Agenda Packets - 1999/08/23 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mayor Coughlin stated that the City Administrator had indicated he was resigned to the issue, and when there is a demand for information from the City,the policy be to set all else aside, and provide that information. Mayor Coughlin inquired what happens when the next person,three minutes later, demands their information. He inquired if the priorities of staff would once again be shifted, therefore nothing would be accomplished. He stated, in his opinion, some form of working policy should be set in the interim until the matter was resolved. He stated,once this policy is set,the entire Council,will be in keeping with Section 6 of the Charter,first sentence,"This Council as a body will carry out the administration of the City." He stated that it is not incumbent upon one Council Member, or a minority of Council Members to dictate authority, or to unilaterally decide what policies can or can not be enforced. Mayor Coughlin stated that he would request consideration of an information request form, very similar to the form the present Council has at its disposal to maintain order and civility. He stated the residents would request items in writing, so that they can be documented according to data practices law within the state. He stated the City Administrator would direct the information request form to staff, and a response would be given no later than five working days after the receipt of that particular request. He stated any costs associated with the request,would be presented and paid for accordingly. He stated members of boards, commissions, committees including the Council,would request any information regarding the next meeting through the chair or staff liaisons of those bodies. He stated the Council would direct their requests through the City Administrator. He added if any information requested was not directly in regard to an item being considered at the next meeting, that request would be presented to the entire board, commission or Council for consideration. He stated that this would assist in preventing individuals from attempting to set policy for the City. He stated the data practices act provides that anyone could request information from the City. He stated that he was attempting to set some form of order to this situation. He stated at worst, they could triage the problem, and at best, they provide an orderly dissemination of information. He stated for example, if the Finance Director was working on an element of the budget, and was required to waylay the entire process,in order to deal with a particular request that same day, he would considered this to be circumventing the will of the Council. He stated he believed the five working day period should also pertain to the Council. He stated any board member or Council Member who has concern regarding this process could appeal to the City Administrator and/or the City Council. Mayor Coughlin stated that the fee schedule was last updated in 1996. He requested the Council direct the Finance Director and staff to update the fee schedule, as per inflation rates, and any other things that may have changed since that time. Council Member Stigney requested clarification of the motion. Mayor Coughlin stated he would direct the City Administrator and staff to create an information request form to be at the front desk at City Hall, so that any and all residents of the City, requesting written information from the City, have it documented and tracked by the City, and that the City would then respond within five working days of the request. He explained this does not necessarily mean the request would be competed in five days. He explained, for instance, a request for personnel information was restricted information. He stated this would be to get a response to the request, and in most cases, obtaining the information requested. He stated furthermore, all boards, 29 C:\ADMIN\MINUTES\CC\8-9-99.CC