050790 CC WS AgP
.;.
I
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i
,
,
i
10.
11.
CITY OF SHOREWOOD
COUNCIL WORKSHOP
MAY 7, 1990
CQUlfCIL CBI"..H8DB'
5755 cotAtrar ctuB ROAD
7:30 P...M~<~
AGENDA
1. CONVENE
A.
Roll Call
GagJle, .
. 'Stcr\teJ:,',
araneel .
,wat.ten\. "
Mayor Haugen
ti[ f
B. Review Aqenda
2 . APPROVAL OF MINU1'ES
3. HIGHWAY 7 INTERS~CTION PLANS
A. vine Hill Road
B. Christmas Lake Road
4.
TURN - r..ANE STRIPING, T.R. 7 WEST OF '1'.8.. 41
REPORT ON CHANNELIZATION ISLAND IN FRONT OFSHQ.ElE1fQOfCP~ER
TO - '"k
5.
6.
AUTHORIZE AN APPRAISAL OF WATERFORDIII - l.}S$'ORl! .ANtM~~r
PUBLI C . IMPROVEMENTS. .
7.
8.
COST ESTIMATE TO.OPDATE WATER PLAN
.' (Att.No.. 7-Memol
REPORT' ON R.:SSTRIPING SMITHTOWNROAD AND LAK:~{t"'I~N~V~~'
.
f.1J,
<r~~;'-"
..-'-'~-
CONSIDER ALT'E:RNAT;IVES TO MAY 28 MEETING ANncJUir,ENf)AR;;.'FOI)~y .
AND JONE
9.
(Att.No.9~~emo)
MILFQIL INSPECTIONS FOR CHRISTMAS LAKE
OPTION ON BISHOP ]JROPERTY AND PARAHE.TEftS FQttC. U:~P'.i-~'<'~~,lC
WORKS FACILITy '.
'~r
-1-
~
..) --
AGENDA - MAY 7, 1990
PAGE 2,
12. CONTROLLING MEETING LENGTH
(Att.No.12-Memo)
13. REPORTS
A. En9ineer's Report
1. Pressure Tank from S.E. Area Water System
(Att.No.13A-1-Memo)
2.
B. Administrator's Report
1. League Conference.
2. AMM Annual Meeting
3. MCMA Conference
4. Logo for Council Chambers
5. Freeman Park - Field Irrigation
C.
14. ADJOURNMENT
-2-
-)
J
~n_
~~
Orr
Schelen
Mayeron&
Associates, Ine.
April 17, 1990
2021 East Hennepin Avenue
Minneapolis. MN 55413
612-331-8660
FAX 331-3806
')
City of Shorewood
5755 Country Club Road
Shorewood, MN 55331
Engineers
Surveyors
Planners
Attn: Mr. Larry Whittaker
City Administrator
Re: Proposal to Update Comprehensive Water Report
OSM Comm. No. 0107-90
Dear Mr. Whittaker:
Attached please find our proposal for updating the Comprehensive Water Report. The
proposal identifies the Scope of Work, Task Descriptions, and associated hours we estimate
are required to do the work. Our engineering cost estimate to do the Scope of Work as
identified is $3.300.00.
This Comprehensive Water Report update would be more directed towards updating the
costs to install the remaining system and identifying the number of future connections to
that system. Comparing the two numbers would provide the estimated assessment for the
future user if all the remaining system was installed.
In addition to updating the cost estimates and the assessments, we will compare the several
separate water systems as to why some areas experience more water quality problems than
others. While we will not discuss treatment methods or costs we will investigate the raw
water chemical makeup of each well and discuss methods of utilizing the better quality wells
on a completed water system. .
I hope this description of our proposed scope of work coincides with the information the
Council is looking for. If additional information is required, please let me know.
Respectfully,
ORR-SCHELEN-MAYERON
& ASSOCIATES, INC.
~ /? 1~
James P. Norton, P.E.
Associate/Senior Project Manager
JPN / cmw
04 /90-cos.1w2
7
..
