01-08-2018 Council Meeting Packet

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION December 4, 2017 DRAFT 7 270 11. Code of Conduct Policy Update – Administrator Karlson recalled that the 271 document was discussed and recommended for review at a recent council meeting. 272 273 The council reviewed the document. 274 275 Council Member Kusterman offered a recommendation on work sessions and that would 276 be a time limit. Limiting the work sessions to three hours is recommended as well as 277 trying to set times for agenda items. Mayor Reinert suggested that’s a good idea used as 278 an outline only because sometimes the council needs to handle important business. 279 Mayor Reinert said taking a break at three hours to refresh is also an option. Council 280 Member Kusterman said at two hours, you could take stock and plan for the evening. 281 282 Council Member Manthey said he likes the idea of taking stock after two hours. 283 284 Mayor Reinert suggested it’s time to deal with the question of social media; would that 285 belong under advocacy? When posting, members should keep in mind that they are a 286 council member. Perhaps the city should look at what other groups like the council have 287 done. 288 289 Council Member Kusterman mentioned respect for staff time as an area that needs 290 attention. He isn’t certain that council members go through the administrator as this 291 code calls for. Staff has work to do and too often they are besieged with questions that 292 take them away from their work. “Staff will estimate the time commitment required to a 293 council member’s question, and if deemed appropriate, report to the rest of the council on 294 that commitment” 295 296 (The council recessed for a short break.) 297 298 Administrator Karlson noted a recent situation where he was put in a difficult position 299 relative to seeking a legal opinion. Council Member Manthey suggested looking at other 300 policies. Mr. Karlson said he thinks the language is fine but needs to be confirmed. 301 Mayor Reinert said other people besides him asked about the situation; Brian Bourassa 302 was mentioned. Council Member Manthey said it’s a problem for someone representing 303 the city to have influence in that type of situation. 304 305 Council Member Kusterman suggested that the use of the public newsletter violated four 306 areas of the code. Mayor Reinert said that is opinion. Council Member Kusterman 307 suggested that it’s probably a campaign finance violation. He also noted language that 308 he felt was abusive to staff. Council Member Kusterman remarked that the newsletter is 309 supposed to speak for the group and not one member’s opinion. 310 311 Council Member Manthey said he was also offended by use of the newsletter. He’d like 312 to see concerns discussed in this situation. He’d like to see that language updated. Can 313 the council discuss individual items in the policy in order to improve it? Can “use of 314