor Tierney stated there's an argument as to what other options there could be other than the
general elections. It troubles her that the City would be losing the traditionalism of elections by
not using poll booths. She stated governmental entities are trying to save costs, and she also
feels that the issue wasn't studied broadly enough by the Charter Commission. She questioned
when school district elections are held.
Assistant City Manager Ahrens stated staff was able to contact three out of the four school
districts that serve the City, and those school district elections are conducted on November of the
odd years.
Mayor Tierney stated she would like to see a common odd -year election day for local
governments and school districts. She stated there should be some solution so the Council isn't
forced to pay the extra costs of a mail ballot election.
Councilmember Black stated she has concerns about approving the proposed Charter amendment
when it may be difficult to reverse that decision in the future. She mentioned that in the future,
there would likely be the opportunity for electronic voting. The proposed language could make
it difficult to amend the language in the Charter. She stated as Councilmember Slavik, she
would support adopting an ordinance, rather than a Charter amendment, so the Council has the
ability to amend the language more quickly if necessary. In addition, she doesn't support
limiting the Council's options.
Councilmember Bildsoe cautioned that every time the Charter is amended, it's similar to
enacting a Constitutional amendment. He stated he agrees with Councilmember Black's
comments. He explained the proposed Charter amendment really creates an electorate that is
uninformed. Many residents who would receive a mail ballot at home, may not even be educated
on the issue that is being voted upon.
Adopted City Council Minutes
Special Meeting of May 16, 2000
Page 3 of 5
Councilmember Johnson stated if residents are concerned about a project or an issue affecting
them, they are very organized, and they contact the Councilmembers and/or attend the Council
meetings. She stated there could be the perception of voter apathy, but the City is in fairly good
standing. She noted that for the Plymouth Creek Center referendum, taxes were going to
increase but not enough for residents to travel to the polls to object. She questioned if the
Council is condoning the apathy of the voters, or would it be better for uninformed voters to vote
by mail.
Councilmember Brown stated he is not convinced that just because a resident travels to their
polling location, they are more of an informed voter.
Mayor Tierney feels the Charter Commission had very little debate on this issue, and she's not
convinced residents are willing to sacrifice the tradition of utilizing polling locations. She noted
that if the Legislature changes local elections to odd years, the Charter have to be amended
again. She feels residents do want to fund the extra costs of a mail ballot. Therefore, she
requested the Charter Commission discuss this further.
Councilmember Johnson stated with the general elections there is a higher voter turnout, and she
would be curious as to how many voters voted on the local offices. Usually a voter's interest
decreases when they are to the end of the ballot.
Councilmember Harstad questioned what percentage of voter turnout is acceptable to the
Council, and what type of measures should be enacted to achieve that goal.
Councilmember Bildsoe stated there shouldn't be any criteria for what's acceptable even if there
would be a one- percent voter turnout.
Councilmember Harstad stated if a one- percent voter turnout is acceptable, the Council
shouldn't even be discussing mail ballot elections.
Councilmember Bildsoe stated residents should be interested and want to vote. He is concerned
that the City is not pleased with the voter turnout and is expects a higher voter turnout.
Mayor Tierney remarked the Council does care about voter turnout.
Councilmember Harstad asked if the Council is more concerned about the cost per election or the
cost per voter. Mayor Tierney stated the tradition has been the cost per election.
Councilmember Johnson stated she is concerned about unintended consequences in the future if
this Charter amendment is approved. She noted there is so much similarity of this issue to the
super majority issue. She stated a mail ballot election does not trouble her, but she doesn't like
that the Charter could be limiting the Council's options.
Adopted City Council Minutes
Special Meeting of May 16, 2000
Page 4 of 5
Mayor Tierney requested the Charter Commission review this issue again to discuss the
following issues:
1. Could there be other elections, such as the primary or school elections, that the Council could
utilize?
2. An unintended consequence in the future if the amendment is adopted.
3. How this type of action would reflect on the voters. Could it be perceived offensive that the
voters aren't using the polling locations?
4. What if there is electronic voting available in the future and/or the Legislature changes the
year in which non-partisan (local) elections are conducted?
Charter Commission Chairman Sipkins stated this issue has been discussed for one and one-half
years and during the time Mayor Tierney was a member of the Charter Commission. He stated
the proposed action does not insult the voters. There is a distinct difference in the turnout from
the Plymouth Creek Center bond referendum and other special elections compared to other
regular elections. He stated low voter turnout could be attributed to a very busy society. He
stated there is intelligent citizenry in the City, and if the residents weren't interested in traveling
to the polling locations, they may not be interested in sending in the mail ballot either. He stated
the discussion this evening has not led him to believe that the Charter Commission needs to
discuss this issue again. If the Charter Commission would discuss it again, he believes the same
recommendation would be given to the Council.
Councilmember Johnson asked if the Charter Commission would consider a Charter amendment
with an ordinance attached, similar to the super majority issue.
Charter Commission Chairman Sipkins stated that may be a legitimate method to proceed. It
would achieve the same result of increased voter turnout without causing possible unintended
consequences. If there was a low voter turnout by mail ballot, the Council could repeal the
Charter amendment.
Charter Commission Chairman Sipkins stated if the Council supports the ordinance, he would
call a Charter Commission meeting to review the issue.
Councilmember Johnson prefers the Council have more dialogue with the Charter Commission.
Councilmember Bildsoe reminded the Council that they have a few months to decide whether the
question should be placed on the November ballot so there is still time to discuss it.
Charter Commission Chairman Sipkins stated if the Council intends to adopt this provision by
ordinance, he would like to notify Charter Commission members.
Mayor Tierney reiterated that she does not support the amendment as it restricts the use of
polling locations to every two years. She questioned why the City should pay for a mail ballot
election when there are other local elections being conducted which could be utilized.
Adopted City Council Minutes
Special Meeting of May 16, 2000
Page 5 of 5
Charter Commission Chairman Sipkins stated rather than insulting the citizenry of the City, he
believes the proposed action conveys that the City is on the "cutting edge" and it recognizes that
this is a busy society. Through mail balloting, the City would be bringing the residents into the
process. He stated he is sorry that the Charter Commission and City Council didn't discuss the
suggestion to enact this provision by ordinance at their last joint meeting. He explained he
would be sending this evening's minutes to the Charter Commission members to inform them of
the issues raised. He stated he would also poll a few members of the Charter Commission to see
if they would be interested in meeting to discuss those issues.
Assistant City Manager Ahrens reiterated that State Statute does not allow mail ballot elections
for candidates.
Mayor Tierney stated if the City is really serious about increasing the voter turnout, it should
lobby the Legislature for a non-partisan local election day.
Motion was made by Councilmember Johnson, and seconded by Councilmember Brown, to
direct staff to prepare a Charter amendment that would allow the Council to adopt an ordinance
requiring mail ballots for special elections with a provision on how the ordinance could be
rescinded in the future, similar to the super majority issue.
Mayor Tierney prefers that the Council be allowed to utilize any citywide election, not just
general elections, before a mail ballot election would need to be conducted.
City Manager Johnson somewhat cautioned Mayor Tierney as the City could then be asked to
administer and share in the expenses of a school district election.
There being no further discussion and with all members voting in favor, the motion carried.
The Council requested the proposed Charter amendment be presented to the Council at the May
23 meeting, and then forwarded to the Charter Commission.
Mayor Tierney declared the meeting adjourned at :52 p.m.
Sandra R. Paulson, City Clerk