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Do you feel it is appropriate for city staff to draft legal documents such as ordinances, purchase <br />agreements, development agreements? If not, why? If so, what is your role to ensure the city's <br />interests are protected? <br />Mr. Knaak stated he does not have a problem with experienced staff drafting ordinances. He added <br />he would be responsible for reviewing the draft for legality. He added he can also provide <br />Ordinances unless they are radical. <br />Describe the most challenging municipal issue you have faced during your legal career? What <br />were the circumstances and what was the outcome? <br />Mr. Knaak stated the really hard issues are related to personnel. He added he has had a few <br />situations with police chiefs and allegations of inappropriate conduct with staff. He noted those <br />are difficult situations. <br />Mr. Knaak stated he was involved in an RDF for the City of Newport that was very complicated <br />but also interesting. <br />If you did not list a monthly retainer as an option, please indicate why not, and whether your firm <br />is open to such an agreement. <br />Mr. Knaak stated he is proposing a flat fee, so no one will have to worry about costs. He added, <br />more importantly, the City will not feel any kind of adverse influence about using his services. He <br />noted he believes in having contact with individuals at the City through the City Administrator. <br />Mr. Knaak stated he may have conversations with the City Council outside of the City <br />Administrator, but he will notify the City Administrator that there has been a conversation. <br />Please describe all factors that you would consider in regard to advising the city on how to respond <br />to a Governor's Executive Order. What options are available to a City Council if they disagree <br />with a Governor's Executive Order? <br />Mr. Knaak stated, regarding executive orders, a City can choose to defy a Governor's order. He <br />added the issue is how much authority the governor has over the actions of a City. He noted a <br />number of cities have done this, but it remains an unresolved judicial issue. He noted it is not for <br />him to judge one way or the other. <br />The City of Minneapolis has chosen not to enforce certain laws such as marijuana laws and <br />immigration laws, and recently schools in Texas have countermanded Executive Orders related to <br />school safety. How do these examples reinforce or contradict your stance on the last question <br />related to Executive Orders? <br />Mr. Knaak stated there is a lot of controversy and things are done differently in Minneapolis. He <br />added he believes people are irritated by the City pushing its problems elsewhere. He noted how <br />the City of Ramsey reacts to these issues is entirely up to you. <br />City Council Special Work Session / August 23, 2021 <br />Page 10 of 22 <br />