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Attorney Goodrich stated that we do need to clean up this language because of the ward system <br />and because Ramsey's Council now consists of seven people. He noted that if you go straight to <br />an appointment process, you would not have to have 120 days listed in the language. <br /> <br />Chairperson Vogt didn't see the advantage to the 120 days. <br /> <br />Motion by Commissioner Frederick and seconded by Commissioner Bertzyk to direct Attorney <br />Goodrich to look at the language in Chapter 4 of the City's Charter and adjust it for the ward <br />system and seven-person Council plus remove the 120 day notice. <br /> <br />All in favor - Motion carried. <br /> <br />Case #3: Consider City Manager Form of Government <br /> <br />City Administrator Norman stated that the City Council discussed the City Manager form of <br />government at a work session on October 4, 2005. The Council determined an organizational <br />study should be done which was started in January; it is now near completion. The City Council <br />said to make certain the piece relating to the City Manager form of government is included in the <br />study. We are in a rapid growth period and development definitely affects staffing. Rather than <br />just adding on staff, we thought we should plan where we want to be 20 years from now so when <br />we are at a population of 50,000, we will have a plan. There are different ways of doing things - <br />maybe we do more services - maybe we do services differently. The study included dialog with <br />nine city managers and rapid growth was discussed. It's a good study - staff is in the process of <br />reviewing a portion of the first draft. He suggested that the Charter Commission may want to <br />have that study prior to discussing the City Manager form of government again. Mr. Norman <br />added that this subject was brought up his first year at the City and he asked not to have it be <br />discussed at that time. He didn't want it to be personalized. We have been talking about it for <br />basically eight yeas. He suggested maybe putting a time table on this, for example, in 10 years <br />the City will go to a City Manager form of government. It should be looked at more <br />philosophically rather than a face and a position. <br /> <br />Chairperson Vogt asked about the difference between the two. <br /> <br />Mr. Norman replied that the simplest way is that in a City Manager form of government, the City <br />Council hires one person - and that's the City Manager. With a City Administrator form of <br />government, the City Council hires and fires. If the City gets larger, the City Council should be <br />more involved in being more of the policy board rather than being involved in day to day <br />activities. <br /> <br />Chairperson Vogt felt it was a good idea to wait for the study for more discussion. <br /> <br />Upon a request by Chairperson Vogt, Mr. Norman expanded on the long term goals. <br /> <br />Commissioner LaMere asked by agreeing to do this study, does the City Council have to buy <br />into all of it. <br /> <br />Charter Commission - April 27, 2006 <br /> Page 5 of 6 <br /> <br /> <br />