MAYOR
Jan Haugen
COUNC1 L
Kristi Stover
Robert Gagne
Barb Brancel
Vern Watten
CITY OF
SHOREWOOD
5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD . SHOREWOOD, MINNESOTA 55331 · (612) 474-3236
MEMO
TO:
!"R:
DT:
The City Council
Larry Whittaker
May 2, 1990
RE:
Alternatives to May 28 meeting/ May and June Agenda Items
May 28 is Memorial Day and we cannot have a Regular City Council meeting
that night. Given the number of: Agenda items now proposed for May 14, you
may want to continue the May 14 meeting to May 21 - or schedule a work-
shop May 21 to discuss, say, the Annual Audit, the Feasibility of Iron
Removal, the Glen Road Drainage report, the LMCD Comprehensive Plan, the
Cooperative Agreement with Mn/DOT for construction of f:rontage roads along
T.R. 7 between Vine Hill Rd. and Old Market Rd., and/or the Development
Agreement for the TIF project(s).
Right now, we have scheduled the following for May 14:
Bids on 1990 Street Overlays
Expansion of Minnetonka Portable Dredge
Review of Street signs in Near Mountain
Review bids for computer update for the City
Two (2) Appeals on Notice to Remove
A Code amendment to permit composting of: Yard Waste in residential
areas
Disposition of retainer and final payment for CB/NACON for the
SE Area water tower - and erosion control structure for same
A CUP for Richard Gay f:or Accessory Space
Final payment on the Freeman Park Ballfield fences
We would normaliy.have a workshop June 4 - and that was scheduled for
discussion the Comprehensive Plan- commercial development land .,_:AND,
we still have the issues of Elderly Housing and Water Policy to study.
Much as the staff would enjoy a Monday night off, I think we must meet
May 21, 1990, to tackle some of the pending issues. And, we should
decide what the June workshop will be used for.
Please help us understand your priorities Monday night.
In June, we'll start Budget talks for 1991, too.
A Residential Community on Lake Minnetonka's South Shore
-#~
. .
Elected Officials, City Councils, and Advisory Bodies
1989 Supplement
(.....
feits the right to serve on the governing body for
the rest of that term. If the court finds that a third
violation has occurred it declares the position va-
cant and notifies the appointing authority or clerk
of the governing body. Three violations, not three
actions and penalties, are necessary for removal.
The Minnesota law does not include a criminal
penalty.
The open meeting laws in a number of states pro-
vide for injunctive relief--ordering a party to do or
not do a specific act. The Minnesota law contains
no provision for injunction, but the court has ruled
that in a proper case, injunction may be an appro-
priate remedy. 137 In one case, the court consid-
ered this a suitable way of carrying out the
legislative intent to enforce the statute. At that
time, the statute did not contain enforcement provi-
sions, so it is not certain what the court would rule
now. However, it is likely that the court would still
reach the same conclusion since it is still an appro-
priate way of preventing pendi~g violations'.
The open meeting law contains no provision in-
validating actions the body takes at a closed
meeting that should have been open. In a 1974 case,
the court held that because the law failed to pro-
vide a method of enforcement, the statute was not
mandatory and its violation did not result in in-
validating actions of the body. 138 Although the
fact that the plaintiff had spent a substantial sum
in reliance on the action the public body took at
the illegal meeting may have influenced the court,
it does not seem likely that a court would overturn
the rule of the case without a change in the law.
Because the law now contains methods of enforce-
ment through the civil penalty and removal from
office, there is probably little need for an invalida-
tion rule.
Again, however, the council should follow the law
to avoid the possibilit9 that the court would declare
its actions illegal. 13
Presiding Officer
The mayor serves as presiding officer for the
meeting whenever present at council meetings. In
the mayor's absence, the acting mayor serves. 140
When neither the mayor nor the acting mayor is
present, the other members of the council may
elect one of their number to serve as the presiding
officer for that meeting. Any individual serving as
presiding officer retains the right to vote on all
matters coming before the council whether or not
that vote would create a tie. 141
Maintaining Order
Although meetings must be open to the public,
no person who is noisy or unruly has a right to
remain in the council chambers. When individuals
abuse their ri hts to be resent, the ma or, subject
to overru e y t e counCI, s ou or er t eu'
removal from the room. If the presiding officer fails
to act, the council itself may, by motion, issue such
an order. The council has authority to preserve or-
der at council meetings. 142 The council can use
necessary force, including use of the marshal or
police, to carry out the mandate.
If the whole audience becomes so disorderly that
it is impossible to carryon a meeting, the mayor
should declare the meetiDlZ continued to some
other time (and place, if necessary). The council
may also move for adjournment. No matter how
disorderly a meeting may be, it is a legal meeting
and any action the council takes in proper form is .
valid. The council cannot issue a contempt citation
against any individual whose disorderly conduct
disrupts or interferes with the transaction of coun-
cil business.
c
Rules of Procedure
City councils have considerable latitude in estab-
lishing their rules of procedure or bylaws. The
council should review the rules annually to see if
revision is necessary. Many councils have operated
without written rules or regulations. But, written
rules facilitate the conduct of city business and
reduce the risk of mishandling important matters.
