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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES-03/11/2008-AdjournedMarch 11, 2008 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS, COLORADO Council -Manager Form of Government Adjourned Meeting - 6:00 p.m. An adjourned meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins was held on Tuesday, March 11, 2008, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the City of Fort Collins City Hall. Roll Call was answered by the following Councilmembers: Brown, Hutchinson, Ohlson, Poppaw, Roy and Troxell. Councilmembers Absent: Manvel Staff Members Present: Atteberry, Krajicek, Roy. Resolution 2008-026 Submitting a Citizen -initiated Charter Amendment to a Vote of the Registered Electors of the City at a Special Municipal Election on June 10, 2008, Adopted The following is staff s memorandum on this item. "EXECUTIVE SUMMARY On January 22, 2008, the City Clerk's Office received an initiative petition to amend the City Charter relating to collective bargaining. The Clerk's Office completed its review of the petition and determined that the petition contained an insujfzcient number ofsignatures to place the initiated measure on a special election ballot. The petition circulators withdrew the petition and filed an amended petition on February 21, 2008. The Clerk's Office has completed its review ofthe amended petition and has determined that it now contains a sufficient number ofsignatures to require Council to place the issue on a special election ballot. On March 4, Council adopted on second reading Ordinance No. 011, 2008, calling a special election on June 10, 2008. Council adjourned the March 4 meeting to this date for the purpose on considering this Resolution submitting the citizen -initiated Charter amendment to the voters at the June 10, 2008 special election, and setting the ballot title and submission clause for the measure. Under Section 7-156 of the City Code, any registered elector wishing to protest the ballot title or submission clause must do so by filing a written protest with the City Clerk's Office no later than noon on Monday, March 10, 2008. " City Clerk Krajicek stated this Resolution places the citizen -initiated Charter amendment on the special election ballot of June 10 and sets the ballot title and submission clause for the measure. Don Sheridan, 2600 Dumire Court, President of the Communication Workers of America Local 7707, stated the proposed Charter amendment will give all city employees the right to organize a union, department by department, and bargain collectively with the City about terms and conditions 193 union, department by department, and bargain collectively with the City about terms and conditions of their employment. Police employees already have the right to collectively bargain. Binding arbitration must be in the form of a Charter amendment. City employees currently have the right to strike. This amendment would prohibit employees from striking or work stoppage or slow down but would include binding arbitration. If an impasse is submitted to arbitration, the elected officials will select an arbitrator from a panel of arbitrators selected by the City Council. The arbitrator must consider the interest and welfare of the public and the financial ability of the City to bear the cost involved among other factors. This amendment will not waste taxes or cut City services. Passage of the amendment does not unionize City employees, but gives them the right to do so. Rosemary Sheridan, 2600 Dumire Court, read a statement from the Fraternal Order of Police and asked Council to endorse the effort of City employees to unionize. Mayor Hutchinson noted Council was required to place the Charter amendment on the ballot but the Resolution does not include endorsement by the Council. Krajicek stated only a vote of the people can change the Charter so the proposed amendment must go to an election. Councilmember Roy made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Ohlson, to adopt Resolution 2008-026. Yeas: Brown, Hutchinson, Ohlson, Poppaw, Roy and Troxell. Nays: none. THE MOTION CARRIED. Other Business Councilmember Roy made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Troxell, to postpone Second Reading of Ordinance No. 031, 2008, Amending Chapter 23, Article III of the City Code for the Purpose of Adding a Division Regarding Encroachment Permits for Newsracks to April 1, 2008. Yeas: Brown, Hutchinson, Ohlson, Poppaw, Roy and Troxell. Nays: none. THE MOTION CARRIED. The meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m. ATTEST: City Clerk Adjournment 194