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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-11-12 Transcription November 12, 2007 Special City Council Work Session Page 1 November 12,2007 Special City Council Work Session 8:00 A.M. Council Present: Bailey, Champion, Correia, Elliott, Hayek, O'Donnell, Vanderhoef, Wilburn, Wright Staff: Karr, Dilkes, Helling, Mejia Others Present: Volland, UISG Rep.; Bob Beezat (via phone conference) 2007-2008 Council Orientation: Dilkes/ Okay. Um, we're going to move, particularly because at least the current Council Members are.. .have another item on the agenda to address, the City Manager profile. Um, we're going to try and move through this pretty quickly. There's a lot of information, um, Mike, mostly for you in the packet. Go ahead and read that and feel free to call us if you have any questions. Um, with respect to open meetings, um, I'm just going to hit on a couple, uh, major points. Um, the big thing about open meetings is that the Council needs to.. .or the public needs to be told.. .the Council, or the public needs to be given notice when the Council is going to talk about something, and that's 24-hours notice. That's why we post an agenda, um, 24 hours before the meeting. Um, with respect to Council time, you know, at the end of every Council meeting there's an item called "Council Time." You can raise questions, ask questions of staff, um, but ifthere's an item that you want to discuss, raise it at Council time, but don't.. .we try not to launch into a discussion about it, because that item hasn't been noticed. So, um, often it's a time to bring up a topic and see if other Council want to discuss it at a subsequent work session. Um, similarly with, uh, public comment. Often, um, people come to the podium with a new topic to discuss or that they want your input on, and you really need to make note of it and note whether you want to discuss it at a future work session, but you can't really get into a discussion about it at that time, because there's been no notice given, for the public, that you're going to talk about that. Um, City Council subcommittees, uh, the laws a little bit murky in that area, but we take a fairly conservative approach. If it's a formal established.. . formally established committee ofthe City Council and it, uh, advises on public policy, then we consider that to be governmental body that's subject to the Open Meetings Act. We treat our Economic Development Committee, our (unable to hear) as governmental bodies and post notice, etc. Um, emails - there's a lot of issues with emails. Emails are public records and are subject to the records' requirements. You should assume that anytime you're communicating by email about City business, that that is public record (unable to hear). Um, it's not really where the email comes from, whether it's on your City computer or your home computer or your work computer or whatever. It's really.. .the Courts that have addressed it have found that it's the substance of the communication that determines whether it's a public record. If it's about City business, um, it will likely be a public record. Similarly, ifit's a personal matter and it's on a, um, City computer, then there might be some protection for that, although there's a lot of other issues with that. Urn, also you need to be very This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2007. November 12, 2007 Special City Council Wark Session Page 2 cautious about using email.Um. simultaneous email communication between a quorum of you can, has been considered by some Courts, our Supreme Court hasn't addressed it yet, but can be considered as a meeting, um, that would be subject to the Open Meetings Act. So, really, I advise people not to do a lot of email communication among yourselves. I mean, you just shouldn't do it. It just, uh, you know, maybe between two of you, um, you and one other Council Member, or you and maybe two others, but the problem is, if that starts getting forwarded and.. .there's no way to decide ahead of time whether that's going to be a meetings' problem, because it depends on how quickly the communication occurs and how simultaneous it is. So, just.. . (unable to hear). Bailey/ I just also want to mention in my experience a way that that often happens is a member of the public will, uh, cc four or more, and then there's a response to "reply all" and then that becomes part of the challenge, I think. Dilkes/ Uh huh. Bailey/ So that's the thing you have to think about. Dilkes/ And I think, and one of the ways to, um, just get some protection from that is...is copying all Councilors or the City Clerk so that that communication then gets in the public record. I mean, I think that the more that the press and those that are interested in open government, um, know that those types of communications are getting into our packets and out to them, the less worried they are about it. Karr/ All correspondence, emails addressed to Council, as a category. The Council, not individuals, do come, uh, automatically to myself and the City Manager's office, so that we can then put it in the packet very easily. What happens if they get your individual emails, obviously, is as Regenia had said. Dilkes/ Uh, closed meetings, uh, when we are going to go into Executive Session, we post 24 hours in advance. We post the reason for the Executive Session, whether it be a...a professional evaluation or a, maybe, uh professional evaluation, or a discussion about property acquisition. We don't post the specific item that we're talking about, because people aren't entitled to know what we're talking about. In closed session we just post the reason for the closure of the meeting. The most likely, the most often, um, most often we close meetings for personnel evaluations, performance evaluations, or for the discussion for the acquisition of property. Um, I usually put in my memo about the Executive Session that I believe that you have grounds to go into Executive Session under a particular section of the Code, because that's a defense that you have if somebody challenges you for going into closed session without good reason (unable to understand). Um, what you discuss in Executive Session needs to stay in Executive Session. If the Council as a group wants to waive that privilege, whether it be the attorney-client privilege, or the privilege of being in closed session, it should do so as a group and not individually. Um, final decisions have This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2007. November 12,2007 Special City Council Wark Session Page 3 to be made in the open. So if we make a final decision in closed settlement to settle.. .or closed session to settle a case, then we do a resolution in open session, settling that case. However, we're.. .if we're having a closed session to talk about, um, uh, a posture that we're going to take in litigation, or a particular settlement offer that we've received, I don't consider anything to be final until that final settlement decision is made. Um, you should never assume that things you say in closed session are not going to be seen by somebody, because there's all sorts of ways for that to happen. With respect to property acquisition, um, once.. .by Code, once the transaction is complete, the, um, tapes of that Executive Session are open for public scrutiny. Um, there also can be enforcement actions, challenges that you didn't have grounds to go into Executive Session. In addition, um, discovery in litigation, if the subject matter of the Executive Session is somehow relevant to a, um, the matters involved in litigation, then the discovery rules can get a hold of that information (garbled) and that's outside the whole scope of the open meetings issue. So, um, when we're in Executive Session, we'll.. .we'll, I'll usually remind you if we get off topic so that we stay on the topic. Enforcement, there's stuff in the materials about that and you can read that. There's fines, um, ultimately if a...a Council Member is fined once and fined again, they can be subject to removal, etc. Helling/ Can I just mention something very quickly that (unable