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Elk River City Council Minutes December 7, 1998 Page 3 5.1. Review Residency Issue Relating to City Boards and Commissions City Clerk Sandra Peine indicated that the City Council recently received a petition requesting that only Elk River residents be allowed to serve on any board or commission of the city. The Ci~ Clerk provided research on this issue as requested by the City Council. She reviewed the residency requirements for the boards and commissions of the city. Cecilia Scheel stated that she does not believe non-residents of the city of Elk River should be allowed to serve on boards and commissions of the city because commission and board members make decisions which affect the citizens of Elk River. Paul Motin indicated that the commissions and boards which allow non-residents restrict the number of non-residents to a small percentage of the commission or board. Paul Motin indicated that the park and recreation commission affects people outside of the FIk River area as does the utilities commission and library board. He stated that the city would be limiting itself by not allowing non- residents of the city to apply for these positions. John Kuester concurred with Paul Motin. He indicated he is against a residency requirement for board and commission members. Chris Halbeck, Elk River High School, indicated he felt that board and commission members in the city of Elk River should be city residents as they are taking part in the government process and should have an idea of what Elk River issues entail. Dale Martin indicated that he concurs with allowing a limited number of non- residents on boards and commissions. Mayor Duitsman indicated that the City Council has the right to review and interview all applicants and therefore did not see the need to limit applications by placing a residency restriction on boards and commissions. Councilmember Thompson indicated that he felt boards and commissions that have the ability to impose fees or to propose a tax levy should require the members to be residents of the city of Elk River. Councilmember Farber stated that he concun:ed with Councilmember Thompson as the issue relates to the park and recreation commission. Councilmember Farber further stated that he felt it was acceptable for some non-city residents to be members of the ice arena commission. He stated that the youth hockey association reaches beyond the city of Elk River and has representatives on the Ice Arena Commission. Councilmember Dietz stated he did not feel the Council should be able to pick and choose which commissions should have a residency requirement. He further stated that the City Council is the body that makes the final decisions in increasing fees and levying taxes. Councilmember Dietz indicated that he was opposed to placing residency requirements on boards and commissions.