2026-01-21 Richfield Charter Commission Bylaws AmendedBY-LAWS OF THE HOME RULE CHARTER COMMISSION OF RICHFIELD, MINNESOTA
Section 1. The Commission
1.Name of Commission. The name of the Commission is the “Home Rule Charter Commission of
Richfield, Minnesota”.
2.Purpose. The purpose of the Commission is to consider the form of government that best meets the
needs of the people, and if necessary, propose amendments to the home rule charter of the City of
Richfield.
3.Office of Commission. The offices of the Commission are at the Richfield Municipal Center for
purpose of official Commission business.
4.Members. The Commission is composed of fifteen (15) members. Only qualified voters of the City
are eligible to serve on the Commission. Members are appointed as provided in Minnesota Statutes,
Section 410.05, subdivision 2, and serve a term of four years until their successors are appointed and
qualify. Any vacancies are filled by appointment by the chief judge for the unexpired term.
5.Duties. The Commission must act upon voters’ petitions and City Council recommendations for
amendment to the Charter. The Commission may also periodically review the Charter and propose
amendments on its own volition.
6.Commission Bylaws. The purpose of these bylaws is to guide and aid in the conducting of the
Commission’s business. These bylaws will be interpreted consistently with the requirements of
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 410. The Commission will review the bylaws at least once every five years
and may be amended by a majority vote of the Commission.
7.Discharge of Members. A member who has failed to perform the duties of office and has failed to
attend four consecutive meetings without being excused by the Commission must be discharged. The
President, City Manager, and Staff Liaison are each authorized to excuse a member’s absence on behalf
of the Commission. The Secretary will file a certificate with the district court as required by
Minnesota Statutes, section 410.05, subdivision 2 to seek the discharge.
Section 2. Meetings
1.Location. Meetings will be held at the Richfield Municipal Center, or such other place as designated
by the President.
2.Annual Meeting. The Commission must meet at least once during each calendar year. The
Commission will hold its annual meeting on the second Tuesday in January of each year, or as soon
thereafter if circumstances prevent it.
3.Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Commission may be called by the President or two
members of the Commission for the purpose of transacting any business designated in the notice of the
meeting. Notice of a special meeting must be posted and provided to each member of the Commission
at least three days prior to the date of the special meeting. Notice of special meetings may be provided
to Commission members by email if a member has provided an email address. No business may be
considered at a special meeting other than as designated in the meeting notice.
4.Public Meetings. All meetings of the Charter Commission will be open to the public and conducted
in accordance with the Minnesota Open Meeting Law (Minnesota Statutes, chapter 13D).
5.Quorum. A majority of qualified and acting members constitutes a quorum for purposes of conducting
the Commission’s business and exercising its powers. If the Commission lacks a quorum, a smaller
number of members may convene as a subcommittee if desired and report their discussions to the full
Commission.
6.Order of Business.
The order of business will be:
1.Call to order by president.
2.Roll call.
3.Approval of minutes.
4.Report from officers.
5.Report from members or committees.
6.Unfinished business.
7.New business.
8.Adjournment.
The order of business may be changed at a meeting by a majority vote of the Commission members
present. When necessary to resolve procedural or parliamentary issues, the Commission will consult The
Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure (Alice Sturgis), unless other laws or statutes apply. Except as
prohibited by law, the Commission may, by majority vote, waive any procedural or parliamentary rules.
7.Manner of Voting. The vote on questions coming before the Commission must be entered upon the
minutes of the meeting. When a quorum is present, action may be taken by the Commission by
majority vote.
8.Nomination. Nominations from the floor are in order at any election.
Section 3. Officers
1.Officers. The officers of the Commission will be: President, Vice-President, and Secretary. The
officers are deemed the “Executive Committee”.
2.Election of Officers. The President, Vice-President and Secretary are elected at the annual meeting of
the Commission from among the members of the Commission. The elected officers hold office for one
year or until their successors are elected. Voting procedures for the election of officers is at the
discretion of the President. Officers are declared elected and qualified by a majority vote of members
present and voting at the meeting, provided at least a quorum is present, after which action their
term of office begins.
3.President. The President calls regular and special meetings, presides at meetings, appoints
committees and committee chairs in consultation with the Executive Committee, prepares the
agenda, implements the decisions of the Commission, and may participate in Commission decisions
with a vote. The President is an ex-officio member of all committees.
4.Vice-President. The Vice-President performs the duties of the President in the absence or incapacity
of the President. In case of the resignation or death of the President, the Vice-President performs the
duties of the President until the Commission selects a new President.
5.Secretary. The Secretary will keep general supervision over the records, proceedings, take minutes
of any and all meetings, prepare and distribute minutes of all meetings to all members within two
weeks of the meeting, and conduct correspondence of the Charter Commission. Before December
31 of each year, the Staff Liaison must submit to the members, and to the chief judge of the district
court the Commission’s report outlining the activities and accomplishments of the Commission for the
preceding calendar year. The Secretary must forward a copy of the report to the City Clerk. The City
Clerk may provide the report to the chief judge at the request, of the Secretary.
6.Additional Duties. The officers of the Commission will perform such other duties and functions as
may, from time to time, be required by the Commission or its bylaws.
7.Compensation; Expenses. The members of the Commission receive no compensation, but the
Commission may employ an attorney and other personnel to assist in amending or revising the City
Charter, and the reasonable compensation and the cost of printing the charter or any amendments,
when so directed by the Commission, will be paid by the City. The amount of reasonable and
necessary Commission expenses will be paid by the City in accordance with Minnesota Statutes,
section 410.06, as amended.
8. Vacancies. If the office of the President, Vice-President, or Secretary becomes vacant pursuant to
Minnesota Statutes, section 410.05 or by other provisions of law, the Commission must elect a
successor from its membership at the next regular meeting, or at a special meeting called for that
purpose, for the unexpired term of the office.
As amended April 26, 1977
As amended January 9, 1980
As amended May 7, 1980
As amended April 27, 2022
As amended May 22, 2025
As amended January 21, 2026