to hear) Executive Sessions and, uh, contracts and negotiations, you are allowed to go into Executive Session to talk about matters relating to strategies of collective bargaining, and virtually any other contract, like MidAmerican franchise, like Mediacom cable franchise, you're not allowed to do any of that in Executive Session. That sometimes puts you at a little bit of a disadvantage strategically, but we manage to get by with that. Just, you know, when you talk about contracts, unless it's a labor contract you're talking about, you can't go into Executive Session, unless it has to do with. . . with property acquisition. Dilkes/ Unless there's some (garbled). Um, public records - there's an Interim Study Committee at the Legislature that's looking at that, and I expect that there's going to be some significant changes in the public records laws. Just have to keep track of that. Karr/ As Eleanor mentioned at the beginning of the meeting, we are going to go very quickly through this because we have some time commitments from some of you, and also because we added a second item to the agenda. So, again, if you have questions, feel free to call any of us at any time. O'Donnell/ Could you have Eleanor touch briefly, though, on voting itself, at JCCOG... Dilkes/ Yeah. . . O'Donnell! .. . and voting... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2007. November 12,2007 Special City Council Work Session Page 4 Dilkes/ We can sure.. .you want me to just cover that now, sure. Um, voting procedures, there's a memo in here about motions, resolutions, ordinances. Generally, with the exception of a motion, which we use very infrequently. It's kind of...a motion setting a public hearing, direction of some kind, but with resolutions and ordinances, um, a majority of the body must pass the measure. That means four of you, no matter how many of you are here. Um, the exception to that is if there's an abstention due to a conflict of interest. That vote does not count in determining who the majority ofthe members are. Um... Elliott! An abstention was considered with the majority. Dilkes/ An abstention that's not for a conflict of interest, we have passed a specific resolution. Elliott! Oh, I see.] Dilkes/ An abstention that's not for a conflict of interest, um, is considered to be a vote with the majority, um, affirmative, or in the case of a tie, yeah. So, uh, or with a positive, um. Um, we do have a resolution that requires when there.. .when you've been appointed by the Council to serve on a body, such as JCCOG, um, if there is a formal vote by the Council on a matter, you are required by this resolution to vote in accordance with that formal vote, but it is a formal vote of, um, of the body (garbled). O'Donnell/ That was good. Karr/ We also have.. .go ahead. Dilkes/ W ell let me.. .one more thing on conflicts of interest. You determine whether you've got a conflict of interest or not. Um, and the Code specifically says that your statement on the record that you have a conflict of interest is determinative. So then we would not count you for purposes of determining what a majority is. I get involved, and people ask for my advice on those issues, because if a vote that is, if someone votes and they're conflicted, and it was determinative to the vote, it can void the vote. So that's.. .I'm happy to give you my opinion on.. .on conflicts. The sooner that you can, um, get me information about a potential conflict, the better. It's easier to decide those things ahead oftime than right on the spot. So, and then also along conflict of interest lines, you know, there's the whole gift issue. 299's the magic number for taking gifts. Urn, and there's a lot of, that's Chapter 68.B. of the Iowa Code, and there's a lot of issues that come up about honorariums and speaking engagements and food at speaking engagements, and stuff like that, and easiest way is just to give me a call if you have any issues about those. Those are fairly. ..we count on those a lot. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2007. November 12,2007 Special City Council Work Session Page 5 Elliott! Failed to point out that about a half a dozen years ago, uh, a couple Council persons failed to take your advice and it cost the City $60,000. (unable to hear other person comment) No, on the vote. So, we pay attention to you. Dilkes/ That wasn't a conflict issue. Elliott! It wasn't a conflict, but they failed to take your advice. Dilkes/ Well, Ijust give advice. You can take it or you can not take it. (laughter) Elliott! But it cost the City. Dilkes/ That's.. .that's (garbled and several responding). Karr/ Also on page 33 is the Planning and Zoning consultation policy, which originally was a resolution passed in 84 (coughing) with our zoning code, which, uh, on a rezoning, in the instance that Council may chose to, uh, reach a different conclusion than the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning, uh, Commission that was forwarded to them, then there is a consultation, uh, that is offered between the two bodies. Uh, that has been exercised a number of times, uh, and it does generally speaking involve P&Z, coordinated with their schedule, um, but again, it does not mean that P&Z must attend a Council meeting or the Council cannot attend a P&Z meeting. It means that the bodies do meet before the close of the public hearing and before a vote is taken. Urn, that information is available, as I said, uh, on page 33. Did you want to go to Ex Parte? Dilkes/ Yeah, urn, there was a recent decision by the Iowa Supreme Court that characterizes rezoning as a, um, quazi-judicial proceeding, which, um, raised the whole issue with municipal lawyers about ex-parte discussions outside the context of the. . .ofthe public hearing. Um, we did put a procedure in place, and I did a memo to that affect, if you're interested in the background of it, but essentially, rezonings now are done, the discussions about those need to occur, um, at the Council meetings, and not outside those meetings, and the procedure we have is that if you had a conversation with somebody, an interested party, about that rezoning, that you are required to disclose it, um, either at the public hearing or in subsequent considerations of that. Um, and we have also changed.. .we used to have staff presentations done at the, um, work session. Um, we no longer do that. The staff presentation and all presentations by developers are done at the public hearing. The reason for that is not that those are ex-parte communications, because they're being done in public and.. .so they're not ex-parte, but there's this whole issue of needing to have an impartial decision (garbled) better when all those presentations occurred at the public hearing. It's also nice because people don't have to come to two meetings, um, and sit there and take notes about what they need to respond to the next time. So... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12,2007. November 12,2007 Special City Council Work Session Page 6 Karr/ The next items, starting on page 36, um, deal with organizational meetings, Council committees, work sessions, and formal meetings. And this is one of the primary, uh, things we wanted to do today was go through and try and reach a conclusion on.. .uh, meetings and scheduling, especially the beginning of the year. This is the hardest work we do. Everybody.. . whenever we have Council calendar or schedule, there's this groan! (laughter) Dilkes/ Steve used to do this, cut across the room! (laughter) Karr/ The organizational meeting, by Charter, uh, must occur between noon on the second and noon on the sixth. The organizational meeting is the meeting by which you as a Council elect your Mayor and Mayor Pro- Tem, and we also make Council committee appointments at that time. Um, there are, um, there is information in your packet regarding that there are some information on the organizational meeting. We have committee appointments, as I noted, uh, Convention and Visitors Bureau, Emergency Management, uh, JCCOG, Student (unable to hear) Committee. Um, we also have, um, we had a motion abolishing what we used to call years ago the City