Page 102
Handbook for Minnesota Cities
l,
:tt l.~
1988 Supplement
Chapter 6
Tips for shortening meetings
The bylaws usually provide for the place and
time of the regular council meetings, the order of
business at meetings, parliamentary rules govern-
ing council procedures, minutes, and standing and
special committees and their powers. Many coun-
cils include other provisions in their bylaws. 143
Agendas
The bylaws should establish an order of business
and a process for placing items on an agenda.
Many councils have found the following order of
business convenient.
1. Call to order
2. Minutes of previous meetings
3. Consent agenda
4. Presentations of petitions and complaints
. .
5. Reports of officers, council committees,
and citizen committees
a. Reports from standing committees
b. Reports from special committees
c. Reports from administrative officers
including, in Plan B cities, the
manager
6. Notices and communications
7. Unfinished business
8. Presentation of claims
9. New business (including the introduction
of ordinances and resolutions)
10. Announcements
11. Adjournment
Consent agenda
By resolution or its bylaws, a council may es-
tablish a consent agenda containing routine, non-
controversial items needing little or no delibera-
tion. The clerk or other person responsible for
placing items on the agenda prepares the consent
agenda. By a majority or higher vote, the council
can approve all actions on the consent agenda with
one vote.
In addition to the consent agenda, councils may
consider the following suggestions to shorten the
length of time of their meetings.
Thc bylaws may set a closin~ date for the
a~enda. For example, the clerk must receive all re-
quests to include items on the agenda five days
beforc the meeting. This is especially important if
council members need to review written material
before the meeting. The council could make an eX-
ception in emergency situations by a unanimous
vote, for example.
\~#
~
The council should set a definite time for ad-
, journment and observe this rule.
When the council is going to discuss a major
public issue, the bylaws or the council by resolution
may allot a limited, specific amount of time for
each side to express its views. The council may do
this for all items on the agenda as well. 144
Parliamentary Procedure
The term .parliamentary procedure" frightens
many people. It is, however, a system of rules
which makes it easier to transact business.
Parliamentary rules can be very simple or very
complex. The complexity of rules should vary in
direct ratio with the size of the group, i.e., as the
number of people in the group increases, the com-
plexity of the rules should increase. Accordingly,
the rules for an assembly of several hundred
people, such as the United States House of
Representatives, must be quite complex. By the
same token, the rules for city councils, which COD-
sist of only five members, should be simple. Any
attempt to introduce a high degree of formality
into the proceedings of a city council will only
reduce its ability to operate effectively.
The rules of parliamentary procedure apply to
council licroceedings only If the counCil formally
adopts t em in the bylaws. A co~ncll, howev~r, c~n
informally follow these rules 10 conductlOg Its
meetings. An informal application of these rules,
together with the common sense of the council
members, may be the only guidelines many coun-
cils need to conduct their business in an orderly
manner. 145
Handbook for Minnesota Cities
Page 103
Elected Officials, City Councils, and Advisory Bodies
1988 Supplement
The following discussion will attempt to intro-
duce a few rulcs of parliamentary procedure which
can simplify the council's work. These rules are
contained in Roberts Rules of Order. The council
can adopt them by inserting the following clause
in the bylaws: "In all points not covered by these
rules, the council shall be governed in its
procedure by Roberts Rules of Order (or some
other similar code of parlimentary procedure)."
Motions
The council transacts business through motions
which council members make, and sometimes
second, and subsequently either pass or reject by
council vote. See Chart V, page 108, for a sum-
mary of the motions councils use most frequently
and important information relating to them. Each
motion has different rules. For example, councils
can debate some motions while they must vote on
others immediately. Some require a simple
majority for passage, others need a two-thirds
majority. .
. These are the steps to making and acting on a
motion.
1. A member of the council addresses the
presiding officer.
2. The presider recognizes the member.
3. The council member states his or her mo-
tion. (Usually in the following form: I move
. . . text of the motion. . .) A motion should
always be in the positive, never in negative
terms. For example, if the motion is "that
we deny X a permit," and the council
defeats the motion, there may be some con-
fusion as to whether X has been granted a
permit. Even if the consensus of the coun-
cil is to deny the permit, the motion should
be to grant the permit and the council
should then vote it down. The council
member making such a motion does not
need to favor it or vote for it.
