HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-26-07-WS
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Approved: January 14, 2008
CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA
CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION
NOVEMBER 26, 2007; 5:00 PM
ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Harpstead called to order the City Council
Worksession meeting at 5:10 p.m.
Present:
Mayor Stan Harpstead, Councilmembers David Grant, Brenda Holden
(arrived at 5:15 p.m.), Fran Holmes, and David McClung.
Absent:
None.
Also present: City Administrator, Michelle Wolfe; Assistant City Administrator, Noah
Simon; City Plauner, James Lehnhoff; and Recording Secretary Dianna Wise.
2. APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA
No motion made.
3. AGENDA ITEMS
A. Recruitment Discussion
City Administrator Wolfe introduced Mr. Harry Brull, Personnel Decisions International.
City Administrator Wolfe commented that Mr. Brull developed a proposal for hiring a
new City Administrator and it is included in the Council packets.
Mr. Brull highlighted the important aspects of the recruitment process involved with
recruiting the new City Administrator. He explained the process takes between ten and
twelve weeks to complete. Mr. Brull stressed this is the time to identify the goals and
challenges for the next year and to focus on the job description to meet the needs of the
City. He stated he would present viable candidates for the City Council to choose from.
ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - November 26, 2007
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Mayor Harpstead asked Mr. Brull discussed the years of experience the potential
candidates would have in a previous City Administrator position.
Mr. Brull replied about five years is a reasonable amount of time in either the City
Administrator or Assistant City Administrator position.
Mayor Harpstead asked Mr. Brull to define leadership.
Mr. Brull replied that leadership comes in several forms - intellectual leadership, people-
leadership, self-leadership, and the administrative side that includes the ability to plan and
orgaruze.
Councilmember McClung questioned how the candidate pool is established.
Mr. Brull replied advertising, direct communication with other City Administrators
throughout a specific region, talk with those in the field that might be a candidate.
Councilmember Grant stressed it is important to get the right person with the right skill
set based on the City's goals and priorities.
Consensus reached by Council to select Mr. Brull, Personnel Decisions International, as
the search firm to the new City Administrator and to add this to the City Council agenda.
Councilmember Grant questioned whether an interim City Administrator should be
appointed.
Mayor Harpstead commented it IS important to keep as much consistency III daily
activities as possible.
Councilmember Grant stated it would be good to have this individual overlap somewhat
with the current City Administrator.
Consensus reached by Council to direct City Administrator Wolfe to provide a list of
individuals for Council to select from who could serve as an interim City Administrator
to overlap prior to her departure and until the new City Administrator is selected.
B. Sue:e:ested Future Work Session Ae:enda Items
1. Liquor Licenses
2. Small Area Plan - RFP
3. TCAAP Financial, Density Review/Lobbying
4. Old City Hall - RFP
5. Tree Preservation - Moratorium on Tree Cutting
6. National Guard
7. Moratorium on B-2 District
ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - November 26, 2007
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8. Formal Design Standards
9. Items on Parallel Paths
10. Lexington
11. Transit System - County Road 10/Highway 96
12. ClP
13. Residential Study
14. PMP Philosophy
15. Long Term Strategy for Red Fox/Grey Fox
16. Code Enforcement
17. Business Incentive Policy - Non- TCAAP
Councilmember Grant asked if something could be done as an interim to stop tree cutting.
City Planner Lehnhoff commented he would need to research this but the City Attorney
did inform me that a tree cutting moratorium would not have good legal basis.
Mayor Harpstead requested information on a Clear Channel Moratorium and litigation.
C. Code Enforcement Issue
City Administrator Wolfe stated she would like to respond to a resident on code
enforcement. She presented a list of code enforcement issues between specific
individuals.
Councilmember Holden questioned whether potential code violations are reviewed before
a permit is issued.
City Administrator Wolfe said she did not have an answer at this time.
City Administrator Wolfe stated the current issues are chronic and change on a daily basis
and are hard to keep up with.
Discussion ensued.
City Administrator Wolfe recommended an item titled "Response to Public Inquires" be
included on the City Council Agenda.
Councilmember Holden recommended a standard cat/dog letter be used once a complaint
is received about either.
Councilmember McClung questioned when information on Administrative Fines could be
available.
City Administrator Wolfe commented she needed to prioritize items.
ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - November 26, 2007
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Mayor Harpstead commented boarder issues should be looked into for consistency.
Mayor Harpstead recommended a framework for Administrative fines to be developed
and the actual fines to be determined later.
Mayor Harpstead recommended the December worksession be used to revisit the list and
assist staff with prioritizing.
4. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND REQUESTS
5. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Councilmember McClung moved and Councilmember Grant seconded a
otion to adjourn the meeting at 6:45 p.m. The motion carried (5-0).
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Nbah A. Simon
Deputy Clerk