1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to local government; allowing the city of 
  1.3             Forest Lake to hold a special election for a 
  1.4             referendum on whether to increase the size of city 
  1.5             council and whether to establish wards. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [FOREST LAKE; MAY ADD COUNCIL MEMBERS; MAY 
  1.8   ESTABLISH WARDS.] 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [SPECIAL ELECTION TO ADD COUNCIL 
  1.10  MEMBERS.] Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 412.02, 
  1.11  subdivision 6, the city of Forest Lake may hold a special 
  1.12  election on the question of whether the city council should be 
  1.13  increased to seven members.  If the city council determines to 
  1.14  submit the question to the voters at a special election, the 
  1.15  city council must adopt an ordinance at least 60 days before the 
  1.16  date scheduled for the special election.  The ordinance must 
  1.17  include a schedule of elections and terms to accomplish the 
  1.18  change and may provide for a special election of council 
  1.19  members.  If the ordinance is approved by a majority of those 
  1.20  voting on the question, it goes into effect as provided in the 
  1.21  ordinance.  The city of Forest Lake shall not adopt an ordinance 
  1.22  under this section after July 1, 2002. 
  1.23     Subd. 2.  [WARDS.] The city of Forest Lake may provide by 
  1.24  ordinance for the election of city council members by wards, or 
  1.25  for the election of some city council members from wards and of 
  2.1   some as members at large.  The ordinance may also provide for 
  2.2   staggering of terms.  The ordinance takes effect only if 
  2.3   approved by a majority of the voters of the city voting on the 
  2.4   question at a general or special election.  Minnesota election 
  2.5   law, including Minnesota Statutes, sections 204B.135 and 205.84, 
  2.6   relating to wards, applies to this subdivision. 
  2.7      Subd. 3.  [EFFECTIVE DATE; NO LOCAL APPROVAL.] This act is 
  2.8   effective the day following final enactment.  This act does not 
  2.9   require local approval because it enables a local government 
  2.10  unit to exercise authority not granted by general law, as 
  2.11  provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 645.023, subdivision 1, 
  2.12  clause (a).