HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.18.2007• •
ORDINANCE COMMITTEE
June 18, 2007
4:50 p.m.
Council Chambers
Members present: Mayor Hurley, Schmitt, Welper, Gunderson, Greenwood, Getty, Kincaid.
Members absent: Cole.
Moved by Welper, seconded by Gunderson that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes:
Five. Absent: Cole, Kincaid. Motion carried.
The meeting was held at the request of Councilperson Getty to review the ordinance setting
number and term of council.
Kincaid now present at 4:51 p.m.
Councilperson Getty explained what he feels happened. In 1991, then Mayor McKinley talked
about staggered terms for council members. In 1992, during Mayor Manning's administration,
the council passed Ordinance No. 3856 approving staggered terms for council members.
Councilperson Getty feels there was a scrivener's error in the ordinance and a part of the
ordinance was dropped that was not meant to be dropped. There had always been representation
by three council members from the east side and four members from the west side. The at -large
council members consisted of one from the east side and one from the west side. Councilperson
Getty recommended that the council adopt an ordinance which would change the current
definition of at -large member so that it would delineate one from the east and one from the west
side of the city.
Councilperson Welper explained that he has no pros or cons for the ordinance change, but that it
is all in public perception. He really doesn't think it matters where the at -large council member
lives or other council members live as he fields questions from every ward. Councilperson
Welper stated he agrees with Councilperson Getty that the perception is that there is more
representation from the west side.
Councilperson Gunderson stated he disagrees with Councilperson Getty. As an at -large council
member, he tries to do what's best for any citizen no matter where they live, be it the north or
south end. Councilperson Gunderson commented that part of the strategic planning was for
economic development in the downtown and Logan/US 63 corridor, and that he supported that as
the number one strategic goal. He feels that we just need to find the best person to represent the
people , and whether they are from the east or west part of town, that should not matter. They
just need to do what is right for the whole city. Councilperson Gunderson noted it might make a
difference when a lesser known individual from the east side of city runs against a better known
candidate from the west side of the city in an election.
Councilperson Schmitt stated he personally feels that with five members elected from five wards
and two at -large council members, it doesn't matter because it takes four votes to pass anything.
Councilperson Schmitt stated the council represents the entire city on any issue. In an issue, you
will always have three votes and then get consensus for the fourth vote.
Councilperson Welper stated that the state legislators all have districts they must live in to run
for office, and that is why we have diversity. Right now, the city only has two council members
who live on the east side.
Councilperson Getty stated there will always be an east side of the city and a west side of the
city. The perception is the east side is coming up short because they only have two council
members who live on the east side.
Councilperson Kincaid stated he looks at it as all council members represent the city.
Councilperson Getty and he live on the east side, but Councilperson Greenwood and
Councilperson Gunderson are at -large council members and represent all citizens, including the
east side. Councilperson Kincaid wondered why this wasn't addressed before now.
Ordinance Committee
June 18, 2007
Page 2
Councilperson Kincaid stated he can work with all council members to work things out, and he
would like to leave the ordinance as it is because if an at -large council member did not represent
the east side, at the next election they would vote that person out.
Councilperson Gunderson stated he would like to leave the ordinance as it is and has been since
1992 noting that Councilperson Getty ran twice on this format. Councilperson Gunderson stated
he represents all the citizens of Waterloo and does what's best for the city as a whole.
Councilperson Gunderson stated he feels the at -large council members are buffer zones some
times on important issues, and he will not support a change.
Mayor Hurley wondered about the timing, and if a change could be done for this election year.
Mayor Hurley commented that good questions and facts have been brought up and the perception
that Councilperson Getty hears that the east side takes second fiddle, although he is not sure that
is true. Mayor Hurley stated that in terms of efforts of this city council on focusing on economic
development on the east side, his perception is that its better than the common perception.
Councilperson Getty stated there always was an at -large east and at -large west, and he feels that
was inadvertently dropped in 1992. That was in place in 1974 and was in place until 1992 when
former Mayor Al Manning signed Ordinance No. 3856. Councilperson Getty stated he can work
with all council members, but the perception is there are only two votes from the east side to get
anything done. Councilperson Getty recommended that the scrivener's error should be corrected
from when the words east and west were dropped from the at -large council.
Councilperson Gunderson stated he feels the council knew what they were doing in 1992.
Mayor Pro Tem Schmitt noted that the consensus tonight is that only two members would
support the ordinance change, so there is probably not enough support to move forward.
With no further business before the committee, it was moved by Welper, seconded by Gunderson
that the meeting be adjourned at 5:06 p.m. Ayes: Six. Absent: Cole. Motion carried.
Nancy Eckert
City Clerk
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