Bloomington - Citizen Petitions
A group of Bloomington citizens have taken the lead to conduct an initiative petition effort and a referendum petition effort in response to the City Council's efforts to impose government managed trash collection on residents.
This effort was started by, and is being managed and led by a group of well organized Bloomington residents.
Committee leader: Joel Jennison, 3119 West 88th Street, Bloomington
info@HandsOffOurCans.com.
The committee's website is www.HandsOffOurCans.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HandsOffOurCans
Initiative Petition:
This group had gathered the necessary signatures for the Initiative Petition, but the group continues to gather additional signatures to assure that they have met the minimum as some signers will be disqualified for various reasons, (ex. moving out of the city).
They are attempting to place the following ballot question before voters:
Unless first approved by a majority of the voters in a state general election, the City shall not replace the competitive market in solid waste collection with a system in which solid waste services are provided by government-chosen collectors or in government-designed districts. The adoption of this ordinance shall supersede any ordinances or ordinance amendments related to solid waste adopted by the city council in 2015-2016.
As expected, Bloomington City Attorney Sandra Johnson with the support of the mayor and council has done everything within their power to stop the petition effort. In response, the citizens group retained Dorsey & Whitney LLP and filed suit against the city to enforce the city charter and assure that citizens have a right to vote on this issue.
On October 21, 2015, Judge Moore heard oral arguments on the case. The hearing got off to a slow start due to the city's attorney George Hoff, showing up noticeably late. The city made several claims as to why citizens have no right to vote on this issue, some of the claims even conflicting with themselves. The attorney representing the citizen group made a solid presentation including a poster board with the state law highlighted which clearly stated that the city charter's initiative and referendum process was allowed. The judge took the matter under advisement and has 90 days to issue an order.
On January 5, 2016, Judge Moore issued an Order asking both sides to submit a written brief addressing questions about city ordinances vs. charter amendments. After briefs are submitted, he stated that he would schedule a second hearing for oral arguments on the case before issuing a final order.
Referendum Petition:
On December 21, 2015, the city council unanimously passed city ordinance changes to institute government managed trash collection.
On December 31, 2015, a summary of the ordinance was published in the local newspaper. The summary said nothing about instituting government managed trash collection and taking away the right to choose your own hauler.
The citizens group immediately started the referendum process in the city charter. They successfully collected 1400 names of Bloomington residents opposed to the council's action. More citizens signed the petition than was needed, and it was submitted to the city before the January 15th deadline.
After the city clerk certified the petition, and verifies that the minimum number of names has been collected, the city's ordinance change allowing for government managed trash collection will be suspended pending a public vote on the issue.
It is fully expected that Bloomington City Attorney Sandra Johnson with the support of the city council will either ignore or dismiss the petition and refuse to comply with the city charter requirement that an election be called. More than likely, the citizens group will be forced to sue the city again in order to stand up for the rights of Bloomington residents that the council wishes to trample on.
Revised 1/20/16
A group of Bloomington citizens have taken the lead to conduct an initiative petition effort and a referendum petition effort in response to the City Council's efforts to impose government managed trash collection on residents.
This effort was started by, and is being managed and led by a group of well organized Bloomington residents.
Committee leader: Joel Jennison, 3119 West 88th Street, Bloomington
info@HandsOffOurCans.com.
The committee's website is www.HandsOffOurCans.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HandsOffOurCans
Initiative Petition:
This group had gathered the necessary signatures for the Initiative Petition, but the group continues to gather additional signatures to assure that they have met the minimum as some signers will be disqualified for various reasons, (ex. moving out of the city).
They are attempting to place the following ballot question before voters:
Unless first approved by a majority of the voters in a state general election, the City shall not replace the competitive market in solid waste collection with a system in which solid waste services are provided by government-chosen collectors or in government-designed districts. The adoption of this ordinance shall supersede any ordinances or ordinance amendments related to solid waste adopted by the city council in 2015-2016.
As expected, Bloomington City Attorney Sandra Johnson with the support of the mayor and council has done everything within their power to stop the petition effort. In response, the citizens group retained Dorsey & Whitney LLP and filed suit against the city to enforce the city charter and assure that citizens have a right to vote on this issue.
On October 21, 2015, Judge Moore heard oral arguments on the case. The hearing got off to a slow start due to the city's attorney George Hoff, showing up noticeably late. The city made several claims as to why citizens have no right to vote on this issue, some of the claims even conflicting with themselves. The attorney representing the citizen group made a solid presentation including a poster board with the state law highlighted which clearly stated that the city charter's initiative and referendum process was allowed. The judge took the matter under advisement and has 90 days to issue an order.
On January 5, 2016, Judge Moore issued an Order asking both sides to submit a written brief addressing questions about city ordinances vs. charter amendments. After briefs are submitted, he stated that he would schedule a second hearing for oral arguments on the case before issuing a final order.
Referendum Petition:
On December 21, 2015, the city council unanimously passed city ordinance changes to institute government managed trash collection.
On December 31, 2015, a summary of the ordinance was published in the local newspaper. The summary said nothing about instituting government managed trash collection and taking away the right to choose your own hauler.
The citizens group immediately started the referendum process in the city charter. They successfully collected 1400 names of Bloomington residents opposed to the council's action. More citizens signed the petition than was needed, and it was submitted to the city before the January 15th deadline.
After the city clerk certified the petition, and verifies that the minimum number of names has been collected, the city's ordinance change allowing for government managed trash collection will be suspended pending a public vote on the issue.
It is fully expected that Bloomington City Attorney Sandra Johnson with the support of the city council will either ignore or dismiss the petition and refuse to comply with the city charter requirement that an election be called. More than likely, the citizens group will be forced to sue the city again in order to stand up for the rights of Bloomington residents that the council wishes to trample on.
Revised 1/20/16