Laserfiche WebLink
<br />City Council Minutes <br />April 12, 2004 <br /> <br />Page 8 <br /> <br />\ <br />\ <br />\\ <br /> <br />Mr. Klaers stated thathe could ftnalize that piece of the puzzle but d1at he didn't see any <br />immediate urgency. He stated that from this General Government area, there would be no more <br />than two additional staff reporting to him, and maybe it's one. <br /> <br />Councilmember Tveite agrees d1at the next important consolidation area is the Community <br />Development area, and then d1e Administration/Finance area. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dietz stated d1at council has talked about city vision and reorganization, but the <br />main point of this exercise and the way d1at it started was the relationship between d1e city <br />administrator and d1e department heads, how they communicate and what needs to be done, and <br />he doesn't want the council to lose focus d1at that was the point of this whole mission. He <br />stated that he had heard from several staff members regarding d1e memo in d1e packet. His <br />response to people is d1at dus is just the administrator's opinion and, in his view, the council <br />wouldn't do anything until council has done the three sessions with the consultant Brimeyer. <br />He also stated that council would be receiving input from all d1e department heads. <br /> <br />Mr. Klaers stated d1at he compiled the information as he was asked to do and gave the council <br />his professional opinion, not d1e opinion from all 16-department heads. Mr. Klaers stated that <br />tlus was Ius assignment. Yes, it will cost money to go through organizational changes and to add <br />upper level positions. He feels in the hiring of a Community Development Director tl1at if tl1e <br />city promotes internally, you would have to replace that person. The Public Works Director and <br />the Engineering Department will be expensive and we will have to decide when it is tl1e right <br />time and whetl1erwe can afford it. Mr. Klaers stated that wid1 the assignment to eliminate tl1e <br />number of direct reports by half, it was going to impact people. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dietz stated that his idea wid1 tl1e exception of d1e Park & Recreation Director <br />position was d1at all candidates could be internal for these department head positions. Mr. <br />K.laers stated tl1at that is what he is suggesting with Community Development, and that some of <br />theotl1er positions could also come from within. <br /> <br />Councilmember Motion stated that we need the Assistant Administrator position in tl1e <br />organizational chart as well (for tl1e General Government area). He feels that dus position <br />should be considered even before d1e Public Works position. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dietz asked if the City Administrator, in regards to tl1e Community <br />Development position, is saying tl1at anyone in that area would be eligible to apply. Mr. Klaers <br />stated tl1at tlus is a council decision but that he could give Ius recommendation regarding whom <br />to promote if this is what tl1e council desires. <br /> <br />Councilmember Kuester feels that it should be open to internal and external candidates and to <br />follow the same process d1at we would follow for external candidates. <br /> <br />Mayor Klinzing stated d1at the council may be aware of issues from tl10se applying and the <br />council didn't want to put d1e Administrator in an awkward position. <br /> <br />Councilmember Tveite asked about d1e city prosecuting attorney and when he was hired it was <br />to have him with the police department, why is this not d1e situation. <br /> <br />Councilmember Motin stated tl1at could be a problem wid1 protocol; there should be separation <br />of duty. He stated tl1at he likes this overall proposal; that it is pretty close and that we just need <br />to complete tl1e Administration/Finance area. <br />