Council Legislative Committee, and now you as a Council of the whole meet with your Legislators, and that meeting is coming up at 5:30 the 26th, your next work session. Um, we have, um, on page 41, we have a resolution, uh, requiring that Council appointees vote with concurrence, and that was what was, uh, Eleanor mentioned earlier. Um, Council work sessions have evolved over the years. Typically, the work session occurs the day before a formal, um, there are a number of communities throughout the country that have, um, combined their work sessions and their formals into one day. That is totally a Council decision. Um, our Council has met traditionally a day before. It has been various times of the time, um, it has, as noted in the memo, when I started twenty-five years ago, it was 1 :30 in the afternoon. Then it went to evenings. Um, which is what it is currently. Again, those schedules are totally Council, um, driven in accordance with what's best for your schedule, and often the community's needs as a whole. Special work sessions and special Council meetings are held, um, and I can go through that procedure, but many of you just experienced some of it. There is 24-hours notice, and there is required signature once you are on Council so that, again, we have.. .when asked, we know that all of you have been notified 24 hours ahead of time of the special meeting. Um, jumping right into it, page 44 is a January, uh, February schedule. Um, this is a target. I simply created the target for you to shot at. It is an organizational meeting, uh, is included on there. Typically, we also have between three and five budget work sessions. Our budget must be certified to the State by March 15th. Um, that includes, uh, publication requirements, public hearing requirements, and uh, staff preparing the budget for submission. Uh, what I did simply was take a look at the last couple of year's calendars, plugged in some dates, and was hoping that you could provide feedback that are adjustments to that schedule. The number of meetings often, obviously, are a result of how much time Council wishes to spend on the budget, but also time allocated for budget session. Obviously, if you allow a full day for.. . for Capital Improvement Projects, you're This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2007. November 12,2007 Special City Council Work Session Page 7 done with it in a day. If not, we need to schedule it, break it in half and schedule another meeting. So, um, again, is there any thoughts? I know, Regenia, also you had mentioned the possibility, I believe, of having a goal-setting session as a Council, as well. I did not put that in to the January-February schedule at this time, um, so that's also. . . Champion! I think it'd be a good idea to do that after we're done with budget. Bailey/ You think? 'Cause we did that two years ago. I thought it was part of the.. . Helling/ In terms of the budget, I have not (noise on mic) I'm not.. .have not considered at this point, unless you want to, changing the process in this transition period. . . . assuming that the schedule will be somewhat similar to the past years, and also given some thought to the goal setting, probably would want to wait until you have a new City Manager, even ifit takes (unable to hear). Bailey/ And I assume that we're planning to tape the Capital Projects session as we have. Did we just start that last year? (several talking) You can watch that! (several talking and laughing) You have Channel 4. ..1 don't know what people are doing out there, but it must be the writer's strike, because people watch that (unable to hear). Wilburn! I would presume that several of us would like to participate in a caucus on the evening of the 3rd, so I would hope that we could avoid the evening on the 3rd anyway for organizationaL.. Karr/ I did not, yeah, I did not plug anything into the 3rd, with that in mind. (unable to hear other talking) I only did January and February, so I didn't get to March. Bailey/ And I'd like to... Vanderhoef/ ... backtracking from that always is what. .. Karr/ Right. The proposal is, at the present time, is to have the budget approved by March 4th, so I don't think it'll affect... Bailey/ Well, and we also have the, um, Chamber (coughing) February, which we should have. Karr/ And that.. . at, this present proposal doesn't affect that either. Bailey/ Well, and I'd like to hear from Mike and Matt, given your scheduling constraints, because you both have day jobs, and I think we should...I mean, that's going to be an adjustment for all of us, right? Well, I have a day job too, but I mean (unable to hear). So, I don't know. Do you have a... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2007. November 12,2007 Special City Council Wark Session Page 8 Helling/ Input on January or. . . Bailey/ .. .I'm assuming you have a bias towards evening meetings, rather than daytime meetings, but... Wright/ Evening meetings, generally, are going to be a lot easier. Bailey/ Okay. Wright/ Um, like that Capital Projects' session from 8:00 to 5:00, it's far enough in advance I could probably make that work. Hayek! The same goes for me. I mean, I've got a pretty flexible schedule. Um, as long as I plan as far in advance as possible. Wilburn! What about the work session one day, formal meeting the next? We have vanous.. . Wright/ Personally, I like the way it has been, where the work session is in the evening on Monday, and then regular session is on Tuesday. That works better for my schedule, and I think it works, probably works well for a lot of the public. Champion! And we actually do change that sometimes. We try and make sure that everybody can be at meetings, so sometimes we combine them.. . (unable to hear). Correia! I was just going to say, as a general rule though, it's harder to feel like we have enough time when we do work sessions before formals. On the same day. I mean, I think it's fine when we need to do it, but...I wouldn't want to do that. Bailey/ Well, it also allows time to get more information about particular items, too, which I found sometimes is very helpful. I mean, it's changed a little bit since we've changed the zoning approach, but it's still.. .on some other items.. .it's helpful. So, that would continue to be my preference. Karr/ So, 6:30 Monday work session continues to be... O'Donne11l I think that's fine. Karr/ We also have a resolution at the present time, again, that states formal meetings are the first and third Tuesday. That would not make the work sessions necessarily the first and third because of how Mondays fall, but we do have a resolution on that. Any deviation from that, uh, though, we often do it, is a special meeting. Not a big deal but just.. .so is there any preference toward changing that resolution, or just retaining the one and three, first and third, Tuesday? O'Donne11l Does anybody.. .this, on the 22nd (several talking) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2007. November 12,2007 Special City Council Work Session Page 9 Karr/ Yeah, let's go now with the, yeah, go ahead. O'Donnell! This 8:00 to 5:00 is a long, grueling event. It's like going through four quarters against the Packers, it really is! (several commenting) I heard the Bears are going to have a team again next year! But... Bailey/ Are we talking about football or. . . O'Donnell/ ... uh, this special budget work session, and Capital Projects, really, I wonder if we couldn't break that into two meetings. Eight hours, and just running people in and out is...is an awful lot to digest. Champion! On the other hand though (several talking) as well they're taking off one whole day, rather than have to... Bailey/ At least it's Capital Projects, and not General Fund stuff. Champion! That's my only objection to that. Bailey/ ...I mean, there are pictures. (several talking) Wright! Haven't lived through it yet, so I can't really comment! (laughter) Bailey/ There's food. There are pictures, you know, Rick Fosse stand-up comedy routine. It's usually pretty okay! We could do crayons! Helling/ Last year we went until 5 :00. Bailey/ No, we didn't. Helling/ . ..finished up... O'Donnell! I think because three Councilors went to sleep, is why we did do that. Bailey/ Maybe we need an espresso machine. Helling/ ., .just because of.. .probably it could be done in a full eight-hour day, should be able to get through the whole thing. But, either way. However you want to... Bailey/ I agree with Connie though. 