Council approves changes to city charter

City News August 29, 2025

At its Aug. 25 meeting, the Albert Lea City Council approved three changes to the city charter as recommended by the Charter Commission. The changes take effect 90 days from the council action.

No special election needed to fill vacancy

The first change addresses filling vacancies on the council. If a councilor resigns, the council will have the option of appointing a replacement until voters choose a councilor in the next general election instead of holding a special election. This change prevents the cost of a special election.

The council would still need to provide public notice of the vacancy before appointing a resident of that ward. The council would also still have the options of taking applications, holding public interviews and even deciding on a special election.

Simpler process for formalizing actions

The second change addresses a process. After a majority vote of the council approves a resolution or ordinance, only the mayor, with the city clerk attesting, needs to sign the documents. The charter formerly called for signatures by the mayor and two council members. This change simplifies the process for formalizing votes of the council.

Setting a process for disposing of items

The third change addresses how the city disposes of property that it no longer needs. The city will be able to dispose of excess property, such as chairs and desks, by giving it to other government units or private organizations as long as it serves a public purpose. Former rules required disposing of items by auction or as trash in order to ensure fairness and prevent misuse of public assets. This change allows the property to be re-used by setting a process for giving away items of low value.

For more information

For details, watch the council meeting on YouTube or contact a city councilor.