CITY CHARTER

OF THE
CITY OF FERGUS FALLS
Otter Tail County, Minnesota

Section

Chapter 1: Name, Form of Government, Boundaries, Powers, and General Provisions

1.01.   Name

1.02.   Form of government

1.03.   City and ward boundaries

1.04.   Powers of the city

1.05.   Charter a public act

1.06.   Word usage

Chapter 2: The City Council

2.01.   Composition and election

2.02.   Powers and duties

2.03.   Incompatible offices

2.04.   Vacancies

2.05.   Salaries

2.06.   Boards and commissions

2.07.   The Mayor

2.08.   The Acting Mayor

Chapter 3: The City Administrator

3.01.   The office

3.02.   Specific powers and duties

3.03.   Appointment and removal

Chapter 4: Council Procedure

4.01.   Council meetings

4.02.   Rules of procedure and quorum

4.03.   Ordinances, resolutions, and motions

4.04.   Ordinance adoption, amendment and repeal procedure

4.05.   Codification of ordinances

4.06.   Resolutions

Chapter 5: Elections

5.01.   Regular city election

5.02.   Candidate filing

5.03.   Special elections

5.04.   Election notice

5.05.   Election procedure

5.06.   Withdrawal

5.07.   Non-partisan elections

Chapter 6: Initiative, Referendum, and Recall

6.01.   Powers reserved by the people

6.02.   Expenditures by petitioners

6.03.   Further regulations

6.04.   Initiation of measures

6.05.   Form of petition and of signature papers

6.06.   Filing of petitions and action thereon

6.07.   Action of Council on petition

6.08.   Initiative ballots

6.09.   Initiation of charter amendments

6.10.   The referendum

6.11.   Referendum petitions

6.12.   Referendum ballots

6.13.   Recall of elected officials

6.14.   Recall petitions

6.15.   Review of recall petition

6.16.   Recall election

6.17.   Procedure at recall election

6.18.   Form of recall ballot

Chapter 7: Taxation and Finances

7.01.   Council to control finances

7.02.   Fiscal year

7.03.   System of taxation

7.04.   Equalization Committee

7.05.   Submission of budget

7.06.   Council action on budget

7.07.   Enforcement of the budget

7.08.   Alterations in the budget

7.09.   Funds

7.10.   City indebtedness

7.11.   Anticipation certificates

7.12.   Emergency debt certificates

7.13.   Bank loans

Chapter 8: Public Improvements and Special Assessments

8.01.   Power to make improvements and levy assessments

8.02.   Assessments for services

8.03.   Local improvements regulations

8.04.   Public works; how performed

Chapter 9: Eminent Domain

9.01.   Acquisition of property

Chapter 10: Franchises

10.01.   Franchises required

10.02.   Term

10.03.   Public hearing

10.04.   Power of regulation reserved

10.05.   Conditions in every franchise

10.06.   Renewals

Chapter 11: Public Ownership and Operation of Utilities

11.01.   Acquisition and operation of utilities

11.02.   Rates and finances

11.03.   Purchase in bulk

11.04.   Lease of plant

11.05.   Sale of public utility

Chapter 12: Miscellaneous and Transitory Provisions

12.01.   Official publications

12.02.   Oath of office

12.03.   Official interest in contracts

12.04.   Official bonds

12.05.   Sale of real property

12.06.   Vacation of streets

12.07.   City to succeed to rights and obligations of former city

12.08.   Effective date of this Charter and terms of present officers

12.09.   Statutes not affected by Charter

12.10.   Existing ordinances continued

12.11.   Pending condemnations, improvements and assessments

12.12.   Purchases and contracts

12.13.   Certification of documents

12.14.   Disposal of unclaimed property

12.15.   City property not lost by adverse possession

12.16.   Ordinances to make Charter effective