1'd rather block off a day and know that the day was lost to me than two half days. That's harder to schedule clients. O'Donnell/ That's fine. Let's try it again. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2007. November 12, 2007 Special City Council Work Session Page 10 Karr/ Um, what about the days? I mean, this was a target schedule. I mean, are there any days that do not work particularly.. .or evenings, but I meant any particular scheduled days that do not work well for anyone, in this. . . Champion! Saturday and Sunday. Correia! You're talking about in what you proposed. Karr/ In what I proposed, right. I'm not.. .I'm just trying to figure out if we need to make any adjustments. Ifwe buy the concept, do we need to make adjustments today? Hayek! The 22nd...there's a 25% chance the 22nd is going to be bad for me. Um, how hard would that be to move that? Karr/ Well, I think because it's a full day, my guess would be, the earlier that we could move it, I would suggest we move it now. Ifthere's a 25% change, let's find another day where there's 100% chance you'll be here. Hayek! Yeah, let's do that. Karr/ Just because it's a full day. Bailey/ How about the 24th? Karr/ 24th, Thursday? So we're moving the... Wright/24th will be even better. Karr/ What does that, are we going to leave the boards and commissions and events on the 23rd? Okay, so just simply move the 22nd to the 24th. Okay. Elliott/ God, this is interesting! Bailey/ Oh, you're going to be expected to be there! (laughter) We'll find some rule. Karr/ What about the... Vanderhoef/ That's TV day! Karr/ ... what about the organization meeting at noon? That is the earliest you can have it, is noon Wednesday. Would you rather move that to later in the day? Would you rather, um, move that to later in the week? Champion! It only takes about a half an hour. O'Donnell/ I think noon's fine. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2007. November 12, 2007 Special City Council Work Session Page 11 Karr/ Now, someone also asked, and 1.. .just to throw this out, we've not done this before, Connie, but someone also wanted to know, since it only takes fifteen to a half hour, if anybody'd be interested in doing a budget session after it. Just to start right away, since you're all here. Like with the general overview. I mean, I don't care, but that was suggested. We've never done it, but (coughing) depending on the time you'd start. Is there...it wouldn't have to be noon - that's the earliest. You could move it, and then go into a couple hours budget. Just a thought. (unable to hear person talking) Would you, is there any interest just to leave it the organizational meeting and not put budget? Bailey/ Yeah. Ifwe're to have a January 2nd meeting, let's just ease into the.. .just a little bit of Holiday hangover so (laughter). Karr/ So, you just want to leave it alone then? Okay. And at noon? Or do you want to move it to later in the day? (several responding) Champion! It really is a very short meeting. Karr/ That's it. I mean.. .that was too easy! Going once! Going twice! (laughter) Helling/ Did you note that January's schedule is. . . Karr/ Right. Well, that was my next.. .my next question is, the 3rd would be your full, regular meeting, the l4th and 15th, and then I didn't know if you wanted to.. .to wait, but to get a second meeting in there, I popped in on the 5t\ the 28th and 29th, but it does mean you're meeting back-to-back then, but in January and February you kind of do an~ay. But you've got the 28th and 29th then as a special, and then the 4th and 5t , you're "back on schedule." (several responding) Any problems or anything with that? Okay. Too easy! Um, Council Packets, agenda preparation, um, again, um, packets are available at 3 :00 on Thursdays. Um, we typically always aim for a packet, whether it's a meeting week or not. In the event that there is a...a small packet and we feel that it's not worthy of taking your time or ours to create, we'll call you and tell you no packet. But other than that, you should count on a packet at Thursdays at 3 :00. We do put the entire packet out on the web site, as well, and that is a work in progress so you can often get a sneak peek, but it's not guaranteed to be 100% accurate until the 3:00 time, and the only things that we do not put in the packet, it'll be identical, and often times it'll be a better quality because we do download directly, so some of the mapping and some of the colors and things like that will be, uh, even better on line, will be any confidential memos. Obviously, they will come to you hard copy. O'Donnell/ And the new Councilors should.. . should be prepared, because when the packet goes out on the web on Thursday at 3 :00, the press starts calling at 3: 15. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12,2007. November 12,2007 Special City Council Work Session Page 12 Karr/ Yeah. That's the downside. We can't get it to you first. But again, that's a good point, Mike. I think it's also a learning curve. Press are going into the weekend. They would love to get their stories written, and they'd love to get it right away. Um, I know that we educate them as best we can that Council has other things going on. They probably didn't read the memo yet. So it's perfectly fine to say to them, 'Haven't seen it yet. Call me tomorrow.' O'Donnell! Or wait and read about it the next day and what you said. (laughter) Karr/ Um, the way we handle Council correspondence, letters and things that come to you, emails that are written to Council, again, following up on what we've talked about with emails.um. letters that are written to Council, as well as emails, are all copied and put in your next formal Council Packet for acceptance. Um, we, and sometimes though it's addressed to Council, you may not see it unless, again, the individual name is on it and you receive a copy separately, until you get the packet. So you all get it at the same time. Um, occasionally you'll have correspondence that an individual will write to a Council Member and to Council. So that Council Member may have advanced notice because they may have gotten it electronically or may have gotten a hard copy of it. Um, we try and, again, coordinate all exchanges, um, and all information and put it in one packet for you. So, if correspondence would come in to you on what we call an off-week packet, it would wait till the following formal meeting to be distributed to you, and there may be more correspondence back and forth between staff and that individual, but it would all be in one place and submitted to you at that time. Um, we.. . yeah, we also have a, um, a press folder is what we call it. Is that press can come in at any time and request correspondence. So Council, so, again, going with what Mike said, a reporter may come in and look at correspondence and know about it well ahead of you, because your next packet will be a week later. Um, quite frankly, it becomes open record immediately upon receipt. So, we have no choice. We can get you copies should you need it, but again, you're not scheduled to talk about it until that next meeting. So that becomes a little confusing and frustrating at times, as well. Um, but, it's working fairly well as long as you realize that that's how it is going until there's the next folder. Any correspondence that comes in in between times, like your packet would come out on Thursday, we would get letters...ifit would be something that's on your agenda, um, or a follow up to correspondence, we would distribute it to you Monday night and Tuesday night, at your meetings. Ifit is not something on your agenda, typically it can wait until the next formal agenda. The reason we do that, quite frankly, is we don't want people sort of circumventing and coming in at the last minute, giving you things that staff nor you have had time to research it. So