HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014/02/03 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session I/I St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES
MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL STUDY SESSION
ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA
FEBRUARY 3,2014
The meeting convened at 7:07 p.m.
Councilmembers present: Mayor Jeff Jacobs, Tim Brausen, Steve Hallfin, Gregg Lindberg,
Anne Mavity, Susan Sanger, and Jake Spano.
Councilmembers absent: None.
Staff present: Deputy City Manager/Director of Human Resources (Ms. Deno) and Recording
Secretary(Ms. Hughes).
1. Appointment of Mayor Pro Tem
Mayor Jacobs introduced the topic and referenced an idea Councilmember Brausen had for a
proposed policy for appointing the Mayor Pro Tern.
Councilmember Brausen stated he views the role of Mayor Pro Tern as a leadership development
opportunity for all Councilmembers and felt it was important that all Councilmembers get a
chance to serve as Mayor Pro Tern. He suggested that the role of Mayor Pro Tern be rotated over
a two-year period of time with each Councilmember serving as Mayor Pro Tern for four months,
starting with the Councilmember with the most seniority and if that Councilmember is not
available then the next most senior Councilmember would serve as Mayor Pro Tern.
Councilmember Spano agreed with Councilmember Brausen's suggestion and stated he felt it
achieves the end result of giving all Councilmembers an opportunity to grow in their roles as
well as benefitting those with seniority.
Councilmember Lindberg stated he was not a huge fan of a policy that is based on seniority, but
agreed that Councilmember Brausen's proposal provides an opportunity for everyone to serve as
Mayor Pro Tem.
Councilmember Sanger stated if it was the will of the Council to rotate the Mayor Pro Tern
position, she liked Councilmember Brausen's proposal. She added if the underlying rationale for
changing the policy was to give everyone the experience of serving as Mayor Pro Tern, she
questioned whether this policy should also apply to the EDA appointments. She agreed with
Councilmember Brausen's idea of appointing the Mayor Pro Tem based on seniority because in
the absence of that, Council would be in a position of appointing the Mayor Pro Tern based on
personality or political considerations.
Councilmember Brausen agreed with Councilmember Sanger that the policy should apply to the
EDA as well.
Councilmember Mavity stated she was okay with rotating the position, adding that she felt the
appointments should be based on seniority.
Councilmember Hallfin agreed with Councilmember Brausen's proposal except he felt that four
months was too short and suggested appointing the Mayor Pro Tern for six months in order to
provide more opportunities for leadership development.
Special Study Session Minutes -2- February 3, 2014
It was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to prepare a revised policy for appointing
Councilmembers to serve as Mayor Pro Tem whereby the role of Mayor Pro Tern is rotated over
a two-year period of time with each Councilmember serving as Mayor Pro Tern for four months,
starting with the Councilmember with the most seniority.
It was also the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to research whether the revised
policy should be applied to the EDA as well.
The meeting adjourned at 7:24 p.m.
Wntten Reports provided and documented for recording purposes only:
2. Pilot Program with Park Nicollet Healthcare—Post Discharge Firefighter Visit
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Nancy Stroth, City Clerk Jeff Jac;'. / a or,