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Describe the most challenging municipal issues you have faced during your legal career? What <br />were the circumstances and what was the outcome? <br />Mr. VanThomme stated last June they had a domestic assault jury trial involving a mixed family <br />that went to trial and the defendant was ultimately convicted, spent time in jail, received anger <br />and domestic counseling. He stated what made the case difficult for him was involvement of <br />juveniles and because of the criminal justice system, that family would be vastly different. <br />Mr. Goodrich stated the one case that stands out in his mind as memorable is when a Ramsey <br />pizza business changed overnight into a XXX bookstore, which shocked people. He stated a <br />public hearing was held at the school because of the large number attending and emotional <br />testimony was received with residents asking why the Council "let it happen." The case went to <br />trial, represented by the League, and the use was pared down to a secondary use with controls. <br />Mr. Goodrich stated it was tense dealing with that case and an industry that is well equipped to <br />counter municipal challenge. Mr. Goodrich stated in the last four years, there were challenges <br />where the City's decisions were not desired, there was second guessing, and inappropriate <br />requests for confidentiality. <br />Mr. Haag stated he has learned from Messrs. Randall and Goodrich that City Attorneys are in a <br />unique position in being a buffer between policy implementation and policy makers. He <br />explained that often times citizens will not be as hostile towards the City Attorney as their own <br />elected officials. Mr. Haag stated in Linwood Township the tax levy was contentious and so <br />many showed up at the annual meeting that it had to be held in the ballfield across from the <br />Town Hall. He stated that Mr. Randall used a ladder and bullhorn to run the meeting, got the <br />levy passed, and gained a lot of respect for doing that. <br />Please describe your philosophy with prosecutions. <br />Mr. VanThomme stated he is a philosophy major and thinks TV culture makes you believe <br />prosecutors and defense attorneys are of different types but he has learned that criminal <br />prosecution is not like a "baseball game" where you get just one tool (baseball bat). It is more <br />like a "golf game" where you have a bag of tools (golf clubs) to use for the City. Mr. <br />VanThomme stated he looks at how public safety will be served, if their going to jail for a year <br />would improve public safety. He stated a prosecuting attorney should not be too "fire and <br />brimstone" or too much the other way, but it has to be a mix and he tries to use a number of <br />tools. <br />Mr. VanThomme reviewed a sampling of their 854 court cases over the last two and one -half <br />years. He stated the data shows that three of four who commit a crime in Ramsey get a <br />conviction, supervision, treatment, fine, and/or community service. Mr. VanThomme stated less <br />than 6% served with a crime commit another crime in Ramsey, a statistic of which he is proud. <br />Any other questions and/or concerns? <br />Mr. Goodrich stated he has an absolute commitment to follow through with the term of this <br />agreement and, God willing, will be here to give the best legal services possible. Mr. Goodrich <br />City Council Work Session / May 7, 2013 <br />Page 4 of 23 <br />