4. If necessary, another member then seconds
the motion by saying: "I second the motion."
(Seconds are not needed for meetings of
small bodies such as a city council.)
5. The presiding officer repeats the motion to
the council.
,r.....
(
6. Discussion follows if the motion is
debatable.
7. A council member may make any of the
subsidiary motions (Chart V) in the same
form as the original motion.
8. The council votes on the original motion or
on any of the subsidiary motions.
9. The presiding officer announces the result
of the vote on each motion immediately
after the vote count is complete.
A council member may not make a second main
motion while the council is discussing the first one.
Any council member may, however, make a
privileged motion even if. a main motion is cur- .
rently before the council. A privileged motion is
one to adjourn, recess, or to ask a question of
privilege such as to restate the motion or ask for
order. In this case, a vote on the privileged motion
precedes the one on the main motion.
When several motions are simultaneously before
the council, the council should vote on them in the
following order.
"
t.,
1. Adjourn
2. Recess
3. Question of privilege
4. Postpone temporarily (lay on table)
5. Vote immediately (previous question)
6. Limit debate
7. Postpone to a definite or indefinite time
8. Refer to committee
9. Amend
10. Substitute
11. General main motion
Role of the Presiding Officer
In any group or assembly, the presiding officer
has an extra measure of power. As the chair of
the meeting, the presiding officer has the respon-
Page 104
Handbook for Minnesota Cities
Chapter 6
sibility of guiding the group toward the conclusion
of pending business in good time without giving
major issues too little consideration. To ac-
complish this, the presiding officer has two special
powers.
The first is that of interpreting and applying the
rules of procedure. The presldmg officer must
decide whether or not motions are proper, whether
motions are in order, whether the body should
grant questions of special privilege, and what
procedure is proper in any given instance. The
presider should maintain order and expel disor-
derly individuals from the meeting.
The presiding officer does not have complete
freedom in exercising this authority. Any member
of the council may appeal the decision of the chair.
To do this, a council member must say, "I appeal
the decision of the chair," immediately after the
chair announces the decision. (Recognition from
the presiding officer is not. necessary when making
an appeal.) The appeal must be seconded, is
debatable, and cannot be amended. After the
debate, the assembly votes on the chair's decision.
A majority of "yes" votes upholds the decision of
the presiding officer and a majority of "no" votes
overrules it. A tie vote sustains the ruling. The
presiding officer may vote to uphold his or her own
ruling. If no one appeals a ruling as soon as the
presiding officer makes it, it becomes the rule of
the council.
The second ower is that of reco nlzlDg
speakers. The presiding officer may not, owever,
refuse to receive a motion after recognizing the
maker nor may he or she refuse to call for a vote
on any motion which has been properly made and
seconded. Power to recognize speakers still gives
the presiding officer considerable influence over
the course of the discussion and consequently over
the eventual decision on any matter. When the
council invites comments from the audience, the
presiding officer continues to recognize speakers.
In statutory cities, presiding officers have a dual
role to play. They preside and they also may make
and second motions and vote on all questions
before the council. The presiding officer usually
steps down from his or her position as chair in or-
der to make a motion. To do this, the presiding
officer turns over the duties of presiding officer
to another member of the council. The mayor or
other presiding officer may then make a motion,
and should not again assume the duties as presid-
ing officer until the council has taken a final vote
or postponed the motion until another time.
Special Motions
Several motions deserve special consideration.
1. The motion to reconsider. This enables a
council to set aside a vote it previously took
and to consider the matter again as though
it had not voted on the issue. If the council
uses Roberts Rules, only a person who
originally voted on the prevailing side may
move to reconsider. Otherwise, any mem-
ber may make the motion by saying, "I
move to reconsider. . . stating the motion
to be reconsidered . . ." The council may
debate this motion. If the council passes
the motion to reconsider, it must then
reconsider the original motion and take an-
other vote on it. If the council defeats a
motion to reconsider, no further action is
necessary.
2. A motion to postpone indefinitely. There
is an important difference between the
motion to postpone indefinitely and the
motion to postpone temporarily. The mo-
tion to postpone temporarily is more
commonly called a motion to "lay on the
table" or "to table" and it postpones con-
sideration of the motion until some un-
determined future time. The council may
consider a motion which was tabled
whenever a majority of the members so
decide. A motion to postpone indefinitely,
however, is the equivalent to a negative
vote on the main motion. It suppresses per-
manently any future consideration of the
main motion.
