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Case #16: Volunteer Appreciation Dinner <br /> <br />Sue Matthews, Intern, City of Ramsey, stated that Council has expressed an interest in showing <br />appreciation of its Commissioners, etc. by inviting them and a guest to a dinner. This would <br />include about 92 people; the cost would be approximately $2,100. She noted that it would be nice <br />to host this dinner at the end of April to coincide with National Volunteer Week. <br /> <br />Councilmember Beyer suggested that since this is the fkst time the City is attempting to do this, <br />she felt staff should check back and include those individuals who served on commissioners since <br />1994 but are no longer on a board or commission. She suggested also that it would be nice to <br />include all of staff and a guest, as staff also volunteers some of their time. <br /> <br />City Administrator Schroeder stated that if Council is interested in this event, the funding would <br />have to come from the Council Contingency Fund. <br /> <br />Councilmember Beahen agreed that staff should also be included. <br /> <br />Mayor Hardin commented that the Employee Negotiations group is talldng about an employee <br />appreciation gathering and inquired if these would be combined. <br /> <br />Councilmember Beyer stated that leaving staff out is grossly unfair and felt that it should not just <br />be department heads included. It should include all or none. <br /> <br />Mr. Schroeder suggested that Council come to an agreement on the budgeted amount and staff <br />would work within that budget. If it is too costly to include guests, it would just be the volunteers. <br /> <br />Councilmember Beyer felt that increasing the budget to $4,000 to include staff and guests is not a <br />big deal. <br /> <br />Councilmember Peterson felt the money is a "big deal". <br /> <br />Councilmember Beyer commented that this amount to say thank you to staff is not a big deal. <br /> <br />Councilmember Beahen felt that we should look at what the Employee Relations group is doing <br />and see what they want. <br /> <br />Mayor Hardin understood that what the employees wanted is being researched. <br /> <br />Councilmember Beyer questioned why we couldn't have both events to which Mayor Hardin <br />replied it is possible. <br /> <br />Councilmember Beyer suggested doubling the amount of money requested and that anything left <br />over could be put back in the Contingency Fund. She felt that telling people thank you for a good <br />job is worth the money. Nothing like this has ever been done. <br /> <br />Mr. Schroeder questioned if the intent of the original proposal was to recognize the value of <br />commissioners to which Council agreed. <br /> <br />Mr. Schroeder added that the way it's worded, it includes those who work most closely with the <br />commissioners, but it does not have to be that way. He suggested a task force of Councilmembers <br />Beahen and Beyer to meet on this issue and make a recommendation to Council. They could report <br />at the next meeting and at that time, staff would be able to present a more specific budget and <br />specific location. <br /> <br />City Council/March 12, 1996 <br /> Page 15 of 21 <br /> <br /> <br />