Minutes - Council - 06/09/2026 - Laserfiche WebLink

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employee may be able to manage the workload, doing so often requires significant personal sacrifice and can place undue strain on the organization. He also stressed the value of establishing a succession plan, noting that having another trained and experienced staff member in place would provide continuity and better prepare the City for future transitions. Councilmember Specht stated that, to remain consistent with his previous position, he would continue to oppose the item. He acknowledged that the City's communications staff member performs well, but did not believe that adding another position was necessary at this time. Specht also referenced earlier discussions about the role's evolution over the years and suggested that maintaining a lean staffing level in this area would help control the City's budget. Councilmember Buscher commended Councilmember Olson for reflecting on his prior vote and bringing the matter back for reconsideration. She stated that it is important for elected officials to honestly evaluate past decisions and be willing to change course when doing so would better serve residents, especially as the City's population continues to grow. Mayor Heineman explained that he had supported the position during both the budget process and the previous Council meeting. While acknowledging the need to manage employee headcount carefully, given its financial impact on residents, he emphasized that staff had met the Council- established budget targets and that the position was included in those targets. He stated that it was important to honor those commitments rather than remove approved resources after the targets had been achieved. Mayor Heineman also noted that resident surveys have consistently identified communication as a significant priority and argued that the additional position would help address that need. He further cited the substantial workload required to ensure the City's hundreds of web pages comply with accessibility requirements, as well as the importance of operational redundancy and succession planning. For those reasons, he concluded that approving the position was justified. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Heineman, Councilmembers Buscher, Olson, and Peters. Voting No: Councilmembers Riley, Specht, and Stewart. 8. MAYOR, COUNCIL, AND STAFF INPUT Community Development Director Hanson announced upcoming meetings and events. Councilmember Buscher congratulated the City's newly hired city engineer, Hafedh Hlel, and welcomed him to the organization. She noted that the City had spent a long time filling the position and praised Mr. Hlel's positive demeanor and the impression he and his family made during the meeting. She emphasized the importance of organizational culture and expressed confidence that Mr. Hlel would make valuable contributions, encouraging him to reach out to Council members if he needed assistance. Councilmember Specht also welcomed Mr. Hlel to the City and expressed enthusiasm about his joining the staff. He then highlighted several upcoming community events, including Movies in the Park, the Northwest Food Truck Festival at Central Park, and an ice cream social hosted by City Council /June 9, 2026 Page 6 of 8