Charter Commission

City of Blaine Charter Commission July 14, 2026 | 6:15 PM Blaine City Hall 10801 Town Square Drive NE Blaine, MN 55449 The Charter Commission reviews the City Charter and recommends charter amendments in keeping with the state law. Commissioners are citizen volunteers recommended for appointment by the City Council to the Tenth Judicial District Chief Judge. The Charter Commission meets annually as required by statute, but may convene more often as needed. Those interested in having direct input into City government are encouraged to consider serving on the Commission. Appointments are 4-year terms and Commissioners are no longer limited to two 4-year terms per Minnesota Statute. The Charter Commission must consist of a minimum of seven commissioners and no more than 15 commissioners. AGENDA 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Minutes 3.1. 2026-365 Approval of Minutes Sponsors: Cathy Sorensen, City Clerk 4. Open Forum Open Forum is an opportunity for the public to share comments, concerns, or input on other items. While Open Forum is not intended to provide responses or discussion during the meeting, city staff will contact the speaker(s) after the meeting if follow-up is needed. Each speaker is limited to three minutes, with a maximum of 15 minutes set aside for Open Forum. 5. New Business 5.1. 2026-366 City of Blaine Charter Commission Activities –April 2025 – July 2026 Sponsors: Cathy Sorensen, City Clerk 6. Old Business 7. Adjournment Page 1 of 7  City of Blaine Charter Commission November 18, 2025 | 6:00 PM Blaine City Hall 10801 Town Square Drive NE Blaine, MN 55449 MINUTES 1. Call to Order Chair Lester called the meeting to order at 7:00PM. 2. Roll Call PRESENT: Chair Jeffrey Lester, Commissioners Ken Anderson, Tom Doran, Al Goracke, Terri Homan, Jasen Howard, Abdi Hussein, Trace Ludewig, Ashton Ramsammy, and Arman Tagarro. ABSENT: Commissioners Ali Khan, Jason Halpern, Jason Hartmann, and Nyle Zikmund ALSO PRESENT: City Clerk Cathy Sorensen 3. Approval of Minutes 3.1. 2025-557 Approval of Minutes Sponsors: Motion by Commissioner Homan, seconded by Commissioner Ludewig, to approve the minutes of October 13, 2025, as presented. Motion adopted unanimously. 4. Open Forum for Citizen Input No one appeared. 5. New Business None. 6. Old Business 6.1. 2025-168 Discussion of Other Sections of Charter for Possible Review - Sec. 6.05 - Purchases and Contracts Sponsors: Cathy Sorensen, City Clerk Page 2 of 7  Commissioners further discussed council feedback at the recent workshop as well as the importance of this proposed amendment. Discussion was held on possibly recommending a smaller amount such as $75,000 with a phased plan to increase or wait until after the 2026 election. The commission discussed how they shouldn't consider an election in their process as then they may not be doing their due diligence. They noted there wasn't a strong consensus for an increase at this time and it may be better to postpone formal consideration to the council. Discussion was held about proposing even a modest increase to show the council that the commission heard their feedback but concluded postponing would allow the new city manager to be in place for a full year and provide more transparency. They requested staff to track purchases over the current threshold over the next year to provide better data to the council in 2026. Motion by Commissioner Anderson, seconded by Commissioner Goracke, to table further consideration of this item until the December 2026 meeting. Motion adopted unanimously. 6.2. 2025-175 Review of Proposed Charter Amendment - Council Recall Sponsors: Cathy Sorensen, City Clerk Discussion was held around how the council voted on this amendment in 2024 but that it failed due to lack of a unanimous vote. They discussed how the original direction to create a recall process came from the council which was completed and that they felt it should be brought forward again at this time. They noted no changes were being recommended from 2024 which was fully supported by the six councilmembers seated at that time. Motion by Commissioner Goracke, seconded by Commissioner Homan, to bring forward the proposed charter amendment for council recall to a public hearing and formal consideration by the city council. Commissioner Anderson recalled the discussion held at the council workshop in 2024 around malfeasance and non-feasance and if that should be reconsidered. Commission consensus was to bring the amendment forward as proposed in 2024. Motion adopted unanimously. 6.3. 2025-559 Ward Redetermination Topic Discussion Sponsors: The commission discussed the possibility of bringing this item forward again for council consideration. After discussion, the consensus was to include the possibility of any ward redetermination recommendation on the charter commission's work plan for 2027 as it better aligned with the upcoming census. The commission requested when appropriate that they hold a workshop to review in detail new data maps and possible scenarios first in order to make the best recommendation to council. 7. Adjournment Discussion was held on attendance requirements for commissioners. Ms. Sorensen said those requirements, if any, were likely outlined in statute and that she would research those requirements. Motion by Commissioner Doran, seconded by Commissioner Ludewig, to adjourn the meeting at Page 3 of 7 6:43PM. Motion adopted unanimously. Page 4 of 7  City of Blaine Staff Report File Number: 2026-366 Agenda Date Status July 14, 2026 In Control File Type Charter Commission Motion New Business - Agenda Item # 5.1 City of Blaine Charter Commission Activities –April 2025 – July 2026 Executive Summary Background Attached is a draft of the summary of the City of Blaine Charter Commission activities to the Tenth Judicial District Court as required by Statute. The period of activity spans from April 2025 through July 2026. The commission is asked to review and provide feedback to staff to finalize and forward to the Tenth Judicial District Court. Strategic Plan Relationship Board/Commission Review Financial Impact Public Outreach/Input Staff Recommendation By motion, approve the final summary of the City of Blaine Charter Commission activities. Attachment List Page 5 of 7 1. Draft Summary of Activities of the Blaine Charter Commission - 205-2026 Page 6 of 7 City of Blaine 10801 Town Square Drive NE Blaine MN 55449-8100 City Hall 763-784-6700 | BlaineMN.gov July 15, 2026 The Honorable Elizabeth H. Strand Wright County District Court Wright County Justice Center 3700 Braddock Avenue, Room 1100 Buffalo, MN 55313 SUBJECT: City of Blaine Charter Commission Activities for the Period April 2025 – July 2026 Chief Judge Strand: Thank you for your service to the Tenth Judicial District. At their regular meeting of July 14, 2026, the Blaine Charter Commission, by motion, approved the following summary of activities for 2025 through 2026: o Presented appointment request - Commissioner Malik o Presented reappointment requests - Commissioners Goracke and Hartmann (declined oath) o Presented resignation requests - Commissioners Ludewig and Swanson o Presented charter amendment to amend Sec. 2.07 - Salaries to provide regular review and measurables for potential mayor/councilmember salary increases - adopted unanimously by Blaine City Council November 17, 2025 o Presented charter amendment to create Sec. 5.14 - Recall Petitions - adopted unanimously by Blaine City Council January 5, 2026 o Consensus to include for the Commission’s 2027 workplan: • Potential charter language amendments to Sec. 2.03(a) Wards to allow future commissions and councils the ability to potentially amend ward structure • Potential charter language amendments to Sec. 6.05 – Purchases and Contracts to increase the contract purchase amount allowed by the city manager Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Blaine Charter Commission, Catherine M. Sorensen, CMC, City Clerk cc: Blaine City Council City Manager Erik Thorvig City Attorney Eric Larson Anoka County Court Administrator Administrative Assistant Kaitlyn Pederson City Clerk’s Office | Office 763-785-6124 | Fax 763-785-6191 Page 7 of 7