11-16-89 Council as Wholef --
•
Minutes of Council Workshop
November 16, 1989
Councilmembers in attendance: Wayne Saverud, Noel Furlong,
Jim Atkinson, Roger Hopkins; Councilmembers-elect Duane
Larson, Loren Granmo, Barbara Moses.
Others in attendence: Harry Taylor, Howard Hurst, Lee
Carothers, Nick Haren, Dave Wanzenreid, City Attorney Glen
Neier.
City Attorney Neier began with general discussion of the
council's legal requirement to set the date for the special
election of mayor and council to serve under the
manager -council form of government. Neier said the election
must be called no later than 20 days after the approval of
the form by voters, or by Nov. 27. If the council acted
Monday, Nov. 20, the soonest the election could be held is
135 days later, or mid -April, with the general election no
sooner than 56 days later, approximately concurrent with
the regularly scheduled June 5 primary election. The law is
specific in requiring the new council to be sworn in at 10
a.m., 60 days after the general election. Neier pointed out
that no primary election is required if no more than two
people file in more than half the seats.
• Taylor said the sooner the election, the more likely the
new council will be the same as the existing one that
supports the new government. Hurst said quick action on a
new election will give the voters what they voted for. Lee
said he feared action too quickly will allow opponents to
say the election is being rushed. Granmo said first to be
determined is what must be accomplished to get the new
government going.
Wanzenreid warned that whatever is done will leave an
impression with the public. The public should be invited to
provide input. He questioned holding the non -partisan city
election in conjunction with partisan county and state
elections as was suggested in the proposal by Citizens for
Effective Government. Wanzenreid suggested contacting other
local governments that have gone through a transition to
see what went wrong and what went right.
The worst thing that can happen is too go out too quickly
to hire a manager before knowing exactly what we want the
manager to do. He also suggested that an interim manager
might be hired to help with the process.
Neier said the yet -to -be elected council serving under the
manager -council form should hire the manager. The council
elected Nov. 7 has no authority, being elected under the
mayor -council form. He said that in the 60 days between the
time of the special general election and the installation
of the new officers, the manager candidates could be
interviewed and a recommendation made for selection of the
manager at the first meeting of the new council.
Furlong said he believed the council elected Nov. 7 must
hire the manager. Neier said the council could hire an
administrative assistant to help with the transition. He
added that there is alot to be done in anticipation of the
new form, including changing ordinances, planning for
personnel, etc.
Lee suggested looking at timetable in context of what must
be done, eg: advertising for manager for 30 days, screening
applicants for 60 days by a committee of 15 people.
Wanzenreid said there must be time between the filing
deadline and the election of the new mayor and council for
the new candidates to discuss the issues relevant to the
new form of government. The public should have the
opportunity to react to the framework of the new government
and consider the proposed responsibilities for the manager.
Atkinson suggested hiring somebody familiar with
transitions to answer the questions. He said to wait too
long to hold the new election would lose momentum. Lee
asked what would be lost, the form has been approved.
Savrud agreed that there may be some momentum and
enthusiasm, but he, too, hated to see a rush job. Taylor
said if the election drags on too long, opposition to the
new government may form. Hopkins said not having specific
• answers to questions in time for the new election, such as
what the new mayor and council will be paid, will give the
opposition fuel.
Hopkins suggested working backwards from the date the new
mayor and council will be installed, suggesting Oct. 1.
That would put the general election at approximately August
1, and the primary election, if necessary, concurrent with
the county and state primary election. The new council
members would draw straws to determine who will serve terms
of three months and one year and which would serve terms of
three months and three years.
The group agreed that this would be a suitable compromise
for recommendation to the council.
With the date decided, Wanzenreid suggested enlarging the
membership of the advisory committee, and by council
resolution creating a formal advisory committee. Among the
issues to be addressed prior to creating a job discription
and search for the manager: review of ordinances,
responsibilities of the manager, roles of the council and
mayor (salaries, etc.) It was also suggested that
councilmembers now working under the manager —council form
in other cities be contacted. Wanzenreid reminded the
council to budget for bringing in the top two or three
candidates to be interviewed for the manager's job.
submitted by Roger Hopkins