Charter CommissionItem 4aOutcome pendingYour input welcome
Proposed Ordinance to Amend Charter Related to Election Petitions
The Commission discussed a draft ordinance amending Richfield City Charter Sections 4.05, 5.04, 5.05, 5.10, 5.12, and 5.15 to bring nomination, initiative, referendum, and recall petition forms into compliance with Minnesota Rule 8205.1010, including a new requirement that signers list their year of birth. The ordinance would add standardized petition and affidavit forms (Exhibits A-1 through A-6) and, if adopted by the City Council after a public hearing, would take effect 90 days after publication unless a referendum petition is filed within 60 days.
final tally arrives with the minutes, expected ~Sep 16
Potential benefit
Standardizes and clarifies petition forms for nominations, referenda, and recalls so residents circulating or signing petitions meet current state legal requirements, reducing the risk petitions are rejected as insufficient.
Concern to consider
Adds a new requirement (year of birth) to petition signature forms, which some residents may find intrusive, and any City Council adoption still requires a unanimous council vote and mayoral approval after a public hearing.
What happens next: The Charter Commission's recommendation would go to the City Council, which must hold a public hearing after two weeks' published notice and pass the ordinance by unanimous vote with mayoral approval before it takes effect.