ITEM 3.2A SCC 1.22.2013 Minutes1TEM 3.2A
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL_ MEETING
OTSEGO CITY HALL
January 22, 2013
6:00 PM
Call to Order.
Mayor Jessica Stockamp called the meeting to order at 6:05 PM.
Roll Call: Mayor Jessica Stockamp; Councilmembers: Vern Heidner, Doug Schroeder and Jason
Warehime. Councilmember Tom Darkenwald arrived at 6:15 PM. Staff: Lori Johnson, City
Administrator; Ron Wagner, City Engineer; Andrew MacArthur, City Attorney; Ross Demant,
Parks and Recreation Manager, Gary Groen, Finance Director; Brad Belair, Streets Maintenance
Supervisor, Kurt Neidermeier, PeopleService; and Tami Loff, City Clerk. City Planner Daniel Licht
arrived at 6:20 PM.
1. Consent Agenda:
1.1 Accept resignation of Finance Director and approve Settlement
Agreement and Release of Claims.
Mayor Stockamp and the City Council thanked Finance Director Groen for his service.
CM Heidner motioned to accept the resignation of Finance Director Gary Groen and
approve Settlement Agreement and Release of Claims. Seconded by CM Schroeder.
All in favor. Motion carried.
2, Strategic Plan Update.
City Administrator Johnson said she attended the State of the Cities held by the 1-94 West
Chamber of Commerce and reviewed her PowerPoint presentation.
The City Council reviewed the options for providing staff or consultant services to meet the
City's economic development goals. City Administrator Johnson stated that economic
development is a high priority as was identified with strategic plan goal of increasing the City's
commercial and industrial tax base. She stated she has been directed by the Council to develop
options to address this existing gap in staff. In addition, she stated the staff reorganization
plan fits with the City's strategic goal of increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the City's
services. City Administrator Johnson stated addressing the administration, finance, and an
economic development department is phase three of the reorganization plan; phase four is
emergency management. There was discussion on option three to combine the economic
development duties with an existing position.
CM Darkenwald motioned to combine the economic development duties with the
Finance Director position. Seconded by CM Schroeder. All in favor. Motion carried.
City Administrator Johnson handed out a draft job description for this position. A worksession
will be scheduled to review the description and to set a recruitment and selection plan to fill the
position.
City Administrator Johnson reviewed the progress on the 2012 strategic plan goals which
included expanding the City's commercial and industrial tax base, assessing the efficiency and
effectiveness of City services, reviewing public safety services and defining and managing the
City's image and identity.
Directions from the City Council include the following:
Emergency Management is a priority.
City staff to bring back City Campus signage design options and costs.
The Council asked about logo clothing for purchase and for Council, commissioners, and
employees. A worksession will be scheduled to review the uniform policy.
City staff to check into using the St. Michael Patch as a source for additional notification to
residents.
A City Hall and Prairie Center Open House to be held on Saturday, September 14, 2013, during
the Otsego Prairie Festival.
The City Council agreed City staff is on track with the progress of the strategic plan and
recommend that staff gets through the current 2012 list before other items are added for 2013.
The City Council has set a Worksession on February 20, 2013 at 6:00 PM at City Hall to discuss
job descriptions, logo clothing and other items.
City Administrator Johnson said she was contacted by the i=lk River Chamber of Commerce who
would like to schedule a morning meeting with the City Council and local businesses on
February 22. Mayor Stockamp and CM Schroeder said they would be available to attend that
day but would like more scope of topic. City Administrator Johnson said she will bring back
more 'information to the City Council.
CM Darkenwald said he would like to address item 1.1 since he was not in attendance at that
time. CM Darkenwald thanked Finance Director Gary Groen for his services.
3. Adjourn.
CM Darkenwald motioned to adjourn. Seconded by CM Warehime. All in
favor. Adjourned at 8;05 PM.
Mayor Jessica Stockamp
ATTEST.
Tami Loff, City Clerk