01/14/2002 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCIL MINUTES JANUARY 14, 2002 addressing environmental concerns and advising the City Council. He stated he stands by this notion one hundred percent and hopes the City has an Environmental Board that embraces development in that context so they can work with what will be developed in the future and the Council receives good environmental advice from the Board. Councilmember Carlson felt the question was whether the City Council would vote on experience and training. She noted she has attended a great deal of training and is aware of the amount of training received by both Councilmembers Dahl and Reinert. She was also aware that Councilmember Dahl has more experience. She expressed concern for not voting for the woman with more experience. Mayor Bergeson stated the City Charter suggests that the City Council appoint the Acting Mayor. However, the practice has been in the past that the Councilmembers have asked the Mayor for a recommendation and that recommendation has been supported by all the previous Councils. He stated two years ago he had intended to make a recommendatio Councilmember Carlson had nominated Councilmember Dahl that nomination. He indicated, once again, one year ago Counci Councilmember Dahl continue serving as Acting Mayor and that nomination and he had not voiced his opinion. He felt serving as Acting Mayor during both years. ut before he was able to do so, entire Council had supported Carlson had suggested that ntire Council had supported ember Dahl had done a fine job Mayor Bergeson stated when the issue of appoint Mayor for 2002 had been discussed during the work session he had indicated that he e to see Councilmember Reinert appointed to that position. He felt that the position of Ac h_ ' r should be moved around from time to time and he did not feel this issue related to gende . ` e felt the City was well beyond the gender issue and he hoped that in all appointments, the Co s = der -blind. He felt a good example of this was the Environmental Board, which will be 80 cent women in 2002. He stated those Board Members were not appointed becaus = =nder, rather they were appointed because of their excellent credentials. Councilmember Carlson sta i er states that at its first meeting each year the Council shall choose an Acting Mayo o.iss e the office during the disability or absence of the Mayor. She stated the Charter does not giv= e prerogative to the Mayor to decide who should serve as Acting Mayor. Regarding the comment by Mayor Bergeson at the October 17, 2001 Special meeting that the Environmental Board is a sub -board, Councilmember Carlson noted the Planning and Zoning Board consists of one woman and six men, and the EDAC consists of two women and seven men. Mayor Bergeson believed all of those positions had been appointed gender -blind and appointed according to qualifications. Councilmember Reinert felt the issue of gender was a ridiculous topic for the Council to be discussing. He noted the only time this becomes an issue is when you bring it up. 6