Agenda - Charter Commission - 11/15/2007

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COMMISSION BUSINESS: Case #2: Re-Consider Recom~endation regarding Council-Manager Form of Government City Attorney Goodrich stated that the Ordinance recommending the Council vote in favor of a Council-Manager form of government effective January 1,2008, was voted on at the December 28, 2006 City Council meeting. The vote was six to one in favor of the change; however, it needed to be passed unanimously in order for it to move forward. The Council asked that the Ordinance be sent back to the Charter Commission to ask that they recommend the date of January 1,2011. If the Charter Commission agrees to this date, it does not have to go back to the City Council as they have already unanimously agreed to the 2011 effective date. Acting Chair Ebel asked what the strong arguments were for the 2011 effective date. Mayor Gamec stated that he was the one vote against the 2008 effective date. He noted the City is currently without a City Administrator and it seems logical that this would be the time to advertise for a City Manager since that is the way the City is intending to go; however, he suggested that the criteria for a manager versus an administrator might be somewhat different. He pointed out there may be interest in the position from current staff and they may not have the experience necessary for a City Manager but they may have for an Administrator. The position will probably not be ready for appointment until around the first of August, 2007. If the effective date were January 1,2008, the position would only be in place for 6 months - still on probation - but would be promoted prior to ending the probationary period. If the City would hire within, we would want to make sure that the person fits into that job before giving them the responsibility of being the Manager. He' reported that the City Council will be interviewing search firms on February 6. He stated that by setting the date out four years, all of the current City Councilmembers could be "out of the picture. This would give the person in the position and the Council time to work toward the goal of City Manager form of government. He added that the City is technically manager run now as the Council does not get involved in the day to day running of the City. Commissioner Deemer felt that the Mayor's statements were very logical and that the Charter had also discussed dates other than the January 1, 2008 date. He found the 2011 date acceptable. Commissioner Fischer stated that the Charter recommended the January 1, 2008 date because they felt that even though the City Manager or Administrator would not be hired until July or A.ugust, they would have to go through a budget period plus other duties getting them ready for the Manager position. The Commission talked about different dates too, but the main reason for choosing the January 1, 2008 date is that if you advertise for what you want - meaning Manager _ you will get a manager and it would not be someone you would have to let go in a few years when that position becomes Manager versus Administrator. The Manager would come into the position knowing he/she would be Administrator until January. This would also give that person the time to go through a budget process, etc. Charter Commission/January 18, 2007 Page 2 of5