we try and be consistent with our deadlines. Helling! Often times, um, we get correspondence that staff can handle, um, especially about issues that are more operational, and so what happens, that's when you get these correspondence with the staff responses included, because we try and head This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2007. November 12, 2007 Special City Council Work Session Page 13 those off if possible. (garbled) So we use our judgment, so if we ever respond to something that you don't think we should have, let us know. Karr/ Council Packets are offered to you, um, electronically and on hard copy. Um, there is some computer training, and there is a memo in here about using our software, um, so.. .I'll be happy to schedule... Wright/ That software just is fascinating! Karr/ Fascinating! Bailey/ That's a nice word. (laughter) Karr/ Wasn't where I thought he was going to go when he started. (laughter) Wright/ I was spending a lot of time the other day sorting that software. Karr/ Yeah, so I'll be happy to talk to you about that. We also have a resolution, which is included on page 53, I believe, establishing a policy for equipment and stipend, um, for a dedicated phone line. And which I'll be happy to go through. We've got some paperwork we need to go through with Matt and Michael, so I'll be happy to go through that with you at a later time. Go ahead. Dilkes/ If you, the more you can use your. . .if you use your City email for.um. for your City business, then there's a particular vocation we can look if we get requests. If you chose to use your own email, if you can keep a file, either electronically or paper (laughter) Bailey/ It just reminded me that I've got to clean out my folders. Dilkes/ Um, where you store your City business, that would be helpful, because what I like to avoid is getting a open records request for all email correspondence between, you know, Mike Wright and Regenia Bailey, or Mike Wright and anybody, and have to go looking through all your personal emails. Karr/ Another fascinating (laughter and talking) Dilkes/ So the more you can either keep your City business.. . your City email dedicated to City business, and just use that one, or if you want to use your own email address, keep it in folders and somehow segregated so we can find it if we need to. Correia! Although we're not required to keep all correspondence. Dilkes/ No, you're not. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2007. November 12, 2007 Special City Council Work Session Page 14 Karr/ I am. (laughter and several talking) Dilkes/ And we as a city are really, you know, the whole email retentionthingisjust.um. we're in the process of trying to figure out how to deal with that, um, because in getting, we're more and more of course getting requests for electronic communication, and being able to find that and being able to, urn, we're trying to get a handle on that and even thinking of using an email retention system where we just track everything once it comes into the City, and just keep it, and then we can search in one place for it, and then regardless of how people are deleting, or not deleting, we know what we've got over what period of time. So we're in the process oflooking at that, but no, you're not required to keep all your emails. What I suggest to people is that they have a periodic, that you say to yourself, 'Okay, I'm going to go in and I'm going to delete a month back every Friday when I leave,' you know, or I mean have some sort of systematic deletion, um, system so that you're not.. .it's not easy to accuse you of deleting because some issue comes up or something like that. So... Wilburn! Whenever someone sends something to my work address email, I typically just forward it to my Council email and then it's kind of in the system (garbled). Champion! Never give out your personal email- never! Dilkes/ Don't.. .don't say in email what you wouldn't want the world to see. That is, people use, in my opinion, email far too often, when they should be picking up the phone. Karr/ Um, again, are there any questions, um, checking out City vehicles, uh, supplies - we'll be talking to you about a laptop. Matt and Michael, we'll be talking about file cabinets. We'll be talking about several other things, but I'll wait to do that one on one with you. Supplies, travel policy is in here. I'll be happy to work with you and do the paperwork to get that done. I know, Dale, you wanted to talk a little bit about (unable to hear). Correia! Just real quick. So the January and February are set, with the changes the 22nd to the 24th... Karr/ And we agreed to continue one and three for the, uh, formal meetings, so the rest of 'em will sort of fall into place, but I'll get that schedule... Correia! .. . okay. Sorry. Helling/ Just briefly, just mentioned here, and I apologize (garbled) um, I have a letter in the process of coming out to you, suggesting that maybe you might want to do some tours of the facilities, but that's always open to all the Council Members. Uh, it's sometimes very helpful, and all you have to do is let us know and we'll arrange it with the department (garbled). I'm talking about particularly remote This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2007. November 12,2007 Special City Council Work Session Page 15 facilities, like (garbled) water treatment, the outlying fire stations, whatever... uh, whatever you'd like to see. And I encourage you (garbled) as you can. I know I found it very helpful when I stared, and a lot...a lot of the Council Members have done that. The other. . . the other possibility there too is sort oflike a tour, ride- alongs with the Police Department. They're happy to accommodate (garbled). Karr/ On tours, that reminds me. Three of you (coughing and several talking). Dilkes/ If. . .if more than three of you are at a presentation, that involves something that you might consider as a Council, you need to be a tree stump and not participate or say anything. If there are three or less of you, you are free to participate, but if there's a quorum (unable to hear). O'Donnell! But it's better off if you go in and there's three there, leave. Bailey/ Decide who's going to leave, I think is easier. O'Donne11l Don't be caught with four there. Bailey/ Because even if you act like a tree stump, people will accuse you of saying something. O'Donne11l That's right. Dilkes/ And it's just, and also in, just like after Council meetings, you know, just avoid- even if you're talking about (garbled). Karr/ Just in front of Eleanor, Dale, and 1. (laughter and several talking) Wright/ Sarah Holecek has done that enough after a Board of Adjustment meeting. (laughter and several talking) Chasing you down the street. Champion! Even though she's littler than most of us, it doesn't make any difference. Karr/ Okay. I know.. . yeah, go ahead. Helling/ Before we go, I just wanted to touch on the contacting of staff. Department directors know and expect that if they get any inquiries from Council Members about any kind of issue, they provide information, whatever, that they will respond to that and they'll use their staff to do that, as well. And I encourage you to contact them and talk to them about maybe agenda items that you have some questions about. Feel free to contact department directors at any time. Some of their staff, division heads, are very comfortable talking to Council Members. Some, believe it or not, are intimidated a little bit by, you know, a Council Member contacting them. You may know for instance Ron Knoche, a City Engineer. I'm sure that frequently you'll have contact with him, particularly if This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2007. November 12,2007 Special City Council Work Session Page 16 Rick isn't in the office or whatever, but there are some other division heads who are.. . are a little more reluctant to talk to (garbled) but certainly with the department directors, we encourage you to do that. Um, if it's something that's requires a significant amount of research or whatever, um, sort of a proj ect more than just providing information that's readily available, then I would