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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes os November 25, 2003 Page 8 1 Mr. Mornson indicated Monday, November 24, was the deadline for applications to fill the 2 Planning Commission and Park Commission vacancies. He noted there were four openings and 3 five applicants for the Planning Commission and three openings and two applicants for the Park.. 4 Commission. He added none of the current Park Commission members had reapplied. He 5 indicated all applicants, even the incumbents, had been interviewed in the past and two hours 6 would be needed if all seven were interviewed. He stated interviews typically would take place 7 before the December 8 Council meeting; however, problems had surfaced with applicant 8 availability. He asked if a different date in December should be chosen for the interviews, as his 9 preference was to complete the interview process in December. 10 11 Councilmember Faust indicated the interviews needed to take place as soon as possible, as they 12 were a good opportunity for Council to meet the applicants and the applicants to meet Council. 13 Councilmember Faust, Councilmember Sparks and Mayor Hodson each stated he/she was 14 flexible for another date and time and Mayor Hodson stated he preferred the interviews take 15 place at the same meeting with all councilmembers present. 16 17 Mr. Mornson suggested December 15 or December 16 with a starting time of late afternoon. He 18 added the meeting would probably be called a Special Council Meeting, the interviews would be 19 the only item on the agenda and a vote would be taken at that meeting. He indicated Council 20 could also officially approve the new members at a Council meeting in January. 21 . 22 Councilmember Sparks noted she had attended a Mississippi Watershed Management meeting 23 and indicated her replacement needed to be found. She recommended Councilmember Faust and 24 explained the meetings were held four times per year, were day meetings and there was "lots of 25 activity and money." She added she would be happy to work with the new member. 26 27 Councilmember Faust noted the Sister City had its annual meeting on November 9, 2003. He 28 stated there was an increase of one Board member for the next three years. He indicated 29 feedback from Finland had been received and it appeared plans were being made with the high 30 school to go to Finland, which might happen next year. 31 32 Councilmember Faust indicated he and Mr. Mornson had attended the Association of 33 Metropolitan Municipalities legislative annual meeting on Thursday,November 20, 2003,where 34 the legislative agenda was approved, along with discussion regarding how cities deal with the 35 legislature on issues that affect them. He stated two State senators and two State representatives 36 were present and very candid in their comments. He noted transportation seemed to be an issue 37 that had percolated through both parties and it was interesting to hear the views from both sides. 38 39 Mayor Hodson noted there would be new councilmembers the first of the year. Councilmember 40 Sparks stated she would miss working with the Council and it had been a pleasure to work with 41 them. 42 43 Mayor Hodson stated he had just returned from Madrid, Spain, where he had been speaking as 44 part of his work about traveler information and transit problems in the metropolitan area. He 45 noted Madrid had convenient transit systems available to its residents that were not available in 46 the metropolitan area. He indicated the aging of baby boomers, transportation issues generated