2023-12-05 MinutesRichfield Charter Commission
Meeting Minutes
December 5, 2023
Present: Martin Kirsch, Reed Bornholdt, Donna Drummond, Lisa Rudolph, Ken
Severson, David Gepner, David Lamberger, Michelle Dowell, Rori Coleman-Woods,
Gordon Vizecky, Sidney Rehwaldt, Sarah Musgraves, Larry Ernster, Bill Bullock
Absent: Brandt Krueger
Guests: Chris Swanson, Management Analyst; Mary Tietjen, City Attorney
The meeting was called to order by President Martin Kirsch at 6:00 pm.
Old Business
Minutes from the meeting of April 4, 2023 were reviewed. A motion was made by David
Gepner and seconded by Larry Ernster to approve as written. The motion was approved.
New Business
Discussion was focused on proposed wording of Section 2.6 of the Charter which deals
with the mayor’s powers during a declared emergency. City Attorney Tietjen provided
language from other charter cities for comparison. Vizecky spoke in support of the
proposed wording. There was also some discussion on when such a declared emergency
would end. The City Attorney stated the time a declared emergency would end at a
public meeting of the City Council.
Vizecky moved to end discussion, Coleman-Woods seconded. That motion passed.
Vizecky moved approval of the newly worded changes, motion was seconded by
Coleman-Woods. The motion to accept the new wording passed.
Erster raised questions on the wording in a couple of sections of the charter, including
Sections 5.09, 7.14, 8.04 and 9.01. City Attorney Tietjen felt the current language was
clear and didn’t require any changes at this time. Others stated that work on the current
proposed revisions started more than two years earlier to address special elections for
City Council vacancies and that we should review and consider these changes at a later
date. Vizecky moved to accept the current language and forward these changes to the
City Council. Severson seconded, the motion passed unanimously. Vizecky moved that
Commission President Kirsch submit a formal recommendation to the City Council.
Coleman-Woods seconded, the motion passed unanimously.
A motion to adjourn was offered by Gordon Vizecky and seconded by David Gepner.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:59 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Bill Bullock, Secretary