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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