Minutes 11/10/2009 7:30:00 PM

Minutes: Battle Creek City Commission

	Meeting Type:	Organizational
	Meeting Date:	Tue November 10, 2009 07:30 PM
	Location:	Commission Chambers City Hall
	Chair:	Deidre A. Laser - City Clerk
	Prepared By:	Michelle Reen - Deputy City Clerk

Organizational Meeting of the City Commission to be held as set forth in Section 2.9 of the City Charter, Deidre A. Laser, City Clerk, presiding. By City Charter the Organizational Meeting of the City Commission begins at 7:30 p.m.

Attendance Committee Members:	Attendance Staff:
Susan Baldwin City Commissioner Elizabeth Fulton City Commissioner Ryan Hersha City Commissioner Chris Simmons City Commissioner Lynn Ward Gray City Commissioner Laurie Sullivan City Commissioner Diane Thompson City Commissioner Bill Morris City Commissioner Andrew Yankama City Commissioner	Laser, Deidre - City Clerk Reen, Michelle - Deputy City Clerk Tsuchiyama, Ken - City Manager Wicklund, Eileen - City Attorney

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF CANVASSERS

Kathy Perrett of the Battle Creek City Board of Canvassers presented a Certificate of Determination to the Commission on the vote cast at the Annual City Election held November 3, 2009, for the offices of City Commission. She reported the following vote totals: At-Large Commissioner Susan Baldwin received 4,021 votes, At-Large Commissioner Diane Thompson received 3,238 votes, At-Large Commissioner Ryan Hersha received 3,174 votes, At-Large Commissioner Bill Morris received 2,977 votes, Ward 1 Commissioner Chris Simmons received 752 votes, Ward 2 Commissioner Lynn Ward Gray received 415 votes, Ward 3 Commissioner Laurie Sullivan received 605 votes, Ward 4 Commissioner Elizabeth Fulton received 645 votes and Ward 5 Commissioner Andrew Yankama received 1,610 votes.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE OATHS OF OFFICE

City Clerk Deidre Laser administered the oath of office to the City Commission.

ELECTION OF MAYOR

Commissioner Simmons moved that the election of the Mayor and Vice Mayor be conducted by nomination and roll call vote, called in random order, by lot. Commissioner Sullivan supported. Commissioner Susan Baldwin was placed on the slate for the office of Mayor. Comm. Yankama was placed on the slate by Comm. Sullivan. Comm. Yankama declined the nomination. Deputy Clerk Michelle Reen called roll call in random order by lot. Comms. Baldwin, Fulton, Hersha, Morris, Simmons, Thompson, Gray and Yankama voted yes; Comm. Sullivan voted no. The motion carried and Commissioner Susan Baldwin was elected Mayor of the City of Battle Creek City Commission for a one-year term ending November 9, 2010.

ELECTION OF THE VICE MAYOR

Commissioner Simmons was placed on the slate for the office of Vice Mayor. No other nominations were made. The roll call vote was read and all nine commissioners voted yes. The motion carried.

SETTING THE CITY COMMISSION SCHEDULE FOR THE FORTHCOMING YEAR

Comm. Hersha moved and Comm. Morris supported that the Commission meet at 7 p.m. in the City Commission Chambers on the first and third Tuesday of each month, beginning November 17, with the following exceptions: The organizational meeting be moved from November 2, 2010 to November 9, 2010 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Clerk Laser noted that spring break falls during the week of April 6 and there is a state primary election the week of August 3. Comm. Hersha moved that the April 3, 2010 meeting be moved to April 13 and that the August 3 meeting be moved to August 10. The motion was seconded by Comm. Simmons. Clerk Laser called for the vote and the Commission unanimously approved this motion.

GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT

Pat O'Donell congratulated the new mayor and elected commissioners.

Max Starr commented that Bill Morris invests money in the city and creates job in the city and that his business benefits the community. He said that the people have spoken.

David Neilson, 44 Latta Street, spoke as a resident and neighborhood leader. He thanked Behnke, Godfrey, Sofia and Walker for their years of service to the city. He also congratulated all of the new commissioners elected. He noted that there are challenges facing our community. He commented that much was made about partisanship in the recent campaign and that while it is known that there are active Democrats and Republicans sitting on the commission, he believes that the commission will set those differences aside to work for the betterment of the city, with and for the residents of our community.

County Commissioner Terris Todd congratulated all commissioners on behalf of the Calhoun County Commission.

CITY COMMISSION COMMENT

Comm Simmons thanked the citizens of Ward 1. He thanked his fellow commissioners for their support as vice mayor. He stated that although the role is mostly ceremonial, he feels it is a public relations role and he hopes to put the best foot forward for the commission and the community. He also noted the historic moment of having a majority of women sitting on the City Commission. He said he thinks that speaks volumes about the progressiveness of our community and he looks forward to working with all of them.

Comm. Yankama thanked the voters of Ward 5 for their support. He also thanked Comm. Baldwin for taking on the responsibility of Mayor.

Mayor Baldwin thanked her fellow commissioners and appreciated Comm. Sullivan for voting the way that she feels. She looks forward to representing the community and encourages residents to contact her and any commissioner. She said she looks forward to serving.

Comm. Morris thanked the public in attendance as well as those who came out and voted for him. He said he promises he will not let them down.

Comm. Gray thanked the residents of Ward 2 and said that this is a privilege and an honor and she feels that those residents are sitting with her. She wished her husband a happy birthday.

Comm. Fulton thanked her family and friends and especially the residents of her ward for their support and for voting.

ADJOURNMENT

Comm. Fulton moved to adjourn the meeting. Comm. Gray seconded. The Commission voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting. The time was 7:52 p.m.