prefer that you come through me, and I know the City Manager always has, so that we can coordinate that with the department directors and also ifit's, ifit's something that's going to generate a lot of staff time, typically Council Members have wanted to know about that, so that Council as a body can make a decision as to whether or not that's something that (garbled). Karr/ Just to follow up. Also, the other thing that on that same note that happens is sometimes one Council Member will go to, we'll pick on Ron, and ask Ron for something, and another one will go to. . . to the City Manager's office. Well, then it may involve retrieval, and I can just say from personal, all of a sudden, Ron is contacting somebody in my office for the same thing that I'm working on somebody from the City Manager's office, and sometimes we've been working on the same project for some time and didn't, you know, so it really does help save staff time and get an accurate report, if we know, again, that more than one of you are interested in doing it, and one person can facilitate it and that's the advantage of it. Helling/ (several talking).. . strongly (garbled) department directors if they have, if there's any question in their mind about whether this is one specific kind of request or another, they contact me and then we'll make a decision on that, and perhaps get back to whoever made that request, to take it to the Council. But on the most part, that's not an issue. I think everybody's sensitive to the kinds of things that require a lot of time and detail, and uh, so we really haven't had any issues like that. Need to know and coordinate what staff are doing in terms of generating a report (garbled). Dilkes/ Those are good things to ask for at Council time, you know, are requests for information. Then you all know it's been requested, and you all know when you're going to be getting it, or can determine if you want it. Couple staff things for me. Um, I have a list of attorney assignments here if anybody wants them. And I don't have any trouble with you contacting the attorney in my office who is assigned to a particular matter. Um, I break down my assignments by department, and so for instance, if you've got a Community Development issue, you know to call Sue Dulek. Um, and um, I do a litigation update at the beginning of, an annual one at the beginning of the year, and then I do, um, updates as things change in a case, um, and I usually tell you. . . usually that memo comes from the attorney who's handling that piece oflitigation, and you're free to call them.. .call them about that. I work a 60% schedule. I am generally here Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, um, sometimes here Thursdays and Fridays, but if you want a.. .it's nice to have appointments scheduled Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday if at all possible. My staff.. .I'm always available to my staff Thursdays and This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12,2007. November 12,2007 Special City Council Work Session Page 17 Fridays, whenever I'm not there. So, and they're very good about knowing when they should call me, um, (garbled). So... Karr/ Um, we do have Sylvia is here.. .the lights on, um, for, yeah, so we do.. .we do have that City Manager profile we'd like to discuss with you, um, briefly today, as well. So, again, um, Mike and Matt, we will be talking. We do have swearing in and some supply and administrative issues we can deal with at that time. And then, Regenia and Ross, we need to take care of the swearing in. So, okay? All right, I'm going to move here. Champion! I think because the new members are going to be involved in (unable to hear). (Several talking at once; noise on mic.) Discussion re!!ardin2: City Mana2:er Recruitment Profile: Karr/ Sylvia's here on the City Manager Recruitment Profile. Thanks. Mejia! I think, uh, you received everything that we sent. There was a cover letter from Mr. Beezat, uh, indicating an explanation of what he had done, and attached to that is the Recruitment Profile that will be going out, uh, to interested parties as well as the ad that will be placed in professional journals. That's on page P8, the last page, the next to the last page of the handout. In addition, um, this will be put into a much nicer format. It'll have pictures. We sent them a number of pictures . of Iowa City, uh, you know, the amenities that we have. Some of our different, uh, parks, our downtown and stuff, so he'll incorporate that in as well. They do very nice brochure that'll go out, and he will use that to send, uh, to anyone who indicates an interest. He will also use that to go out and seek out individuals who may not be actively working, or excuse me, seeking employment, but uh, he believes might be interested in this position, so, and appropriate for the position. So, just wanted to see, uh, we spoke the last time, ifthere were going to be any insignificant changes we were (unable to hear). If there's anything more than that.. . Correia! I had, um... Mejia! What page are you on? Correia! I'm on P2, the listing of schools. I think we need to add WillowWind School. Mejia! WillowWind? Okay. Correia! I mean, we have Preucil School of Music, which is why it made me think of. . . Mejia! Good point. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2007. November 12,2007 Special City Council Wark Session Page 18 Bailey/ Yeah, if we're going to list Preucil, we should list WillowWind. Correia! Exactly. And then, I think the web site address is wrong.. .at the end. At lcgov.org. Mejia! And I proofed it and missed it. I'm sorry! Correia! That's okay. It's one of those things you just glance over. Mejia! Okay. I'll get that changed. Champion! You know, when I read through this, urn, I think it's pretty wordy. Bailey/ Yeah, it is quite wordy! Correia! There's a lot of words, yeah. Elliott! I go along, that's my first thought. If you have so much down there, they don't read any of it. Champion! It's really wordy. Mejia! It's not unusual.. . for these to be four, five, six pages long. I've seen them myself, but if you would like, I'm sure he can, urn, shrink it down. . . Bailey/ Well, what I thought it was particularly wordy, or particularly, urn, I found that P4 and P5, the "challenges and opportunities" very interesting, because I wouldn't of necessarily included all these bullet points. I mean, some...I don't really necessarily agree with, but urn, that's the part that I consider a little... Champion! What page you looking at? Bailey/ P4 and P5. Mejia! Are there some that the group would like struck, because we can, I can, uh, you know, let him know. Bailey/ I'm sure that they reflect what he heard, and I respect that. So... Mejia! Yeah, he did get a lot of input. He said that the focus groups were very, very helpful, a lot of people, uh, we had a good turnout for that. A lot of people giving a lot of input, but if you, urn, you know, if you want us to cut it down, I certainly can suggest to him. Bailey/ I think that in this section I think some more succinct overview statements could.. .could reduce the wordiness, but I'm not exactly sure in what direction we This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12,2007. November 12, 2007 Special City Council Wark Session Page 19 want that to go, because that gets into content, which could get substantive. Those were just my immediate thoughts. Wilburn! I, just a couple thoughts I will share, and you know, whatever the Council chooses. Db, one is someone who is looking at a position, ajob right now. Urn, some of the information that's in here, actually, I've had to find out by running around and asking folks. So it would have been nice to have a more complete document, and secondly, I'm not sure, some of these. ..I see where you're going with trying to truncate a little bit some of these public input comments, but one of the things about, one of the effective, uh, things about receiving, uh, input from a group, if they can see, there's my statement and that's in that document, it's kind of. . . they feel included. Bailey/ It's an affirmation... Wilburn! Yes, an affirmation, right. Bailey/ That's fine. But that's where it struck me as the most wordy. Wilburn! Sure, sure. Bailey/ I'm fine with that. Elliott/ I would certainly suggest some kind of a folder, maybe accompanied by...I mean, we're talking about. . . this looks like ten to twelve point type, almost single space. It just...I mean, there's gotta be thousands of words in here. Bailey/ I had another, and this is much more substantive, under "education and experience" on P6. Just a couple of things, and couple of just questions. Urn, if we get somebody with a graduate degree in Public Administration, or closely related field, if we get that.. . that degree, I'm less concerned that the undergraduate degree was in, urn, Public Administration or Government, or a closely related field. That is to say, if we got a Philosophy major with a Public Administration's graduate degree, I think that would be an ideal fit for Iowa City. Urn, and so I have a little bit of concern about how this is worded. Additionally, on the second point, we are asking for "municipal management experience." We've just eliminated any private sector experience whatsoever, which - if that's the wish of this group - that's fine, but I have a.. .that.. .that means we're looking for a certain type of person, and we don't have any opportunity, necessarily, of getting somebody from the private sector who might be a good fit, who might have the right mix of legislative experience, urn, who would just be a good fit for this community, and so those are the two things I have concern about, and they're specifically related to fit, and who we might eliminate from considering this position. Champion! I think that's a great strong point. (unable to hear) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2007. November 12, 2007 Special City Council Work Session Page 20 Vanderhoef/ ... will also, technically, would, uh, eliminate anyone who had, uh, government association management kind of things, whether it be ISAT, National, uh, Association of Counties, those kinds of people aren't technically municipal, but... Bailey/ I would just like to see that read "have proven executive management experience" with progressively responsible experience of a manager, and then here's municipality again, and I don't know how we re-word that, but I have concern that we're really limiting ourselves, and given that the field is increasingly limited, urn... Wilburn! One way, uh, this would have another sentence, but one way would be just, you know, an executive with, uh, governmental association and experience.. .words to that effect, but would also be... Bailey/ Experience with, you know, governmental...I mean... Wilburn! Will also be considered... Vanderhoef/ Working with elected bodies, actually is what you're looking for is someone who's had that experience. Mejia! If you'll excuse me for just a minute. We arranged to have Mr. Beezat available, and I think that it would be helpful. He wrote this document, and I'm hesitant to try and explain to you his rationale, so if you'll excuse me. Correia! Well, then, and he can also.. .he can also help with the wording. Bailey/ Yeah, I mean, if people are in agreement that we need to broaden that. I have concern because we would eliminate a lot of good leaders. Elliott! I think you need to be very careful whenever you require something, because you can then not even consider someone, uh, those things which are required should be at a bare minimum. You can prefer, but if you require it, then you can't even consider them. Bailey/ And I think it's most fair if you have preferences to state them, preferences, but... Vanderhoef/ Well, you aren't going to get the applications so you're not going to know who's out there and... Elliott/ No, no, but I mean, if you say you require a degree. If you get a great person who has everything but uh two hours to get a degree, you can't consider him or her. If it's required. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2007. November l2, 2007 Special City Council Work Session Page 2l Correia! I wonder if we can have this sentence as it is, and then have an "or" and then... Bailey/ But, you know, in were reading that, you know, and had, you know, in saw "municipal management experience" I would probably... Elliott! Yeah, municipal preferred. They need to have management experience. Correia! I wasn't saying preferred, I was saying. . . this or that. Bailey/ ...1 want them to have management experience... Elliott! Yep! Champion! In reading this, you can't just add "or the equivalent" or they won't... Correia! No, I wasn't going to say "or equivalent." I was going to say "or" and then... Bailey/ I want them just, I want them to be... Mejia/ (phone conference being set up) Good morning, Bob. It's Sylvia. Beezat/ Oh, hi, Sylvia. How are ya? Mejia! I'm fine, thank you. I'm here with the City Council. Beezatl Yes, Ma'am. Mejia! We are reviewing the, uh, recruitment profile, and there are some comments that I think need to be shared with you, and maybe you can help explain, urn, how you reached, uh, the wording that you used. Beezat/ Okay. Mejia! So you're on with the Council. Bailey/ Bob, this is Regenia, and we were talking about under "education and experience" on page P6. . . Beezat/ Okay. Bailey/ Urn, I expressed a couple of concerns on the first two items, that, and I think I probably expressed these to you in the interview, that if the person...if a person has an undergraduate degree that's not necessarily in Public Administration or a related field, but has a graduate degree in Public Administration, for example, in this community, a Philosophy undergraduate and a Masters of Public Administration would be probably a nice fit, interestingly enough. Urn, so I have This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2007. November 12,2007 Special City Council Work Session Page 22 concern about requiring an undergraduate degree in Public Administration or a related field, urn, in that kind of circumstance. Additionally, urn, by saying that we want "executive level municipal management" experience in the second point, we are eliminating some private sector.. .private sector people from applying, because immediately they would leave themselves out of the pool, and I was wondering if we could just say "executive level management" experience. Beezat/ Well, let me just address the first thing, and that's fine in terms of the undergraduate degree. That's just kind of general language that we use, but we can just change it and (garbled) Bachelor's Degree in English myself, and then getting the Master's.. . anyway, that's not a problem. So, as far as the executive level of management, municipal management, urn, I guess at least from what I heard from the great majority of people, uh, that's what they want, and (garbled). ..and when we have had broader language, which again we can do (garbled) when it comes down to it, most (garbled) private sector folks who have certainly good skills, without the (garbled) but again, we can just leave it.. .we can leave it, you know, make it executive level, uh, great bulk of people will be with municipal management, but ifthere's somebody who does apply who, uh, you know, has that, we can include somebody or several (garbled). Wilburn! Bob. . .Bob, this is Ross. I think what, correct me if I'm wrong, Regenia, I think what the.. . couple Council Members were getting at was, if.. .if there's someone with executive level experience, urn, they may not be working in, directly in the public sector, but ifin their private world, uh, whether it's with local government or uh, state, federal government, they have significant experiences, uh, kind of managing, working through that, whether it's, urn, you know, some type of public-private partnership or, uh, you know, if they are a private contractor for a municipal or state-federal government body. So, I don't know that it's.. .that people want to exclude the language that you have, but to.. .to make also some type of statement that someone of that character, or if you just know of someone of that character would also be considered. Bailey/ Well, and part of my concern, Bob, was, urn, based upon something that you said. There are fewer and fewer people in this particular field, and especially with the kind of experience that we'll be seeking, and I assume that we might need to look to private sector or a broader pool of possible candidates, just given the way the field is going. Beezat/ That's a good point. We can leave it as broad as possible, and then, you know, kind of compare all the folks (garbled). I don't have a problem with that at all. That's fine. I think (garbled) that I heard, urn (garbled) just broaden it out and that's fine, and then (garbled). Mejia! Would it be beneficial, Bob, to put something in there about the manager or assistant manager being a preference. Would the Council wish to do that, or.. . eliminate that completely? To give an edge, or at least to indicate... