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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />and the Commission is coming to the Council saying the time is now. . Those of them currently <br />on the Council know the issues and dynamics between Council and staff. <br /> <br />Motion by Councilmember Cook, seconded by Councilmember Pearson, to close the public <br />hearing. <br /> <br />Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Gamec, Councilmembers Cook, Pearson, Elvig, Jeffrey, <br />Olson, and Strommen. Voting No: None. <br /> <br />The public hearing was closed at 5 :26 p.m. <br /> <br />Council Business <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec called the regular City Council meeting back to order at 5:26 p.m. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec stated this issue goes back quite a few years, and is more an issue of the right <br />timing. He appreciates the effort the Charter Commission has put into this. <br /> <br />Councilmember Strommen indicated her only concern is having the effective date such that the <br />City can still go out in a single search and advertise for a city manager. She understands Ms. <br />LeMere's comments about a transition period, but would not want to hire an administrator and <br />assume it may be a different person than the manager. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec stated he is not in favor of the motion that has been presented to the Council at <br />this time, although he believes the City will need to go to a City Manager Form of Government <br />at some time. The Council has discussed the timing, and the short time period that has been <br />presented creates problems. He expressed concemregarding an individual being hired as an <br />administrator and within six months or so being promoted to a city manager position, without <br />having completed the probationary period. Mayor Gamec indicated he would like a review of <br />the Council's discussion regarding the timing. The Council had looked at a population 0[,35,000 <br />or the year 2017, whichever came first, and some of those discussions may not have been <br />explained to the Commission. At this time he would not likely vote in favor of this amendment. <br /> <br />CounciImember Jeffrey stated he agrees that recruiting could be a challenge, but they can recruit <br />for a manager with the individual transitioning from administrator to manager. He would prefer <br />a date into the future, but this may make sense if they can make it work with this vacancy and <br />recruit one time for a manager. <br /> <br />Councilmember Cook concurred. He stated this. takes a seven member vote and the current <br />councilmembers have been looking at this for years. After tonight there will be two new <br />councilmembers that would have to get up to speed and this may not be able to happen by 2008. <br /> <br />Councilmember Pearson concurred. He stated the Council has talked about this for quite a <br />while, and it would make sense that this would be the time to do it. He has a little problem with . <br />the timing issue, but would be in favor of changing to the City Manager Form of Government. <br /> <br />-197- <br />