HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-03-17 CHC MIN
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CHARTER COMMISSION
March 17, 1997
Present:
Tim Old, chairman
Kathy Czar, Howard Lieberman (8:15), Laurie Maher,
Nancy Purcell, Mary Ruch, and Don Valsvik
Absent:
Steve Keister and Richard Slivik
Mr. Old called the meeting to order at 7: 10 p.m.
Approval of minutes: Mr. Old asked that the minutes be amended to reflect
that Ms. Czar, Mr. Lieberman and Mr. Old had met with Council Member Eric
Thole regarding the proposed conflict of interest policy. Ms. Purcell,
seconded by Ms. Ruch, moved approval of the Feb. 17, 1997, minutes as
amended.
Update from conflict of interest sub-committee
Ms. Czar distributed a proposed section, 7.10: Public officers, public
employees, interests in permits, licenses or zoning: penalty.
There was some discussion as to whether additional language is required
to indicate the City Attorney could request an outside party to conduct a
preliminary investigation if the matter is too politically sensitive for the
City Attorney to handle. Ms. Czar said that is standard operating procedure
but said she would check with Mr. Thole and Mr. Lieberman to see if
additional clarifying language is needed.
Ms. Ruch moved to include section 7.10 in the proposed conflict of interest
policy, refining the language in subsection D if needed. Mr. Valsvik
seconded the motion; motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Thole and City Attorney David Magnuson will be asked to review
section 7.10, with their recommendations for changes, if any,
incorporated. The policy will then be reviewed by the Charter Commission
sub-committee and the joint Charter Commission/City sub-committee
prior to requesting that the proposed policy be placed on a City Council
agenda for action.
Discussion of city manager proiect
Mr. Old distributed copies of a March 10 letter written by him updating the
City Council on the Commission's activities on the city manager project.
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Ms. Ruch said she went through the statutes for Option B for a statutory
council/city manager organizational structure. She distributed a
columnized list of seven administrative functions from Option B for
comparison with how those functions are handled under the city's current
organizational structure and how those functions would be handed under a
city manager structure.
There was considerable discussion as to how to proceed with the project.
Ms. Maher suggested going through Option B in more detail and then asking
Mr. Kriesel to fill in column 2 (how the functions are currently handled).
Ms. Czar suggested adding a fourth column which would indicate how the
functions should be handled according to the city's written policies and
procedures.
Ms. Ruch and Ms. Czar agreed to elaborate on the statutory functions to be
included in the Option B column. They will get that information to Mr. Old
within two weeks of the March meeting. Mr. Old will write a letter asking
Mr. Kriesel for his response (as to how those functions are currently
handled) by the April meeting. Ms. Purcell volunteered to go through the
city's policies and procedures manual(s) so that information is available
for comparison.
New business
Ms. Maher raised the issue of the disposition of the Aiple property and
suggested that perhaps the City Council needs to be reminded of the
restrictions regarding city-owned property.
Mr. Lieberman suggested that the Commission might want to draw
attention to the provisions regarding city-owned property in the form of a
letter. Ms. Ruch, seconded by Ms. Czar, moved to have Mr. Old draft a letter
to Community Development Director Steve Russell highlighting the
provisions. It was agreed the letter should be copied to the City Council,
Planning Commission, Heritage Preservation Commission and the Park
Board. Motion passed unanimously as amended.
Ms. Czar, seconded by Ms. Purcell, moved to adjourn the meeting at 9 p.m.;
all in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon Baker
Recording Secretary