3. A motion to limit debate. A council may
lImit debate by placing a time limit on
debate such as a limit of 15 minutes to con-
sider a particular motion, or by limiting the
number of people who may speak for and
against a certain motion such as a limit of
three speakers in favor and three speakers
opposed.
4. The motion to amend. Council members
may offer amendments to a main motion
at any time. In addition, it is possible to
amend an amendment currently under con-
sideration. Beyond this, council members
Handbook for Minnesota Cities
Page 105
Elected Officials, City Councils, and Advisory Bodies
r.........
f
can offer no further amendments. When a
member has made a motion to amend, the
vote on the amendment must precede the
vote on the original motion. After the
council has accepted or rejected the
amendment, another vote is necessary on
the original motion.
5. The motion to substitute. This is a motion
to replace one motion with another on the
same subject. A council member may move
to substitute a main motion or an amend-
ment to a main motion. One form for
making a substitute motion is, "I wish to
introduce the following substitute motion.
. . present the substitute motion. . ." When
a substitute motion is before the council, it
must decide which of the two motioris, the
original motion Or the substitute motion, it
wishes to consider. The council must vote
on this question. A "yes" vote favors con-
sidering the substitutemution. A "no" vote
favors considering the original motion. The
council must then discuss and vote upon the
motion which it selected.
Voting Procedures
State law does not regulate council voting. The
council may use whatever procedures it prefers,
subject to charter provisions in home rule cities.
The council's bylaws can include voting rules.
Otherwise, the council may use voice voting or
standing vote unless a council member calls for a
vote by ballot. The bylaws can also set the order
in which council members vote. Whether the vote
is unanimous or not, the minutes must record the
name of each council member present and his or
her vote. 146 On occasion, councils may vote by
ballot, such as in eliminating candidates for a city
position, until only two options remain. While the
law allows for voting by ballot, the procedure must
ensure that each council member's vote is recorded
in the minutes and open for public inspection. .
Role of the Mayor and Clerk
Mayors and standard plan city clerks have the
same powers to make, second, and vote on motions
as do the council members. The mayor does not
have a veto, nor may he or she vote twice in order
to break a tie. Except, in a tie vote to fill a vacancy
in an elective office, the mayor must fill the
vacancy by appointment for the unexpired portion
of the term or until the next city election, which-
ever applies. 147 The mayor presides at council
meetings while the clerk keeps the minutes.
In cities operating under one of the optional
plans, the clerk attends council meetings and
records the minutes, but may not make, second, or
vote on motions. In addition, unless the council ex-
tends the privilege, the clerk lacks the right to par-
ticipate in discussions.
Minutes of Council Meetings
The council must keep a full and accurate record
of its actions at every council meeting. In statutory
cities the clerk records the council proceedings in
a minute book. 148 In the clerk's absence, the
council should delegate the duty of taking minutes
for that meeting.
The actual wording of the minutes is up to the
clerk unless the council, by motion, adopts a stan-
dard form or specifically directs the clerk to
change the wording in the minutes. The minutes
should be in language and using terms the average
citizen can understand. Reference to numbers of
ordinances, resolutions, and other matters should
include a brief description.
(
If the council finds a mistake in the minutes of
the previous meeting, the clerk should change the
minutes to show what actually occurred. If the
clerk declines, the council can order the change by
motion and a vote. The clerk must then make the
change and show in the minutes that the change
was made by order of the council. 149
Once the council has formally approved the
minutes of any meeting, no one should change
those minutes under any circumstances. The coun-
cil can dispense with the reading of the minutes,
if all council members have received them prior to
the meeting.
The council must provide books and stationery
for use in keeping minutes. State law requires all
cities to maintain minutes on paper of durable
quality and with the use of ink, carbon papers, and
typewriter ribbons of such quality as to insure per-
manent records. 150
Because minutes are official papers of the city,
the clerk should sign them. Although the law does
not require it, many cities also bave the mayor sign
them after the council has approved them. If the
minute book includes only a clipping from the
Page 106
Handbook for Minnesota Cities
Chapter 6
published proceedings, the clerk should sign the
dipping even though the signatures of the clerk
and mayor are already printed on the clipping.
Minute books are public records and must be
available for public view at any reasonable time.
