MEMBERS PRESENT:

H. Budd, E. Crapo, P. Denton, M. Glaeser, P. Hanrahan, R. Hawkins, C. Martin, F. Peterkin, B. Thomas and S. Wright

DJ Williams (Staff Liaison) and Bob Ott (Litigation Attorney)

George Nickerson (Independent Counsel)

Summary:

After confirming a quorum and in the absence of the Chair and Vice-Chair, the meeting was called to order at approximately 5:33 p.m. by Member Glaeser (who chaired the meeting). The agenda was unanimously approved. A motion was made by Member Thomas/Hawkins to approve the minutes. Motion passed unanimously (8 - 0). Mr. Nickerson was recognized to provide the results of his research. Mr. Nickerson reviewed and provided the legal basis for each of the following issues:

1. single member districts;
2. non partisan elections;
3. term limitations;
4. district residency requirement;
5. County Commission salaries;
6. autonomy of the Sheriff; and
7. environmental protection.

The CRC reaffirmed the issues which had been eliminated at the February 8, 2000 meeting and specified (with the agreement of Mr. Nickerson) that the following issues should be eliminated based upon the additional research which had been conducted by the independent counsel:

1. district residency requirement;
2. limits on the autonomy of the Sheriff;
3. fire service consolidation;
4. special districts should have elected officials serving as governing body; and
5. police review board comprised of citizens and officers (Sheriff).

A motion was made by Member Martin/Thomas to accept legal counsel's review and that Issues 3 (municipalities should maintain the ability to exercise home rule), 8 (repeal the Boundary Adjustment Act), 10 (specify a certain amount of funding for land conservation), 13 (high costs of county wide campaigns), 14 (district residency requirements), 16 (limits on the autonomy of the Sheriff), 17 (fire service consolidation), 21 (campaign financing), 22 (special districts should have elected officials serving as governing body), 23 (annexation regulations), 24 (assure appropriate level of staffing and funding fro the environmental protection office), and 25 (police review board comprised of citizens and officers (Sheriff) are deleted from the Suggested CRC Study Issues list.

The CRC reviewed the remaining issues to determine whether further deletions were needed. The results of this review are outlined on the attached document with the various motions associated with each item. The study items which remain follow:

1. county ordinances prevailing over municipal ordinances;
2. county environmental ordinances prevailing over municipal ordinances;
3. flexibility to empanel the CRC more frequently than every ten years;
4. County Commission salary structure should be controlled locally;
5. establish a joint planning structure;
6. assess a fee for the use of all governmental resources;
7. single member districts;
8. independent auditor; and
9. conflicts in Charter (glitches)

After some discussion about whether to place these issues on the CRC's web site, a motion was made by Member Wright/Hanrahan to place the issues on the web site. Motion passed 9 - 1. The frequency of the CRC's meetings was discussed. Based upon this discussion, a motion was made by Member Martin/Thomas to meet all four Tuesdays in March @ 5:30 p.m. and that no Section Three vote will be taken any earlier than April 4, 2000. Motion passed 8 - 2.

Mr. Nickerson suggested that the study issues be grouped as follows:

Group 1: County ordinances prevailing over municipal ordinances, County environmental ordinances prevailing over municipal ordinances and establish a joint planning structure.

Group 2: County Commission salary structure should be controlled locally and single member districts.

Group 3: flexibility to empanel the CRC more frequently than every ten years, assess a fee for the use of all governmental resources, independent auditor and conflicts in the Charter.

A motion was made by Member Denton/Peterkin to consider the Group Three issues at the March 7 meeting. The motion passed 10 - 0. A motion was made by Member Denton/Peterkin to consider the Group One issues on March 14. Motion passed 10 - 0. A motion was made by Member Denton/Hawkins to consider the Group Two issues on March 21. Motion passed 10 - 0. A motion was made by Member Denton/Thomas that the March 28 meeting would be used as a "clean-up" for the issues.

Additionally, there was consensus to advertise the nine study issues and the dates that the CRC will be discussing the issues. The advertisement should provide for at least a seven-day advance notice.

Finally, a motion was made by Member Martin/Hanrahan for staff to notify all the municipalities and elected County entities of the agenda and items which will be scheduled during the March meetings. The motion passed 10 - 0.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:30 p.m.

1. County ordinances prevailing over municipal ordinances

Motion was made by Member Thomas/Hawkins to maintain this issue on the list. Motion passed 9 - 1.

2. County environmental ordinances prevailing over municipal ordinances; can specify that certain areas prevail (Chapter 125)

Motion was made by Member Hanrahan/Wright to maintain this issue on the list. Motion passed 9 - 1.

3. Municipalities should maintain the ability to exercise home rule;

4. Flexibility to empanel the CRC more frequently than very ten years;

5. County Commission salary structure should be controlled locally; Section 145.031(2)

Motion was made by Member Peterkin/Thomas to maintain this issue on the list. Motion passed 6 - 4.

6. Salary reduction for County Commission;

Motion was made by Member Martin/Thomas to delete this issue from the list. Motion passed 10 - 0.

7. Establish a joint planning structure; (Need to conduct additional research) Additional research was provided at the February 22, 2000 meeting.

Motion was made by Member Hanrahan/Hawkins to maintain this issue on the list. Motion passed 6 - 4.

8. Repeal the Boundary Adjustment Act;

9. Term limits for County Commission;

Motion was made by Member Martin/Crapo to delete this issue from the list. Motion passed 7 - 3.

10. Specify a certain amount of funding for land conservation;

11. Assess a fee for the use of all governmental resources; need additional research. This information will be provided at the March 7, 2000 meeting.

Motion was made by Member Martin/Thomas to maintain this issue on the list. Motion passed 9 - 1.

12. Single member districts;

Motion was made by Member Denton/Peterkin to maintain this issue on the list. Motion passed 9 - 1.

13. High costs of county-wide campaigns;

14. District residency requirement; need additional research.

This item was deleted based upon the results of research presented at the February 22, 2000 meeting.

15. Non partisan elections for all County elected officials;

Motion was made by Member Martin/Hawkins to maintain this issue on the list. Motion failed 3 - 7.

16. Limits on the autonomy of the Sheriff;

This item was deleted based upon the results of research presented at the February 22, 2000 meeting.

17. Fire service consolidation;

This item was deleted based upon the results of research presented at the February 22, 2000 meeting.

18. Review issues from the sustainability perspective;

Motion was made by Member Martin/Budd to delete this issue from the list. Motion passed 10 - 0.

19. Independent auditor

Motion was made by Member Thomas/Martin to delete this issue from the list. Motion failed 5 - 5.

20. Conflicts in Charter (glitches

Motion was made by Member Thomas/Hanrahan to maintain this issue on the list. Motion passed 10 - 0.

21. Campaign finance regulations

22. Special districts should have elected officials serving as governing body - need additional research.

This item was deleted based upon the results of research presented at the February 22, 2000 meeting.

23. Annexation regulations

24. Assure appropriate level of staffing and funding for the environmental protection office

25. Police review board comprised of citizens and officers (Sheriff). Need additional research.

This item was deleted based upon the results of research presented at the February 22, 2000 meeting.