Minutes - Council Work Session - 11/21/2006

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Councilmember-Elect Dehen requested information regarding the difference III a City Administrator and City Manager Form of Government. City Administrator Norman explained as cities grow the theory is that the City Council takes less of a role in the day to day activities of the City and the City Manager takes on more of that role. In a City Manager Form of Government the City Council hires and fires one employee; personnel issues do not go before the Council. Also, the City Council should not be involved in the day to day activities. At some point Ramsey will be at a size where there needs to be a City Manager Form of Government. He suggested considering a population trigger for the change in government form, such as 35,000. Consensus of the Council was to direct staff to include approval of the City Manager Form of Government on a future agenda through two trigger options; at a population of 35,000 and at a timeframe of 10 years in the future. City Administrator Norman advised the second topic before the Council involves a Charter amendment that would allow for an appointment process rather than a special election for Council vacancies created between elections. Council reviewed examples of appointment processes in other cities. City Administrator Norman noted language should be included that a special election is required if a council member leaves prior to the end of the first year in a four year term; the appointment process would be followed if the vacancy occurs after the first year in the term. Councilmember-Elect Dehen noted it should be clear that the mayor would decide on the appointment if a majority of the Council does not agree on the appointment, as opposed to the mayor determining the appointment if a consensus of the Council is not reached on the appointment. Consensus of the Council was to direct staff to include a Charter amendment on a future City Council agenda that would allow an appointment process for Council vacancies created between elections based on the above discussion. 5) Hwy 47 Study Mayor Gamec indicated he, Councilmember Pearson, City Administrator Norman and Community Development Director Trudgeon attended the Highway 47 Study Group meeting on November 9, 2006. There was concerned expressed at the meeting that more Councilmembers should be involved in the process. City Administrator Norman indicated it was requested that the respective policy boards provide direction in respect to evaluation criteria of the alternatives. The recommendation was to apply the following weighting system: 50, 20, 20, 10. City Council Work Session / November 21, 2006 Page 6 of9