Publication of Council Minutes
After every regular or special meeting, statutory
cities over 1,000 population must publish the offi-
cial council proceedings or a summary of the offi-
cial minutes. The summary must include action on
motions, resolutions, ordinances, and other official
proceedings. 151 As an alternative to publication,
the city may mail (at city expense) a copy of the
proceedings to any resident upon request. This re-
quirement does not cover home rule cities and
cities under 1,000 population. If a home rule city
does not have a charter requirement, it doesn't
need to publish council minutes. 152
Whether or not the city ..publishes minutes, it
must publish ordinances and, in certain cases, the
annual financial statement.
Content of Council Minutes
The clerk should include the following informa-
tion in the minutes:
1. The time and place of the meeting;
2. The members present;
3. A summary of all decisions the council
made, including a copy of each motion ex-
actly as stated, whether or not the motion
had a second and, if so, whether or not the
council adopted it; and
4. The names of the council members and the
mayor who vote either for or against each
motion. 153
The city does not need to reprint resolutions and
ordinances in full in the minutes. The clerk may
identify them by reference to their descriptive title
and number, if any. In this case, the city must
maintain a separate record of all ordinances and
resolutions on which the council has acted.
Making an Adequate Record
Making an adequate record of council decisions
and the factual information upon which members
made decisions is very important. Minutes are the
primary record of the decision-making process.
Courts classify governmental actions as being
legislative or administrative (or quasi-judicial) in
character. Generally, when a council establishes
policies and standards by ordinance applying to
property in general, not to specific parcels, the ac-
tion is legislative. When a governmental body takes
action which involves the application of the general
standard or policy to a specific parcel, person, or
situation, the courts classify the action as ad-
ministrative or quasi-judicial. Legislative action is
subject to more limited judicial review than ad-
ministrative or quasi-judicial action.
These are two reasons for more limited judicial
review of legislative actions. First, courts say that
they cannot substitute their judgment for the judg-
ment of a governinlS body in its exercise of its
legislative function. 4 Second, when the action is
legislative, the party contesting its validity or
seeking the change must prove that there is no
reasonable basis for it. Proving this is extremely
difficult; so, too, is proving that the enactment of
legislation was arbitrary or capricious.
Where an action is administrative or judicial,
courts will scrutinize the governmental action, the
procedure the council followed, and the basis for
that action. The contesting party or the party af-
fected by the action need only establish, through
evidence, that the action was either arbitrary, un-
reasonable, or capricious. When the legislature
delegates a power to a city, the court will set aside
discretionary decisions only if they are proved to
be arbitrary or capricious. 155
The city must comply with the procedures in
state law for every action it takes whether legisla-
tive or administrative. The law usually specifies
adoption, notice, and hearing procedures for most
legislative actions.
The statutes typically do not specify procedures
for administrative actions but often times local or-
dinances do. A number of recent Minnesota
Supreme Court cases have set at least partial
procedural essentials for administrative or quasi-
judicial actions of a public body. These include
proper records.
In order for a court to do a meaningful review
of quasi-judicial council action, records must
clearly and precisely state the council's finding of
Handbook for Minnesota Cities
Page 107
Elected Officials, City Councils, and Advisory Bodies
"rc,
{
facts and how those facts Icd to thc decision. 156
The findings are part of the record. When a court
reviews council procecdings they will stand or fall
on the rccords the city ke~t, not on the records it
might have maintained. 1 7
Parts of the record
The record of a hearing may be in two separate
parts--the transcript of the hearing which
preserves testimony and the final order or deter-
mination of the hearing body. Following is a
sample order outline:
1. A caption or title, such as, "In the matter
of Mr. X's application for a special use
permit;"
2. A preamble summarizing the actions the
council took at the hearing and stating the
purpose of the application;
3. Findings of fact (individually numbered);
4. Conclusions or reasons;
5. A decision;
6. An opinion (if any); and
7. A copy of the transcript, tape recording, or
at a minimum, detailed minutcs, including
all objections and rulings on them (if any).
The elements of the order reflect the steps in
arriving at a decision. The federal courts have
noted the sequence as follows:
1. Council takes and weighs evidence, both as
to its accuracy and credibility;
2. From attentive consideration of this
evidence, the body makes a determination
of facts of a basic or underlying nature;
3. From the basic facts, the body makes find-
ings or conclusions often in the language
of the statute or ordinance, or not; and 138
4. From this finding, the council makes a deci-
sion following the statutory criterion. 159
Findings of fact serve two major purposes. The
first relates to improving the decision-making
process and the second concerns judicial review.
When a council prepares precise findings of
relevant facts, a well reasoned and more rigorous
decision-making process results. When a council
must demonstrate that its conclusions are consis-
tent with all of the facts in the record, it must un-
dergo careful and painstaking analysis.
