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Resources processes and result in fewer Committee meetings. If approved, it will complete two <br />of the initiatives in the City's three -year Strategic Action Plan. <br />Human Resources Manager Lasher stated she and City Clerk Thieling met with City Attorney <br />Langel to discuss reclassifications /promotions. It is recommended to remove that matter from <br />the case and to not make any change in that regard. She stated in the past, a case was brought <br />before the Personnel Committee and City Council to accept a resignation; however, there is no <br />purpose in doing so as the State of Minnesota has at -will employment. She recommended that <br />procedure be eliminated. <br />The Council agreed with this recommendation. <br />City Administrator Ulrich stated these modifications would streamline the process and result in a <br />faster turnaround by not placing mundane items on the Council agenda. He reviewed the <br />authorities that are governed under Statutes rather than Charter in a City Manager form of <br />government. City Administrator Ulrich stated staff's recommendation abides by those statutory <br />regulations and would not require any change in the Charter. <br />Councilmember Riley asked why City Attorney Langel recommended reclassifications / <br />promotions not be considered tonight. <br />City Attorney. Langel advised that under State law, duties delegated to the City Administrator <br />shall be ministerial and the State does not want the City Administrator to have a lot of discretion <br />over promotions as it gets into a discretionary role and beyond what a City Administrator should <br />be doing. <br />Mayor Strommen stated Councilmember Backous has indicated an interest in holding that <br />conversation with the Charter Commission, which can occur during the interim when it is <br />considered whether to have a City Administrator or City Manager. She noted staffs <br />recommendation would allow the City Administrator to manage with the budget that has been <br />approved by the Council, which makes sense. <br />City Attorney Langel stated it also provides the City Administrator discretion within the <br />Personnel Policy that provides authority parameters for these types of decisions. <br />Councilmember Riley stated if the City decided to downsize, it would be a Council decision and <br />the City Administrator would be directed to take that action. <br />City Attorney Langel explained that the Personnel Policy should set forth the guidelines and <br />rules under which the City Administrator acts. <br />Mayor Strommen stated with recruitment, the Personnel Policy already allows that authority but <br />the Council has not allowed it to occur due to lean budgets. <br />Councilmember Riley asked if it requires the position to be filled. <br />City Council Work Session / January 7, 2014 <br />Page 5 of 13 <br />