Agenda - Council - 10/14/2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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lour 1111.1siion: To work together to reiposihty grow our community, and to provide quality, coat -effective, and efficient government ierrlcas. CC Regular Session 7. 1. Meeting Date: 10/14/2014 By: Colleen Lasher, Administrative Services Information Title: Resolution #14-10-215 to Promote a Police Captain to Police Chief Purpose/Background: The purpose of this case is to ask the City Council to authorize the promotion of Captain Jeff Katers to the position of Chief of Police. Captain Katers' Background: Captain Katers is a dedicated police officer with more than twenty-one years of experience in criminal justice and public safety; fourteen of which have been with the City of Ramsey. He has experience with budgeting, personnel management, public safety and emergency management; as well as proven organizational and problem solving skills and a reputation for a strong work ethic and reliability. The Interview: A work -session was held on October 7, 2014, to interview Captain Katers for the upcoming Police Chief vacancy; the position will be vacated by Chief Jim Way after his retirement on January 31, 2015. Five of the seven Councilmembers were present for the interview; Councilmember Tossey and Councilmember Backus were unable to attend the interview. Captain Katers was asked fifteen prepared interview questions and five additional questions were asked by the City Council. Captain Katers interviewed for approximately one hour and forty-five minutes prior to being excused for the City Council to discuss the interview and next steps. All five Councilmembers in attendance agreed by consensus to promote Captain Jeff Katers as the next Chief of Police. The Police Department organizational structure was also discussed as it relates to back -filling vacant positions. The City Council asked that Captain Katers provide an opinion as to whether to keep the current organizational structure. The organizational structure issue was reviewed with Captain Katers, and he is confident the current organization structure is the most effective structure to meet the needs of the City at this time. Captain Katers, and other City administrative staff will be on hand at the meeting to answer any questions the City Council may have in regard to the position or the organizational structure. A diagram of the current organizational structure is attached. Next Steps: Staff will conduct the internal back -filling process to replace Captain Katers' current position and any other vacancies that occur as a result. Following this process, the City Council will be asked to authorize all applicable back -filling in the next several weeks. Previously/Recent History: By way of background, at the August 11, 2014 work -session, staff presented information regarding Police Chief