The Stillwater City Council on Tuesday night will be asked to weigh in on two possible changes to the city charter, including whether to continue to require primary elections.

Stillwater has held a primary if more than two candidates have filed for any office since the council passed a resolution in 1970.

City officials thought that a primary might be needed this year since four candidates originally filed for the open Ward 2 seat; council member Dave Junker announced last month that he was not seeking re-election. But two of the candidates withdrew, leaving two candidates for that open seat, “so no primary will be required this year,” said City Administrator Joe Kohlmann.

The two candidates vying for the Ward 2 seat are Lindsay Belland, a University of Minnesota Foundation event planner, and Sirid Kellermann, a biotechnology consultant and the chairwoman of the city’s Human Rights Commission.

Council members also will be asked on Tuesday night for their opinion as to whether the city charter should be changed to require only elected officials to submit financial disclosures.

As the charter reads now, the list of city officials who must submit financial disclosures includes: members of boards and commissions, elected officials, department heads, the city administrator and city attorney (and all members of the firm).

“While the list of disclosures is not particularly onerous, it is unusual that anyone other than the council has to submit such a financial disclosure list,” city officials wrote. “The Special Service District has had a particularly difficult time completing the disclosures.”

City staff are asking for the council to weigh in on these two issues because charter amendments require a unanimous decision by the Stillwater City Council, Kohlmann said. “There is no reason to bring an amendment to the attention of the city’s charter commission unless there is unanimity amongst the council,” he said.

The charter commission next meets on July 29.

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