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<br />City of Ramsey <br />Council/Staff Retreat <br />February 1.2. 2008 <br /> <br />Comment on Image and Television: <br />When you are on television people in this community watch you. They watch how the Council <br />and Mayor interact with citizens and with staff. This is the public face of how the City is run; it <br />can make the public perception of the City more positive or it can have a detrimental effect. <br /> <br />MAYOR/COUNCIL AND STAFF EFFECTIVENESS <br />Council and staff split into two groups to discuss statements submitted prior to the retreat <br />regarding Mayor/Council and Staff effectiveness. <br /> <br />Suqqestions on how the Mayor and Council con be More Effective: <br />1) Acknowledge majority vote - honor that staff will move in the direction of the majority <br />vote. <br />. City Administrator Ulrich indicated this discussed by the Council group as well. The <br />group had the discussion about moving on with issues when a decision has been <br />made, rather than continually rehashing issues. <br />2) Meeting management - eliminate duplicate discussions at work session and highlight at <br />the City Council meeting. <br /> <br />3) Council do homework before meeting (staff has responsibility to be prepared). Ask <br />questions/do research ahead of time. <br />. There was discussion on the effects of a council member not being prepared. It <br />was noted there is a small window of time to review the information. There was <br />discussion of getting the agenda packets out sooner. It was suggested that the <br />draft agenda could be distributed sooner. It was suggested that staff contact <br />council members that will be weighing in heavily on specific agenda items prior to <br />the City Council meeting. <br /> <br />4) Staff works for Council as a whole not individual councilmembers; direction needs to <br />come from Kurt/Council as a whole, as opposed to one council member giving <br />direction to one staff person. <br /> <br />5) The majority of the Council should do agenda development. <br />. There was discussion on the process for getting a topic on the agenda. The current <br />process is that a council member presents an agenda topic, and it is added to the <br />agenda if the majority of the Council is in agreement. It was suggested that <br />requested agenda topics be considered only as they relate to the established <br />goals and priorities. <br /> <br />Suqqestions on How Staff be More Effective: <br />1) Allow free exchange of ideas. <br /> <br />2) Encourage professional development & networking. <br /> <br />3) Include more information on website and keep it current. <br /> <br />4) Continue effective weekly updates. <br /> <br />5) Don't "sugar coat" information. Don't be "afraid to face the ugly truth; Council will <br /> <br />have faith in judgment of staff. <br /> <br />6) Eliminate repetition in staff report <br /> <br />12 <br /> <br />-42- <br />