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Sands, Lee � <br />Anderson <br />Sands, Lee & n�.d�rson <br />Five East County Roaa L Phnne: 612�8.41393 <br />Suite One FAX: 612�1S9-t396 <br />Sa3nt Paeil, Mn 55117 ema-L: SLACPASQaoLoom <br />• • <br />'��� <br />To: Tyra Wahman, �ocus IVews <br />�Fax: (65}�33-9550 <br />From: �Iwyn H. Sands <br />Da#e: <br />Re: <br />Pages: <br />Saturday, February 13, 1999 @ 10:24AM <br />Rosevi{le Citizens for Resgonsive Government <br />20, including this page <br />Principal reasons for our group wanting a charter instead of staying a statutory city: <br />1. To give citizens the right to a vote on major public expenditures by placing such <br />res#rictions in the charter itself, or by ihe right to create new iaws (city ordinances). Presently, the <br />city as a statutory city has ways of spending public funds without putting it to a vote of tf�e citizens. <br />7he city has recently barrowed and spent over 6.4 million on recreational facilities wiihout <br />voter approval, and now has plans to spend close to 100 milli�n in new major capital expenditures <br />in the years 1999 through 2003. We have no assurance that we will be given a say in ihe new plans; <br />past exper9ence sugges#s we won'#. <br />2. To provide for the right for citizens to initiate �ew laws (ordinances) where the councif <br />doesn't act. Statutory cities in Minnesota do not have that provision. <br />3. To provide for citizens to initiate a petitian and a referendum to eliminate laws (city <br />ordinances) presently on ihe books. <br />4. We believe cii}r elections should be held on even nurnbered years instead of <br />odd-numbered years so as #o caincide with state and federal elec#ions. This wilf not only save money <br />by eliminating a separate election for city council, it will also increase voter participation in city <br />elsctions. ln 1997, only 20 fo of voters voted for city council in a separate election. By having the <br />elections coincide with state elections we should be able to get aver 50% voting in a non•presidentia! <br />year, and over 2/3 voting in a presidential year. We believe a 20% voter turnout is unacceptable <br />democracy. Lacal officials fear uninformed voters will just pick a name at random; we believe it is the <br />responsibility of local elected officials to make themse{ves and their issues known. <br />