Agenda - Council - 01/09/2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilmember Olson sated she agrees that the timing is right to have this done. She expressed . her support in proceeding with the change if they can find a way to work within the timeframe. Councilmember Cook requested input from the Transition Team regarding the 2008 timeframe. Councilmember Elvig indicated he does not see the real problem with advertising for a manager at this point that would act as administrator for three months during the transition. The positions are similar, and the Charter Commission is coming to the Council with this amendment and recommended timeframe. He is not certain the Council has the authority to change the timeframe to the ten years the Mayor has suggested. He stated the City is getting big enough that it needs to be professionally operated; the Council should be a body of board of directors and not of managers. Motion by Councilmember Elvig, seconded by Councilmember Pearson, to adopt Ordinance No. 06-12-_ amending Section 2.1 of the City Charter requiring that the City be governed by the Council-Manager Form of Government. Further discussion: Councilmember Strommen clarified the assumption is. that a city manager position will be advertised for, as there will be a different pool of applicants recruited depending on the title. It should be clear the intent is that the Jl1anager will need to act as administrator until the January 1, 2008 effective date. Councilmember Jeffrey indicated advertising for a manager makes sense. If the person comes on board three or four months ahead of the January 1, 2008 date that person could aid in the transition with their experience and get things in order before . the effective date. A roll call vote was performed by the Recording Secretary: Mayor Gamec: nay. Councilmembers Cook: aye Councilmember Elvig: aye Councilmember Jeffrey: aye Councilmember Olson: aye Councilmember Pearson: aye Councilmember Strommen: aye Motion failed. Mayor Gamec stated he has explained his reasons for voting against this motion. He does not have a problem negotiating about this, other than the timing. It may be that the Council should have presented this differently and had a representative at the Charter Commission meeting. He expressed concern that it would be difficult not to promote the individual hired as an administrator to the manager position under this timeframe. He noted if the effective date were to be 2009 rather than 2008, the probation period would be over for the individual serving in the administrator position. . -198-