HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.10.95 Work Session Minutes
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
FEBRUARY 10,1995
The meeting was called to order by the Mayor at 6:00 P.M.
Present: Mayor Kuchera, Councilmembers Fitch, Galler, Gamer, Ristow
Also Present: Administrative Assistant Finstuen, HRA Director Henricks,
Liquor Store Manager Asher and Public Works Director Kaldunski.
Tom Bartikoski of Padilla, Speer, Beardsley Public Relations was present to work with the
council in their public relation needs for the City of Farmington. Mr. Bartikoski stated that the
City Council needs to define their policy agenda, have an understanding of the community and to
build public understanding. The public many times expect public officials to have all the
information, and they expect accountability. There is generally low participation by the public
on a project until the very end. The public officials may have spent a great deal of time
researching a project but because the public has not been kept abreast of the information there is
a lack of trust and confidence on the part of the public.
Challenges facing elected officials today are to define a clear policy agenda, build trust through
active listening, responsive communications and to focus people on process, not quick fixes.
Upcoming issues need to be prioritized and focus groups organized on issues of great importance
to the community. Research and fact-finding tools could involve community leader interviews,
focus group discussions, random sample surveys and research in other communities. Program
planning should define the objectives, identify key audiences, compare current attitudes vs. goal
attitudes, communications strategies to bridge gaps, specify tactic to deliver message and define
how program will be measured.
Mr. Bartikoski discussed with the city council and staff methods by which communications
could be improved by project management, public messages and news releases, initiating media
contact, community presentations and meetings, production and distribution of materials,
monitoring feedback, staffing and resource requirements.
The City Council discussed the importance of the Chamber of Commerce and the city
developing a relationship. Mr. Bartikoski recommended the council members telephone
chamber members to encourage them to attend joint meetings such as those recently scheduled in
the morning, one day per month.
The City wide operational goals, 1995 operating budget and CIP, City Mission Statement and
Vision Statement were distributed to the council for their review. The council also received the
1995/1996 Goals and Objectives and decided that they would rank these items and discuss at a
special meeting in the near future. The Mission Statement and the need to change it was
discussed. No decision was made.
Motion by Fitch, second by Galler to adjourn at 9:12 P.M.
Respectfully submitted:
Karen Finstuen
Administrative Assistant
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