Minutes - Parks and Recreation Commission - 02/08/1996 - Joint with CC

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Vice-Chair Cook reminded everyone that the Park and Recreation Commission still has a vacancy. Mr. Schroeder reported that we will have a discussion of this on the Personnel Committee - the issue of seating or not seating. There are two reasons: 1) If City Council chooses to seat or not seat a commissioner, that's their right. They may or may not provide an answer/reason. 2) On the communication, Mr. Skinner asked why Council didn't tell their reasoning behind the re- appointment denial. It's not possible to require City Council to be at every meeting of the body because it would be too time consuming to report their reasons for everything but is it the intent of staff to report actions ff there's a reason known. There was no particular reason stated by City Council relating to this appointment. Staff informed the commission that the appointment was not made. Vice-Chair Cook felt that a reason should have been given. Mr. Hendriksen commented that the only previous precedent was when Ben Deemer was not re- appointed to the Planning Commission. At least two current sitting Councilmembers were forced to divulge the reason. They fabricated the fact that he did not take his hat off during the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. He was actually trying to keep Plants and Things from not following City Code. Mr. Hefland stated that the interview process must be done professionally. We did it like we had always done it. If a person is removed from a job with no warning, that person should get to know why. There were no questions or phone calls; I was not even asked to be there. Mr. Schroeder stated that City Council takes a lot of actions on agenda items every two weeks. On some actions they will state reasons for their vote but on others they just act on them and move on to the next item. Mr. Hendriksen asked "don't you think someone who spends 18 years should have some justification". Mr. Schroeder replied yes, that's fair, but reiterated that Council did not state, nor do they have to state, a reason. Commissioner Skinner asked if that's not a double standard. We are asked to explain our actions/recommendations but Council does not have to give us a reason for their actions. Vice-Chair Cook stated that we had to defend our recommendation of Steve Osu'um but you did not appoint Ron Hetland and we did not get any reasons why you acted that way. Mr. Schroeder said ail I am stating is a reason was not given and maybe City Council will want to give a reason and maybe not but I feel they will discuss this in the future. Consensus was to schedule a joint meeting with Council and the Park and Recreation Commission in May. City Council/Park & Recreation Commission/February 8, 1996 Page 14 of 15