1989-10-17167
MINIITES
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING
OCTOBER 17, 1989
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM. Members present: Mayor Smith,
Liz Jensen, Phyllis Jessen, Skip Johnson and Andrea Ahrens. Absent: none.
Also present: City Manager, Ed Shukle; Lorrie Hamm, Laker; Parker Hodges,
Sailor.
City Manager Ed Shukle reviewed the negotiations to obtain an option on the
CBD parking lots from Dakota Rail. He indicated that the reason that
Dakota Rail has not responded to the City's initial offer was due to the
fact that Dakota Rail was possibly going to be purchased by an individual
from Largo, Florida. The bankruptcy attorney had indicated to the city
attorney that he was not entertaining or discussing any other sales of the
property until something was resolved on the possible sale of the entire
railroad to the party from Florida. Council consensus was to stay up to
date on it and to continue to report at each month at the Committee of the
Whole meetings.
A vegetation ordinance was briefly discussed. It was the consensus to have
the City Manager contact the League of Minnesota Cities to find other
cities who may have such an ordinance.
Also discussed were the weeds that continually grow and are visible on the
public right-of-way. It was the consensus that the City Manager establish
a plan to treat the weed growth and/or eliminate it for 1990 and beyond.
A review of the Preliminary Draft of the City Manager Performance
Evaluation System was held. The Council asked the City Manager for a job
description and his response to his job duties and role. The Council also
requested that a "clean" evaluation form be provided along with the job
descriptions and the City Managers response. The Council then agreed to
meet individually with the City Manager upon completing their forms and to
discuss this matter as a group at the next Committee of the Whole in
November. The City Manager was to check with the city attorney on the
issue of data privacy in relationship to the evaluation system and its
contents.
Also discussed was a program for listening to citizens .wants, needs and
feedback, directions for advisory commissions; and developing a mission
statement. With regard to the program for listening to citizens wants,
needs and feedback, it was the consensus to develop a post card type survey
that could be available at city hall for residents to complete while they
are in the city hall doing business. Also discussed was developing a
survey to coincide with the Economic Development Commission survey through
the city newsletter dealing with community attitudes about its city and its
services. With regard to the directions for advisory commissions, this was
put on hold until the Council sets its own mission.
The next item was a proposed policy on appointments and/or reappointments
to the Planning Commission, Park Commission and Economic Development
Commission. The City Manager explained the rationale for the development
of the policy. He shared with the Council a letter from the city attorney
with regard to a policy specifically as it pertained to the reappointment
168
Committee of the Whole Minutes
October 17, 1989
Page 2
process. The item was discussed in length and some changes were suggested.
The major item was whether individuals who wish to be reappointed to a
commission needed to be reinterviewed along with the new applicants. It
was the position of Councilmembers Johnson, Jensen and Jessen not to have
vacancies advertised if persons that wish to be reappointed had expressed
that interest. It was concluded that a definition of vacancy was required
as part of the policy. The City Manager was directed to revise the policy
per the Council"s discussion and place it on the agenda for the October
24th meeting for further discussion.
Also discussed was the next meeting, which will be held on November 21,
1989, following the tree lighting ceremony downtown.
Other items were continuance of monthly reports by department heads. The
City Manager indicated that the department heads told him at a staff
meeting on October 17th that the Councilmembers were not interested in the
monthly reports. Councilmembers questioned who stated this since all of
them read them with the possible exception of Councilmember Johnson who
felt it unnecessary for the reports. However, he did indicate that if the
City Manager felt that it was a working tool, he would support him in the
continuing of the reports. The others indicated that they do read the
reports and they do want them continued. Thus, it was the consensus that
the reports be continued. The City Manager also pointed out that it
appears that the annual reports given to the Council are not taken
seriously by the Council. The department head spends a great deal of time
preparing the annual reports. Annual reports ought to be given the
appropriate attention by the Council. The Council seemed to agree.
Other items concerned the condition behind the Shoreline Plaza shopping
center and the color of the Christmas tree lights downtown. It was
suggested that the Christmas tree itself have colored lights and not all
one standard of white. The City Manager said he would check into both of
these issues.
The consensus was also to not have a December Committee of the Whole
meeting.
Upon motion by Johnson, seconded by Jensen, and carried unanimously, the
meeting adjourned at approximately 9:40 PM.
Re ~ectfully subm'tted,
k` • ,
,~ ~~~~-
Ed Sfiukle
City Manager
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