HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 03.fCity of Lakeville
Administration
Memorandum
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Justin Miller, City Administrator
Date: May 11, 2015
Subject: Mayoral Term Change
During the council retreat held earlier this year, the topic of changing the mayoral term from
two to four years was discussed. Staff was directed to bring this topic back to the council for
further discussion at a future work session.
It appears that this topic was discussed at least twice in recent history (2006 and 2009).
During these discussions, a survey of Dakota County cities as well as the largest 31 Minnesota
cities and their corresponding mayoral terms was presented (see attachment). The cities with
two-year mayoral terms were Lakeville, Inver Grove Heights and West St. Paul.
The process to change the term length is a simple ordinance amendment. In order for the
change to be in effect for the 2016 election, the ordinance amendment would need to be
adopted at least four weeks before the closing date for the filling of affidavits of candidacy for
that election. Assuming the legislature makes no changes in the filing deadlines, this means
the ordinance would need to be adopted by mid-July 2016. Any ordinance change would
not impact the current mayoral term (which ends December 31, 2016).
Staff will be seeking direction if the council wishes to proceed or gather any additional
information.