CHARTER OF THE CITY OF COON RAPIDS, MINNESOTA
CHAPTER 1-100
NAME, BOUNDARIES, POWERS, AND GENERAL PROVISIONS

1-101 Name and Boundaries. Upon taking effect of this Charter the Village of Coon Rapids in the County of Anoka and State of Minnesota shall become a City under the name of the City of Coon Rapids, and shall continue to be a municipal corporation with boundaries the same as they now are established or as they may hereafter be established.

1-102 Powers of the City. The City shall have all powers which it may now or hereafter be possible for a municipal corporation in this State to exercise in harmony with the constitutions of this State and of the United States. It is the intention of this Charter that every power which the people of the City of Coon Rapids might lawfully confer upon themselves, as a municipal corporation, by specific enumeration in this Charter shall be deemed to have been so conferred by the provisions of this Section. This Charter shall be construed liberally in favor of the City and the specific mention of particular powers in the Charter shall not be construed as limiting in any way the generality of the power herein sought to be conferred.

1-103 Charter a Public Act. This Charter shall be a public act and need not be pleaded or proved in any case. It shall take effect ten (10) days from and after its adoption by the voters.

1-104 Definitions. For the purposes of this charter the following definitions shall apply:

(1) Administrative, Administration - Pertaining to the management and execution of laws and functions.

(2) Administrative Procedures - Internal operations of City staff as set forth in the Administrative Orders Manual.

(3) Bond - A certificate issued by the City, redeemable on a specific date, which may or may not bear interest.

(4) Budget - The comprehensive financial plan of the City for the next fiscal year or other period of time as the Council may determine, including an explanation of the projected revenues and expenditures.

(5) Canvass of Elections - The process of officially confirming the vote totals and such other information for authenticity as required in Section 1-405 for final ratification by the City Council.

(6) Capital Improvements, Capital Projects - The acquisition by construction, purchase or gift of facilities or other assets of the City which are anticipated to have a useful life of more than two years.

(7) Census - A periodic government count of the population.

(8) Charter - The written instrument that creates and defines powers, rights and privileges for the City of Coon Rapids.

(9) Civil Service Provisions - Employment guidelines for police and fire personnel governed by State Statutes.

(10) Codification - Ordinances of the City of Coon Rapids that have been enacted which are compiled, consolidated, revised, indexed and arranged in a comprehensive manner.

(11) Debt Service - Payments to creditors, primarily the holders of municipal bonds, including principal, interest and paying agents’ fees, including required contributions to a debt service fund for term bonds.

(12) Eminent Domain - The power of the City to take for just compensation, through judicial action, any property for public use.

(13) Emergency Meetings - Unscheduled meetings of the City Council which are held in order to resolve an issue in a timely manner.

(14) Emergency Ordinance - Defined in Section 1-306.

(15) Enterprise - A municipal service which is operated as a business and financed primarily by fees, rentals or other charges as opposed to a service which is financed primarily by taxes. Examples of enterprises are sewer and water operations and the golf course.

(16) Franchise - A privilege conferred by the City to an individual, firm or corporation to place or maintain any permanent or semi-permanent fixtures in, over, upon, or under any street or public place for the purpose of operating a public utility.

(17) Fund - A set of interrelated accounts to record revenues and expenditures associated with a specific purpose. Present funds are identified in Section 1-711.

(18) General Fund - Defined in Section 1-711(1).

(19) General Obligation Bond - A debt instrument issued by the City with the repayment of principal and interest based upon a pledge of the taxing authority of the City.

(20) Initiative - The authority of the voters of Coon Rapids to initiate and adopt an ordinance as provided in Chapter 1-500.

(21) In writing - Includes handwritten, typed or printed material, but not oral communication, audio or video tapes.

(22) Legal Newspaper - A qualified newspaper as defined by Minnesota Statutes.

(23) Legislative - Pertaining to the power to adopt ordinances.

(24) Majority - A number greater than half, unless more specifically defined.

(25) Ordinance - A city law which applies to all persons and property within the City and may include penalty provisions.

(26) Precinct - A Subdivision of wards established for the purpose of administering elections; precincts are not necessarily equal in population. (See definition of Wards).

(27) Public Hearing - A public meeting called to provide citizens the opportunity to express their position on a specific issue.

(28) Public Utility - As defined in Chapter 1-1100.

(29) Quorum - The prescribed number of members that must be present to legally transact business.

(30) Referendum - Defined in Section 1-510.

(31) Registered Voters - Those residents who are registered to vote in the City of Coon Rapids.

(32) Resolution - A decision, opinion, policy or directive expressed in a formal document and adopted by the City Council.

(33) Special Assessments - Costs of improvements which are assessed against property as specified in Minnesota Statutes Chapter 429.

(34) Special Meetings - Non-emergency meetings of the City Council which are not prescribed by ordinance or resolution as required in Section 1-301.

(35) Tax - An amount levied upon individuals or property to finance government goods and services.

(36) User Fee - A fee charged to users of various municipal services, usually in relationship to the amount of the service that is used; distinct from taxes which are levied without regard to the volume of services used by the property or person.

(37) Vacation - Release of City easements and similar City interests in property according to Section 1-1206.

(38) Wards - Political subdivisions of the City which are nearly equal in population as practicable as defined in Section 1-203. Ward boundaries are to be amended according to Section 1-203.

(39) Working Day - Any day City Hall is open to the public for conducting general business. [Revised 12/19/95, Ordinance 1556]