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<br />~ <br />~HILLS <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />DATE: <br />TO: <br />FROM: <br />SUBJECT: <br /> <br />August 27, 2007 <br /> <br />AGENDA ITEM: 4.C. <br /> <br />Mayor and City Council \ . l <br /> <br />Michelle Wolfe, City Administrator ~ <br /> <br />Appointment of Meagan Beekman as Planner I for the City of Arden Hills <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />At the June 25, 2007 Regular Meeting, City Council authorized staff to proceed with recruitment <br />of a Planner 1. (See attached copy of June 25 agenda item materials.) On tonight's agenda, staff <br />is recommending the appointment of a new Planner I for the City. This position is funded <br />through the Preliminary Development Agreement with RRLD. <br /> <br />DISCUSSION <br /> <br />The City received 27 applications for the Planner I position. Two rounds of interviews were <br />conducted. During the first round, staff interviewed ten (10) candidates. During the second <br />round, four (4) candidates were interviewed by James Lehnhoff, Karen Barton, and me. In <br />addition, we asked all the candidates from the second round of interviews to provide writing <br />samples. <br /> <br />After considering the results of the first and second round of interviews and reviewing the <br />writing samples, staff unanimously agreed that Meagan Beekman was the top candidate for the <br />position. We then proceeded with reference checks and a background check. All of the <br />reference checks were outstanding. As of this writing, we are waiting for the background check <br />from Ramsey County Sheriffs Department. If we have not received that background check prior <br />to the August 27 meeting, the appointment should be made pending receipt of the background <br />check. <br /> <br />Ms. Beekman has a B.A. in SociologylUrban Studies from Hamline University, and a Master's <br />Degree in Community PlanninglUrban Design from the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. <br />She also has a Certificate in Metropolitan Design from the College of Design at the University of <br />Minnesota. Ms. Beekman is currently working for the City of Eden Prairie as a Community <br />Development Intern, and also has Research Assistant experience with the Univeristy of <br />Minnesota Institute of Public Affairs. In addition to paid work experience, she has volunteer <br />experience with Northeast Community Development Corporation and St. Anthony West <br />Neighborhood Association. During the interview process, her communications skills were <br />