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2007. November 12,2007 Special City Council Wark Session Page 23 Beezat/ I would say it would just be a little bit confusing if you're (garbled). Bailey/ That would be a preference, I agree. Mejia! Is the Council saying they want to put it in as a preference, or not? Bob, are you saying that rnight be confusing to applicants? Beezat/ Well, yeah, I guess, urn, it's just kind of (garbled) at the same tirne (garbled) you're going to have, certainly, a majority of municipal people applying, but there will be people frorn others, and as long as we're aware that you're open to a broader base of people, urn, I understand that frorn what you're saying (garbled). .. .rnunicipality preferred but not required, I'rn fine with that. Bailey/ If we have a preference, I would like to state it so people aren't sort of playing blind. Correia! And I would say, for me, if.. . that. . .I rnean, I would be concerned about the learning curve, because it would really, ifthere were two equally good candidates, really good fit and one had municipal and one didn't, I mean, I would prefer that. Beezat/ I cannot hear that, if the person speaking. . . Correia! Sorry, Bob, I was rnostly talking to the Council. This is Amy. I was just saying that I personally, if we had two candidates - one from the public sector and one private - equally good but there was a, I would prefer, I would lean towards the rnunicipal, because I would be concerned about the learning curve. Bailey/ I'rn less concerned about the learning curve, given the quality of department heads and.. . and staff that we have. I'rn rnore concerned about the quality of leadership. Correia! That's what I'rn saying. In had a sense that the quality ofleadership is equal in both, in two candidates and one frorn the rnunicipal and one not, that would be rny... O'Donnell/ I agree with you, Amy. I think that, you know, it's irnportant.. .we're after the best candidate, and I think rnunicipal experience would really be a plus. In rny rnind. Beezat/ .. .that way, and that's fine (garbled). Mejia! Arly other cornments? Wilburn! Db, this is Ross. This is probably just more for Sylvia, rnaybe, but I presume.. .uh, Bob, this is Ross again, on the actual professional announcement This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2007. November 12, 2007 Special City Council Wark Session Page 24 that the EEG and AA, urn, disclaimer that follows at the bottom of the ad, equal employment opportunity, affirmative action? Mejia! Yes, we use the language that we usually use. Wilburn! Right, okay. Mejia! Bob, there were a couple of other small changes, and I'll call you back when I get back to my office and give you those. Dilkes/ I just have a, for the sake of accuracy, under City Government Background, there's a second sentence says, urn, three are elected frorn districts and four are elected at large. Beezat/ I'rn sorry. I can hardly hear. Mejia! Okay. It's Eleanor. She'll come down here. We're kind of spread out here in the Council Charnbers. Just a minute, Bob. Beezat/ Sure. Dilkes/ Hi, Bob, this is Eleanor. Beezat/ Hi, Eleanor, good rnorning. Dilkes/ The second, uh, sentence under "city government background" says three Council people are elected from districts, and four are elected at large to four-year overlapping terms. I think we just need to.. .that makes it look like we're a pure district system. I think we need to say something like all seven are elected at large in the general election, three at. . . Beezatl Oh, okay, yeah. I hear what you're... Dilkes/ .. .three of the seven are elected by district, and any primaries held in the district. Beezat/ Okay. 1... Dilkes/ I'll give this language to Sylvia. Beezat/ Okay. All are elected at large, and I rernernber that (garbled). Mejia! Okay, I'll get back to you with that exact language, Bob. Urn, was it the wish of the Council that the, uh, "issues, challenges and opportunities" becorne rnore succinct, or were you satisfied with thern, as they stood? Bailey/ I think Ross indicated that he thought it was helpful to leave... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2007. November 12,2007 Special City Council Wark Session Page 25 Wilburn! I think it's helpful, yeah, yeah. Mejia! Okay, I think that's all the discussion that we had. Arlything else? Beezat/ Okay. Mejia! Thank you, Bob. I'll call you right back. (several others responding) Beezat/ Have a good day everybody! Good-bye. Mejia! Does the Council wish to see this again, after he gets done, uh, with the changes? The concern we have is that we're running up against a deadline to get this into the ICMA rnagazine. It has to be in by Thursday in order to... Elliott! Go with it! Bailey/ I'd just like to see a copy, but not necessarily for review. Just to have. Mejia! .. . distributed with... Karr/ We can put it in the next packet. Mejia! We'll do that, and urn, we'll get the ad placed this week so that we can get rnoving and start getting our candidates. Vanderhoef/ Db, Ijust saw one thing, and it's counter-intuitive to add it in there. Page P5. It's under "university and student relationships" but we have certainly heard a whole lot about neighborhood council and working relationships, uh, that cross over with Historic Preservation and land use in and around our neighborhoods. So, I would throw it out there, do you want sorneone frorn the Neighborhood Council to be included in that very last, uh, bullet point? Mejia! Ofrneetings between the University, City and students? Vanderhoef/ Neighborhood council people are asking. Bailey/ Yeah, but we haven't rnade that decision yet. Vanderhoef/ I know you haven't. That.. .that's just what I'rn throwing out for discussion. Elliott! Ijust think this whole thing is twice as long as it needs to be. I'd hate to add sornething else. Bailey/ So we won't see your application? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2007. November 12,2007 Special City Council Work Session Page 26 Elliott/ That's correct. I refuse to apply. (laughter) Wilburn! You know, another way to look at it, since.. .this is.. .these were items that were either reflected by us when we did the interviews, and/or the public. Urn, I don't know, Dee, if that sounds fair to include here. The flavor is that, uh, partnerships and relationships and networking, that type of cornrnent, and that certainly would be sornething that we could, uh, inform a candidate or ask about, but I think.. .so I'rn okay with it the way it is. O'Donnell/ I think this is.. .this is very long. It's very wordy, but in talking with Bob, I think we knew what to expect, and it's very thorough, and I expected that also. Correia! I think if sornebody' s seriously considering uprooting their life and their career and moving here, I would want all this information, and I wouldn't want to have to go searching around for it. Elliott! A good candidate is going to do his or her own search. Correia! They'll do additional, they'll do additional search, right, but I think... Bailey/ .. .give them as much information. It looks great. Wilburn! Looks like you better run with it. Mejia! Okay, I will call hirn and give hirn the suggested changes. Wilburn! Thank you, Sylvia. O'Donne11l That was fun! (several talking) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council special work session meeting of November 12, 2007.