02-21-85 Council as Whole5:00 p.m. February 21,1985
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE COUNCIL
Mayor McDowell, Council President Ruiz, Members Schindler,
Springer, Nystul, Grainger, Palmer, Saverud, Manning, City Attorney
Neier, Clerk/Treasurer Halver, Parks Superintendent Drent, F. T.
O'Boyle, KCFW TV Crew, and Roger Hopkins of The Daily Interlake.
Council President Ruiz called the meeting to order and turned it
over to Councilman Palmer, who had requested the meeting.
Councilman Palmer stated he would like this meeting to try to
establish some solutions and get some committee policies so problems
can be avoided in the future.
Council President Ruiz stated he didn't feel this was the proper
time to be discussing committee policy and procedures and didn't
feel there was anything that must be changed.
One of Pieter Drent's concerns was that there was an attempt to have
him placed under the Supervision of the Public Works Director. The
general discussion of the council members was that was not being
planned by the council.
Councilman Saverud stated the Council normally does not make those
kinds of changes except when there is a vacancy in the position.
. Councilman [•canning asked Councilman Springer if it was his
preference that Parks be under Public Works and he said that was
true but it had never been proposed for council action.
Councilman Palmer stated another problem was the Tree Ordinance and
asked Pieter if he felt the trees belonged in the Parks Department
and he said yes.
Councilman Manning asked Councilman Springer precisely what was he
not satisfied with about the Tree Ordinance. Councilman Springer
said he didn't feel this was the proper time to discuss the Tree
Ordinance and he didn't have his notes with him but one problem was
that it was presented to him more than two weeks late and that was
an ongoing problem and he didn't have adequate time to review it.
He stated lateness of reports was a problem of the City
Administration.
The Mayor said he would get the Tree Ordinance finished and returned
to the Parks Comittee.
Councilman Palmer said another problem was that Pieter's employees
were being assigned to other departments.
Pieter Drent said he appreciated all the support the Council was
trying to give him but he felt he had to say he had a personality
• problem with Councilman Springer and he had understood there was
going to be a change in the Committee Chairmanship and he will
resign if he cannot have a chairman he can work with.
Council President Ruiz asked him to clarify that unless Councilman
Springer is no longer Parks Chairman you won't... And Pieter Drent
said no, I'll resign. We can talk for hours and it doesn't change
anything, we cannot work together.
There was some discussion among Council Members and the Press as to
whether the meeting should be closed because personalities were
being discussed. On advice of the City Attorney, the meeting
remained open.
Councilman Palmer asked Pieter to reconsider because he was putting
the council in an awkward position. Pieter said he understood that
and appreciated the support of the council.
Councilman Saverud stated this is a problem that only the Mayor has
the authority to handle. The council cannot handle committee
changes. That is solely the prerogative of the Mayor and if that is
the bottom line, the productivity of this committee is limited.
Other Councilmen concurred and Council President Ruiz adjourned the
meeting at 5:36 P.M.
Don Halver
Is City Clerk