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<br />City Council Regular Meeting - 02/13/06 <br />Minutes - Page 27 <br /> <br />Mr. Kennedy once again reviewed the proposal of instant runoff <br />voting for special municipal elections for the City Council and <br />public edification. <br /> <br />Mayor Klausing questioned whether current state law would <br />allow Roseville, as a Class B City, to have instant runoff <br />elections. <br /> <br />Mr. Kennedy noted current campaigns in the Cities of <br />Minneapolis and Hopkins, both Charter Cities, to amend their <br />charters to eliminate primary elections. <br /> <br />City Attorney Anderson confirmed Mayor Klausing's <br />observations regarding the differences in Charter and Statutory <br />Cities; existing state law; and potential susceptibilities of the <br />City to litigation over election processes. <br /> <br />Mayor Klausing noted that, two years ago when the City Council <br />first considered this option, a resolution was passed indicating <br />the City's consideration of a runoff election process, should the <br />state adopt one. Mayor Klausing questioned why the City <br />Council would consider adopting an ordinance until the State of <br />Minnesota had adopted legislation; noting the creation of <br />potential inconsistencies between City Ordinance and State <br />Statute. <br /> <br />Councilmember Ihlan defined whether the City Council was <br />being asked to consider the ordinance alone, or taking of <br />initiative for the legislature to grant authority to local <br />government for this option; and expressed her support for taking <br />both actions. <br /> <br />Mr. Kennedy noted his preference to ask the legislature to pass <br />legislation authorizing any municipality to use this option if they <br />chose to do so, opining that if we don't have cities who want to <br />do it would be hard to motivate the legislature to do it. Mr. <br />Kennedy advised that his intent was to try to get the legislature to <br />allow for this; that no law on books prohibited it; and that only <br />technical questions presented a potential challenge. <br />