Any record should demonstrate compliance with
all constitutional requirements (due process
deficiencies such as lack of notice often provide
grounds for appeal), as well as all statutory and
ordinance procedural requirements.
F. Motions, Resolutions,
and Ordinances
Passing Ordinances and Resolutions
Councils enact policies through ordinances and
resolutions. Any member of the council including
the mayor may introduce them. In standard plan
cities, the clerk also has this right.
(
Once an ordinance or resolution is before the
body, usually through the making of a motion for
passage, the council may act upon them at once,
refer them to a committee for study and recom-
mendation, postpone consideration to some future
time, or take any of the other subsidiary or
privileged motion actions. After the council has
completed all consideration and discussion of the
matter, the presiding officer should read the or-
dinance or resolution and call for a vote.
If the council decides to refer the matter to a
committee, the committee may conduct its inves-
tigations, recommend the following: passage of the
ordinance or resolution in its original form; pas-
sage in an amended form; or rejection of the or-
dinance or resolution. Debate may take place at
the time of introduction, while a committee is con-
sidering it, and after the committee has reported
its findings and recommendations.
Most resolutions and other procedural motions
of the council must have a majority of the votes
cast for adoption. For exceptions see Chart V. To
illustrate. if two members of the council vote in
favor of a resolution, one votes against it, and two
abstain from voting, the resolution passes. Or-
Page 108
Handbook for Minnesota Cities
Chapter 6
CHART V
PRINCIPAL RULES GOVERNING MOTIONS
Motions- These are a formal method of bringing business before the council and for stating propositions on
which the council will have to make a decision. The list contains the more common motions. Motions can be
made only by the councilmembers, clerk, or mayor.
Requires a Second- Motions which have a "yes" after them in this column must be seconded by a councilmember
before they can be considered. The maker of a motion may not second his own motion. By seconding a motion,
a person does not necessarily indicate that he is in favor of it.
Can Interrupt a Speaker- Motions which have a "yes" in this column can be made at any time during a council
meeting. They may be made even while another has the floor and is speaking.
Debatable- A "yes" in this column means'that the council can discuss the merits of the motion. A "no" means
that no discussion is allowed and that the motion must be voted on as soon as it is made and seconded.
Amendable- Motio~ with an affidavit mark in this column can be changed by amendment. Motions with a "no"
in this column must be voted on in the same form as the motion was originally made.
Vote Required to Pass': This tells whether the motion requires a simple or a two-thirds majority for passage.
Can be Reconsidered- This indicates whether or not a motion that was once passed or defeated by the council
can be considered again later in the meeting.
Motions Requires Can Inter- Debatable Amendable Vote Re- Can Be
a Second r up t a qulred To RecoD-
Speaker Pass sidered
I. PRMLEGED MOTIONS 1 .
1. To adjourn 2 Yes No No No Majority No
2. To recess (to take a recess) 3 Yes No No Yes 8 Majority No
3. To as! for a question of No Yes No No No Vote 5
privilege
II. SUBSIDIARY MOTIONS 6
4. To postpone temporarily (lay Yes No No No Majority No
on the table) 7
5. To postpone to a definite Yes No Yes Yes 9 Majority Yes
time
6. To postpone indefmilely 7 Yes No Yes No Majority Only a
positise
vote
7. To vOin immediately on the Yes No No No 2/3 No
question (previous question)
8. To rlace a limitation on Yes No No Yes 2/3 Yes
debate 1
9. To refer the motion to a Com- Yes No Yes Yes Majority Yes
mittee
10. To amend a motion, or- Yes No Yes Yes Majority Yes
dinance or resolution
Handbook for Minnesota Cities
Page 109
Elected Officials, City Councils, and Advisory Bodies
("
11. To substitute one motion,
ordinance or resolution for an-
other
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Majority
Yes
III. MAIN MOTIONS
12. Any general motion, resolu-
tion, or ordinance
13. To reconsider a motiTI al-
ready passed or defeated
14. To consider an action
previously postponed tem-
porarily or laid on table (to
remove from the table)
15. To appeal or challen1.f a
ruling by presiding officer
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Majority 12
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Majority
No
Yes
No
No
No
Majority
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Majority
Yes
Footnotes to Table of Motions:
1 Privileged motions are motions which are so important that they are given special consideration. These motions
can be made at any time, even if another motion is being considered at the time, and they must be settled or
voted on immediately.
