Agenda - Council - 03/11/1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ?C_cAS , #: 4 REVISIT POLICY ON COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS By: Linda Waite Smith, Administrative Services Manager Background: In August of 1996, the City Council adopted a policy for appointing members of the City's advisory boards and commissions. That policy was actually implemented for the first time in January 1997, when there were a number of commission vacancies to fill. As a result of that experience with the new policy, the City Council directed me, in February 1997, to clarify the policy section pertaining to service on more than one City commission at the same time. When the appointment policy was originally adopted, the City Council decided to defer until a later date any consideration of term limits. Part of the directive to me in February 1997, was to address that at this time. Simultaneous Service on Multiple City Commissions: During the June 11, 1996 Personnel Committee where the draft commission appointment policy was discussed, there was discussion about whether or not people should be allowed to serve on more than one commission at the same time. As the attached minutes show, two of the three Personnel Committee members thought that serving on the Charter Commission, which meets quarterly, should not keep someone from serving on another committee that meets monthly. City ordinance 89-11-302 states in part that it is the policy of the Ramsey City Council "to avoid appointing individuals to more than one Board or Commission unless adequate representation cannot be accomplished or it is clearly in the best interests of the City of Ramsey to make such appointments to multiple Boards or Commissions." This wording was inserted into the commission appointment policy adopted by the Council in August 1996. The Council, however, found it too vague to provide guidance when the question of a dual appointment arose in February 1997. For purposes of discussion, staff is recommending that the policy section be clarified to read: The City Council may appoint an individual to serve on two City commissions at the same time, provided one of the commissions is the Charter Commission.