CC MINUTES 01281986 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-6- for some municipalities had been included in the agenda packet, but there was little interest on the Council for increasing their annual dues to support the • program. Mr. Childs gave a brief overview of the copies of letters, etc. dealing with the actions taken related to the City's water contamination problems which he had included in the agenda packet for the Council 's information. The Council concurred that a short meeting with the City's counsel Briggs and Morgan related to the next legal decision steps to be taken would be appropriate at this time. An Executive Session was scheduled for 7:30 P.M., Monday, February 24th, to meet with Briggs and Morgan. Mr. Childs indicated he expected the draft of the feasibility study recommending engineering alternatives for the City's water supply would be completed by Camp, Dresser, and McKee, Inc. sometime in February. In his January 24th memorandum, the Manager had reported the research he had done at Council direction related to terms of office for other municipality mayors had indicated that four years terms were not uncommon for either statutory or charter cities. A check of state statutes and with the City Attorney had indicated that only a simple ordinance was necessary to make the change from two to four years for the City's Mayor, and Mr. Soth had advised that, if the ordinance were passed in 1986, the change would be effective for the next election in 1987. Councilmembers Ranallo and Makowske indicated they certainly supported the passage of the ordinance this year when no claim could be made that the change promoted the candidacy of any particular person. When Councilmember Marks indicated he had mixed feelings about making the change because he perceived having the Mayor run each time a Councilmember ran for office would assure the same public interest in • each election. Councilmember Makowske said she certainly saw his point but, because she views the Mayor as one member of a five member Council , she could see no justification for treating him or her differently when it came to term of office. Councilmember Enrooth agreed the Mayor should receive equal treatment in that regard. Councilmember Makowske said the fact that the ordinance has to be given three readings should give residents ample opportunity to provide input to the process: Councilmember Marks said that in the face of the usual resident apathy about what happens at Council meetings, he perceived a special effort would have to be made to publicize the change and to generate public debate on the issue. Motion by Councilmember Ranallo and seconded by Councilmember Makowske to request staff to draft an ordinance for Council consideration which would change the Mayor's term of office from two to four years for the next election. Voting on the motion: Aye: Ranallo, Makowske, and Enrooth. Nay: Marks. Abstention: Sundland. Motion carried. • The discussion of public reaction to City issues prompted Councilmember Ranallo to ask Mr. Childs what response there had been to the survey in the last Newsletter