Laserfiche WebLink
Mounds View City Council August 24, 2020 <br />Regular Meeting Page 2 <br /> <br /> <br />7. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS <br /> <br />None. <br /> <br />8. COUNCIL BUSINESS <br />A. Updating the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in the City’s Personnel <br />Manual. <br /> <br />Human Resources Coordinator Ewald requested the Council adopt a Resolution which would <br />update the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in the City’s Personnel Manual by removing <br />the reference to an affirmative action plan. <br /> <br />Mayor Mueller asked if this was a simple housekeeping matter. Human Resources Coordinator <br />Ewald reported this was the case. <br /> <br />MOTION/SECOND: Hull/Gunn. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 9297, Approving <br />an Update to the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in the City’s Personnel Manual. <br /> <br />Council Member Bergeron recommended the Council table action on this item for the time being <br />because the City would not be sending the right message and the Council’s actions may be <br />misconstrued. <br /> <br />Council Member Meehlhause requested further direction regarding the action before the City <br />Council. City Attorney Allsot explained from a legal perspective the City has no legal obligation <br />to have an affirmative action plan in place. He reported the affirmative action policy has numerous <br />requirements and the City would be streamlining its hiring processes if this policy were removed <br />from the Personnel Manual. He explained there were still protections within the policy to protect <br />minorities. <br /> <br />Council Member Meehlhause questioned if an affirmative action policy would have to be <br />reimplemented if the City were to have a contract with the State. City Attorney Allsot stated this <br />was the case. He indicated it was not difficult to put this type of policy in place. <br /> <br />Council Member Hull inquired how long this language has been included in the City’s Personnel <br />Manual. City Administrator Zikmund estimated this language has been included for the past 12 <br />or 13 years. He commented further on how the City has been working to find gender and ethnic <br />diversity within City staff. <br /> <br />Council Member Bergeron commented one of the benefits of having an affirmative action plan <br />was to require expanded recruiting efforts beyond traditional means, which could assist in <br />attracting a broader base of applicants. He believed it was a positive thing for the City to have an <br />affirmative action plan in place and the perception to drop it would be very poor. <br /> <br />MOTION/SECOND: Bergeron/Mueller. To Table Action on Resolution 9297, Approving an <br />Update to the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in the City’s Personnel Manual to the