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HRA Meeting Minutes – Tuesday, April 21, 2015 Page 7 1 Mr. Trudgeon reported that the City Council is just now completing its strategic planning 2 efforts and anticipated a draft at the May 11, 2015 City Council meeting, and another 3 touch at their June 8, 2015 meeting to begin those efforts in earnest. With the joint 4 HRA/City Council meeting scheduled on June 15, 2015 as a work session, Mr. Trudgeon 5 opined that the HRA holding their strategic planning exercise before those City Council 6 discussions were held, would be premature. 7 8 Member Majerus advised that his prior request and transparency concerns were based on 9 his interest in making sure the opportunity was provided to other consultants to ensure 10 taxpayers were receiving the best services for the amount of money being expended. At 11 the time of his request, Member Majerus advised that he was not aware there was a timing 12 concern and thought there was more than enough time for the HRA’s strategic planning 13 efforts to stay parallel with those of the City Council. 14 15 While not having attended the previous HRA meeting, in his review of meeting minutes, 16 Member Wall stated that the motion was to invite and interview other consultants to meet 17 with the HRA’s Executive Committee and report to the full body with their 18 recommendations for formal action at tonight’s meeting. 19 20 City Manager Trudgeon apologized that such a meeting could not be put together before 21 tonight’s meeting; but recognized that it remained a standing motion, and if the HRA so 22 desired, could still be cone. However, since the Executive Committee had been unable to 23 meet before tonight, Mr. Trudgeon advised that he wanted to provide information to the 24 body as to why Ms. Raye had been chosen. 25 26 Based on Mr. Trudgeon’s comments, Member Wall sought to clarify the steps proposed 27 for City Council and HRA meetings; questioning the purpose of the HRA having to meet 28 with the City Council before holding their own strategic planning meeting. 29 30 City Manager Trudgeon advised that the purpose of the joint meeting was for the HRA to 31 hear the City Council’s perspectives resulting from their strategic planning exercise, and 32 thereby inform the HRA’s perceived role in those priorities and allow input from the City 33 Council in that future role and focus on those initiatives. 34 35 Chair Maschka opined that this discussion led to the concerns of the HRA from 36 frustrations coming from the stalled Dale Street Project; further opining that it needed to 37 be figured out. 38 39 Member Wall concurred, opining that the HRA as a body could figure out their future role 40 without involvement of or a joint meeting with the City Council. Member Wall stated that 41 his personal preference would be to move forward without further delay, and plan their 42 strategic planning during May rather than waiting until June. 43 44 Given the current staffing situation, and with the benefit of Mr. Trudgeon’s further 45 explanation on how and why Ms. Raye was selected and fit into the process, in addition to 46 the number of different transparencies brought up by Mr. Trudgeon, Member Masche 47 stated that he was more inclined to hire Ms. Raye and move ahead in June as suggested by 48 staff. Member Masche opined that Ms. Raye appeared to be the best person for the HRA 49 at this time. 50 51 Chair Maschka noted that the contract was minimal at $2,700. Chair Maschka further 52 noted the various issues that had come out of the City Council’s strategic plan, from his 53 initial understanding of those priorities, and that may impact the HRA and their role as it 54 relates to the City Council’s role. Chair Maschka noted his frustration in the delay with 55 almost half the year gone without resolution.