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<br />League of Minnesota Cities Information Memo: 5/15/2024 <br />City Special Elections Page 19 <br /> <br />Appendix A: Special elections on questions required by law <br />Topic Statute Procedure Other information <br />Issuance of general <br />obligation bonds <br />(commonly called GO <br />bonds). <br />Minn. Stat. § <br />475.57-.59. <br />When council resolves to issue <br />such bonds it must submit the <br />question to the voters at a general <br />or special election. If it fails, the <br />question must not be resubmitted <br />for 180 days. <br />Notice of election may contain one or more <br />ballot question for acquisition, <br />construction, or improvement of any <br />facilities at one or more locations. Ballot <br />question shall state maximum amount and <br />purpose of the proposed bond issue. <br />May city with municipal <br />liquor store issue licenses <br />to sell on-sale intoxicating <br />liquor to hotels, clubs and <br />restaurants. <br />Minn. Stat. § <br />340A.601, subd. <br />5. <br />Special election required before <br />city can issue certain on-sale <br />private licenses in cities with a <br />municipal liquor store. <br />Commonly known as “split liquor” <br />election. (For sample ballot, see LMC <br />information memo, Liquor Licensing and <br />Regulation.) <br />License to sell <br />intoxicating liquor on <br />Sundays. <br />Minn. Stat. § <br />340A.504, subd. <br />3(c). <br />City may issue Sunday liquor <br />license only if vote on question <br />passes at general or municipal <br />election. <br />See LMC information memo, Liquor <br />Licensing and Regulation. <br />Imposition of local sales <br />tax permitted by special <br />law. <br />Minn. Stat. § <br />297A.99, subd. 3. <br />Council adopts specific <br />resolution on local sales tax. <br /> <br />Question must be submitted to voters at <br />general or special election before <br />approval to collect the tax is requested <br />from the state legislature. <br />Increase or decrease <br />number of city council <br />members. <br />Minn. Stat. § <br />412.02, subd. 6. <br />Council must submit question to <br />voters to increase or reduced the <br />number on council to 7 or 5 <br />members. <br />Council adopts ordinance at least 60 days <br />before the next regular city election. <br />Ordinance must include a schedule of new <br />elections and terms. Change effective if <br />majority of those voting on the question <br />are in favor of it. <br />Combining cities. Minn. Stat. § <br />465.82. Minn. <br />Stat. § 465.84. <br />During 1st or 2nd year of <br />cooperation, special election must <br />be held on combination. <br />Vote held according to general election <br />law, on same day in each city. May repeat <br />election once in following year if it fails. <br />Charter election. Minn. Stat. § <br />410.10. <br />Notice of election must contain <br />complete charter; publish once a <br />week for two successive weeks in <br />the official newspaper or legal <br />newspaper of general circulation. <br />See statute for ballot question. Charter <br />election must be held within 6 months of <br />delivery of draft charter to council. If no <br />general or city election, within 90 days of <br />delivery of the draft charter. <br />Construct, purchase or <br />lease municipal gas, light <br />power, or heat utility. <br />Minn. Stat. § <br />412.321, subd. 2. <br />Questions on the establishment of <br />utility and bond questions may be <br />combined or separated. Election <br />may apply to a particular utility <br />service or group of services. <br />Law requires separate election for <br />manufacture of gas or generation of <br />electricity unless voters approved both <br />generation or production and distribution <br />within the last two years. <br />Lease, sale of <br />abandonment of <br />municipal utility. <br />Minn. Stat. § <br />412.321, subd. 4. <br />Must submit ordinance or <br />resolution to lease, sell or <br />abandon to voters at general or <br />municipal election. <br />Approval requires 2/3 vote of those voting <br />on the question. Election may apply to any <br />specific part of utility as described in <br />ordinance or resolution. <br />City acquisition of a <br />public utility. <br />Minn. Stat. § <br />216B.45-.46. <br />Council resolution effective only <br />if ratified by voters at a special <br />election. <br />Election must be held not less than 60 or <br />more than 120 days after council <br />resolution. <br />27