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� �� <br />� <br />�� <br />To: City Council <br />�i. � <br />From: Neal Beets ,� ��� � <br />Date: Thursday, April 13,2006 <br />Re: Agenda item S.e <br />Date: p4117106 <br />Item: S.e <br />Community Development <br />Director Position <br />I don't know specifically what Councilmember Ihlan wants to discuss about <br />filling the Community Director position except insofar as she briefly mentioned a <br />few concerns at the last Council meeting. <br />But I thought I would describe my thoughts and feelings about the Community <br />Director position for whatever benefit that may have for you. <br />1. I think the position needs to be filled sooner rather than later. Reason: <br />We have three new employees in important positions in that area: a new <br />Economic Development Director, Jamie Radel; a new Associate Planner, <br />Bryan Lloyd; and a new �T� Technician, Joel Koepp. While all are capable <br />persons, they have much less experience in these positions than their <br />predecessors. And they are new to the City. Therefore, they would <br />benefit and the City's residents would benefit by providing them with an <br />experienced, seasoned supervisor sooner rather than later. <br />2. We have been advertising the Community Development Director position <br />for 2 weeks. The application deadline is Noon on Apri124. My current <br />plan is to have approximately 8-10 of the best applicants interview before <br />two panels: An external panel consisting of our Planning Commission <br />Chair, community development and planning professionals from around <br />the Twin Cities, and citizens; and a second, internal panel consisting of a <br />diagonal cross-section of city employees. In addition to developing <br />interview questions, we are developing questions we will ask all semi- <br />finalists to analyze in writing. Finally, we are asking for a videotape <br />sample of the semi-finalist's oral presentation skills before his or her city <br />council. <br />3. 1 heard some Councilmembers express concern about me selecting the <br />new CD Director since I am looking for a new position. My response to <br />that is that one never knows when a new position will be offered; it could <br />be in eight weeks or it could be eight months. For the reasons set forth <br />above, I don't think we can or should wait indefinitely on filling the CD <br />� <br />