Minutes - Council - 01/13/2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Institution for the City of Ramsey Banking Services for Year 2015; and, Resolution #15 -01 -010 Authorizing Signatures for Financial Transactions City Administrator Ulrich presented the staff report and recommended revision to appoint Councilmembers Riley and Williams to the EDA with Councilmember LeTourneau serving as the alternate, leaving one EDA vacancy to be filled, and to appoint Councilmember Shryock to the Highway 10 Subcommittee. Motion by Councilmember Riley, seconded by Councilmember LeTourneau, to Adopt Resolution #15 -01 -001 for 2015 Council Organization as amended above; Resolution #15 -01- 009 Designating Financial Institutions as Official Depositories of City Funds for 2015; Resolution #15-01-011 Designating Bank of the West as Official Financial Institution for the City of Ramsey Banking Services for Year 2015; and, Resolution #15 -01 -010 Authorizing Signatures for Financial Transactions. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Strommen, Councilmembers Riley, LeTourneau, Johns, Kuzma, Shryock, and Williams. Voting No: None. 7.07: Schedule Council/Staff Strategic Planning Sessions(s) City Administrator Ulrich presented the staff report and asked if the Council supports bringing in a professional consultant, estimated to cost $15,000 for a two -day session, to facilitate a Strategic Planning Session or would they prefer to have the sessions led by department heads. Mayor Strommen commented on the history of past Councils to use professional outside consultants to facilitate strategic planning sessions, though she does not know if that needs to be done every year. Councilmember Johns stated she finds it to be important to use a professional consultant every few years, noting it is already being considered annually on an internal basis. She stated she did not participate in the last strategic planning session and has felt she missed out in that effort. Councilmember Johns stated a willingness to reduce the scope of services if cost is an issue. Councilmember Riley stated the Council went through the strategic planning session two years ago and at that time it was needed to rebuild trust between the Council and staff. He agreed that the Strategic Plan needs to be updated, but thought that it could be accomplished internally by the Council, who were elected as leaders, and the City's professional staff. Councilmember Kuzma concurred, noting the Plan has a good matrix and a citizen survey was recently conducted that provided feedback, so it can be updated through an internal process. Councilmember Shryock stated she was surprised by the $15,000 price tag but after checking into the Prouty Project, received a positive reference. She stated that given two years ago provided a good base, the cost is high at $15,000, and the City already has a survey, she thinks the Council and appropriate staff could assure the City is on the right track and make Strategic Plan modifications, if needed. City Council / January 13, 2015 Page 12 of 15