09-27-2010 Council Minutes (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION September 27, 2010 APPROVED 46 the school year) and one officer divided between the three elementary schools; the high 47 school officers are from other departments (in the city where they are located). The chief 48 doesn't feel the city is heavy in the school officer area since they provide important 49 services such as drug search, assisting students on probation, crimes that occur on the 50 school grounds and specifically dealing with the juvenile aspect of the school situation. 51 52 The council discussed the request to accept the Citizen Corps grant award; there was 53 concern about the temporary nature of a grant and the responsibility falling to the city to 54 continue the services that the grant initially provides. The Administrator explained how 55 accepting the grant would increase the Community Resources Coordinator position hours 56 by five hours per week. Chief Strege added that when the grant funding is gone,the 57 position would return to a 30 hour per week position. 58 59 The council intends to specify with an action on the grant item that the funded activities 60 are a one-time increase and for 2011 only without further consideration. The matter of 61 filling positions in the department won't be made by the council now but will be 62 discussed within the scope of the 2011 budget discussion and decisions. 63 64 Regarding the replacement process for the chief of police position, a council member 65 suggested that he is interested in an effective process but one that doesn't stretch to an 66 unreasonable length of time. One council member suggested that it would be appropriate 67 to allow enough time to let the acting chief get a run at the job. The council concurred 68 that they would like to move forward by discussing options (including of an internal or 69 external process) at the next work session;the process should be kept open and include 70 the opportunity for officers to listen and participate to some extent. 71 72 2. Organizational Review—Administrator Karlson noted that the council continues 73 to discuss options for a review. He has received some input from a council member on 74 what could be included in the assessment and also some methodology for an assessment. 75 The administrator noted his ability to lead an organizational assessment without an 76 outside consultant; he has experience in the area. 77 78 The Mayor noted that it will be especially important for the council to identify the scope 79 of a review process. He is growing in confidence that the administrator will be a key 80 player in the process. A council member suggested that the administrator could perhaps 81 begin a process and help could be brought in as needed. 82 83 Administrator Karlson remarked that he has been meeting with the directors regarding 84 their departments as they move through serious budget considerations. That process 85 includes the concept of reorganizing personnel and work. 86 87 The Mayor supports funding efficiencies and that's a direction that the review should 88 follow and that perhaps an outside consultant could assist with. 89 2