Minutes - Council Work Session - 02/05/1997 - Workshop

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Councilmember Zimmerman: We need to listen to people and examine what they are talking about. Mayor Gamec: How often did Council do tours? We should do one in the spring and also line up some tours of businesses. We could invite the Commission Chairs also. Councilmember Haas Steffen: We can also set up appointments to meet with staff. I came in to set up an appointment to see Ryan. Mayor Gamec: Under Mayor/Council Input, as a courtesy, we could relay information from meetings we've had. I discussed minutes packets with Ryan and Jo and expressed concern about getting so many at one time and from way back. Jo explained that with elections, the minutes do fall behind and from September through November was busy with elections. Maybe during election time, we should hire someone to do the Council minutes. It's important to have the minutes at the next meeting. Councilmember Beyer: I do not like to have pressure deciding on a conditional use permit. I feel like someone is holding a gun to our heads to make a quick decision. We don't get the public hearing minutes with the cases to know what was said. Jo Thieling: Since it was requested a couple months ago at a Council meeting, staff makes certain that the minutes from public hearings that the Planning Commission conducts are always included with the case. Mayor Gamec: If we have the information - we can make a decision. Councilmember Beyer: In the past, we had to deal with it without all the information. Mayor Gamec: The past is done. We need to work forward. With regard to the appointment of commission members - if someone is not going to be reappointed, there should be some way to bring it to the Personnel Committee and talk about it - with the commission member. It's an insult to "just not be reappointed". Councilmember Haas Steffen: How about term limits for commissioners. It seems it's not a bad idea. Councilmember Beyer: The time we suggested this, we were told it takes so long for someone to become familiar with things. Councilmember Haas Steffen: We should look at term limits for commissioners and also staggering the terms. Is there a "removing commissioners for cause" clause in the Charter or the Code. If so, we should review that, possibly with the City Attorney. Mayor Gamec: With regard to the City Attorney - he should be reviewing everything before it goes to Council. Councilmember Haas Steffen: Develop a policy that says everything has been reviewed as to form and legality by the City Attorney. He should point out what we deviated from and why, the City's protections, and what the risks are. If we are not doing something the usual way, point it out to us. I do not want to play 20 questions. It's not my job to read legal documents. He should get things in advance so this is in the agenda. We need to know what that does to Bill's time - as far as cost. Maybe he should be on a retainer. Mayor Gamec: We should look at setting up a quarterly businessman's meeting. City Council Workshop/February 5, 1997 Page 5 of 6