2 To adjourn means to end tM meeting for that day.
3 To take a recess means to stop the meeting for a short time.
4 This kind of motion refers to matters of personal concern which may be brought up by one of the council-
members. Examples are the following: to ask for order or less noise among the persons at the meeting. to request
a restatement of the motion, to ask the chair to have the windows opened, the heat turned up, etc.
5 Questions of personal privilege are not voted on, but are settled by the presiding officer who is expected to
honor the request of the member unless it is dilatory in intent, ie., unless the request is made for the purpose
of deliberately interfering with the council's work.
6 Subsidiary motions either change or dispose of a main motion. Their name derives from the fact that they are
subsidiary to the main motion and therefore can be made only when the council is considering a main motion.
7 See the discussion on the motion "to postpone indefinitely."
8 The motion to recess may be amended only as to the time or duration of the recess.
9 The motion to postpone may be amended by changing the time to which the motion is postponed, but it may
not be amended to postpone it to an indefmite time.
10 See the discussion on the motion "previous question:
11 This motion restricts the length of time for discussion of a question.
12 An ordinance must receive an afftrmative vote of a majority of the whole council, i.e., at least three members
of the council must vote in favor of an ordinance before it becomes law. A majority of those voting on the issue
is all that is required to pass an ordinary motion or resolution.
13 See the discussion on "reconsideration:
14 See the discussion on "role of the presiding officer:
15 The motion to vote immediately on a motion can be reconsidered only if it was passed when frrst considered.
See also the discussion of reconsideration.
(
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Page 110
Handbook for Minnesota Cities
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~AY 02 '90 13:24 OSM MPLS,MN
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2021 East Hennepin A.venue
Minneapolis. MN 55413
612-331-8660
FAX 331-:}800
MEMORANDUM
Engineers
Surveyors
Planner$
l'
t
TO: Mr. Brad Nielsen. City Planner
FROM: .lues P. Norton, P. E.
DATE: Dee_ber 5. 1989
SUBJECT: Southeast Area PUMp House T..porary Storage Building
City of Shorewood
05111 Coe.. No. 1744.00
1. TEMPORARY METAL BUILDING. The metal building to be sold is a lester
Builders Systell. It's a metal exterior building insulated, with a
wood interior, 12 feet square by 14 feet high. The intention for
the disposal or selling of the building is to have someone come in
and remove it intact from the concrete base slab. They would come
in with a ct'ane, unbolt- it from the concrete base slab which will
t'emain in place, pick it up and set it on a truck and haul it away.
This will more than likely require a building moving permit from the
City.
The City paid approximately $7,500 for the building when it was
constructed new in January of 1988.
2. HYDROPNEUMATIC TANK . Inside the building there's a hydropneumatic
tank approximately 6,000 gallon capacity. It is a vertically
mounted tank sitting on legs that has two connections to act as a
hydropneumatic tank for a small pressure water system. Once the
building is removed the tank needs to be disconnected from the
piping which attaches to the fire hydrant and the tank removed in
its entirety. The intent is for the tank to be lifted off of the
concrete pad and set on a truck to be hauled away.
Disconnecting the tank should be a part of this project. While
there are two connections to the tank, there is piping only to one
of them. That piping would have to be removed and sold along with
the tank itself. There is also a pressure gage on that piping.
Part of the dismantling and reMOval of the pipe work should also
entail turning the hydrant 90 or 180 degrees $0 that it is properly
oriented adjacent to the existing pump house.
There is also a little heating unit inside the building which should
be sold with the building and the small 1 ittle existing control
panel may also be sold with the building.
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~AY 02 '90 13:25 OSM MPLS,MN
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3. COMPRESSOR -The 5 horsepower Quincy C~res$Or .t.ich is receiver
mounted is intended to r'elUin with the City. The compressor will
either become part of the shop facilities for the Road Maintenance
Depart~nt or it -.y be installed in one of the other pump houses.
That decision has already been discussed with Mun1tech and Don
Zdrazil and they will be deciding what to do with this compres~or in
the future. However, it is not intended to be sold as part of the
building package or the hydropneu.at1c tank.
4. ELECTRICAL - There are some electrical connections to the building.
There are also some electrical connections for the control
sequencing that run over to the existing pump house. As part of the
dislllantling of this building, disconnecting the electrical work
should also be included.
5. CONCRETE SLAB . The concrete slab the building ;s sitting on will
stay. It was always intended that this concrete slab be the
foundation for the temporary building but that it be left
permanently so that when the building was removed the slab would
st i 11 be there.
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11/89-78 ()/