Charter Amendment Process

Amendment Proposed by Voter Petition

1. PREPETITION PROCEDURES - Proposed amendment and pre-petition is submitted to County Manager's Office. The County Manager's office does two things: a) County Manager transmits to Elections Division who determines sufficiency of these 500 signatures.  b) County Manager also transmits a copy to County Attorney's Office, Charter Commission and County Board.
   
   
2. Within thirty (30) days, County Attorney's Office makes legal determination. If proposed amendment qualifies, County Attorney's Office writes official summary, drafts a ballot title and statement. County Attorney's Office forwards this information to the chief petitioners, County Board, Charter Commission and Elections Division.
   
   
3. Once there is a qualifying statement from County Attorney's Office, petitioner shave ninety (90) days to gather signatures.
   
   
4. PETITION PROCEDURES - Petitioners must submit proposed amendment and petition with required number of signatures to County Manager's Office. County Manager's Office does three things: a) County Manager makes initial determination as to whether petition is timely.  b) County Manager submits documents to Elections Division who shall determine that the correct number of signatures has been obtained and determine the validity of the signatures. c) County Manager gives Charter Commission and County Board notice.
   
   
5. Within thirty (30) days, Elections Division reports back to County Manage rand Charter Commission on petition signatures.
   
   
6. After report from Elections Division, Charter Commission has thirty(30) days to declare sufficiency of petition. Insufficient petition is returned to petitioners who have thirty (30) days to resubmit.
   
   
7. After report from Elections Division, Charter Commission has sixty (60)days to prepare a Position Paper. A copy of this Position Paper shall be forwarded to the County Manager who will transmit a copy to the chief petitioners, Elections Division, County Attorney's Office and County Board.
   
   
8. Upon receipt of information from Charter Commission, Elections Division places on ballot. Elections Division must receive information eight (8)weeks prior to election. 
   
   
9. Charter Commission may educate the public during this period.
   
   
10. Voters vote on proposed amendment at next general county election.
    
    
11. If passed (by 51% of those voting on the issue), amendment becomes effective thirty (30) days after election is certified or such other time as is fixed in the amendment.

Amendment Proposed By County Board

1. County Board develops proposed amendment and adopts by ordinance. Proposed amendment is subject to referendum pursuant to Chapter Five of the Ramsey County Charter.
   
   
2. Charter Commission has sixty (60) days [or may extend to ninety (90)days by resolution] to review proposed amendment, make recommendation, and submit to County Attorney's Office.
   
   
3. County Attorney's Office has thirty (30) days to make legal determination.
   
   
4. Charter Commission may prepare Position Paper and educate the public if need be.
   
   
5. If substantive amendment, proposed amendment must be submitted to Elections Division who will submit to a vote at next general election. Elections Division must receive proposed amendment no later than eight (8) weeks prior to a general election in order to place issue on ballot for that election. If approved at general election, amendment becomes effective thirty (30)days after the election has been certified or at such other time as is fixed in the amendment.
   
   
6. If nonsubstantive amendment, proposed amendment may be adopted by County Board after a public hearing upon two (2) weeks published notice. An Ordinance amending the charter does not become effective until ninety (90) days after passage by the County Board and is subject to referendum.

Amendment Proposed by Charter Commission

1. Charter Commission develops proposed amendment and submits to County Attorney's Office.
   
   
2. County Attorney's Office has thirty (30) days to make legal determination.
   
   
3. Charter Commission may prepare Position Paper and educate the public if need be.
   
   
4. If substantive amendment, proposed amendment must be submitted to Elections Division who will submit to a vote at next general election. Elections Division must receive proposed amendment no later than eight (8) weeks prior to a general election in order to place issue on ballot for that election. If approved at general election, amendment becomes effective thirty (30)days after the election has been certified or at such other time as is fixed in the amendment.
   
   
5. If nonsubstantive amendment, proposed amendment may be adopted by County Board after a public hearing upon two (2) weeks published notice. Ordinance amending the charter does not become effective until ninety (90) days after passage by County Board and is subject to referendum.