HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.22.92 Special Council Minutes
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MINUTES
COUNCIL MEETING
SPECIAL
FEBRUARY 22, 1992
1. Mayor Kuchera called the meeting to order at 8:00 A.M.
Members Prsent: Kuchera, Mayer, Orr, Rotty, Galler.
Members Absent: None.
Also Present: Administrator Thompson, Charles Tooker, Wayne Henneke, Dan Siebenaler,
Paul Asher, Jerry Henricks, HRA Members Harms and Meyer, Don Bargin.
2. The purpose of the meeting was to continue discussion on Council goals and priorities
and to discuss the relationship between the Council and HRA.
3. The Council identified the following as key goals and objectives:
a. wide range of housing,
b. diverse economic base,
c. land use and managed growth,
d. preserve existing neighborhoods,
e. protect natural and scenic resources,
f. social services, safety and a sense of community.
4. Mr. Bargin summarized the Council's priorities:
a. land use and managed growth,
b. wide variety of housing,
c. diverse economic base.
Underlying these goals were a sense of community and a need to preserve existing
neighborhoods and resources.
5. HRA Members Sprute and Thelen arrived. The Council and HRA continued discussion
on the relationship between the Council and HRA. Mr. Bargin stated that based on
interviews he had conducted there appeared to be conflict between the Council and
HRA. Mr. Bargin noted that a healthy relationship should not be defined by whether
or not there is conflict, but how the parties choose to manage the conflict.
6. The HRA and Council broke into 3 groups and listed the following key elements
of a successful well functioning City Council:
a. Communication,
b. Mutual Respect/Trust,
c. Common Visions and Goals,
d. Well Defined Roles,
e. Responsibility,
f. Accountability,
g. Staff Functioning Cooperatively,
h. Managed Conflict,
i. Respect of Diverse Leadership/Management Styles,
j. Socialization,
k. Understanding of Resources and Opportunities.
7. The groups evaluated how they perceived the Council/HRA were functioning regarding
the key elements. Based on the rankings, the problem "conflict" areas were identified.
Group 1: Communication - Lack of communication between Council and HRA.
Groups 2 and 3: Unclear roles and expectations.
168 Council Minutes - 2/22/92 - Page 2
8. The following recommendations were made:
- Meet together to define more clearly our functioning roles.
- Meet to outline a conflict process.
Meet more frequently face-to-face for verbal dialogue to discuss issues and
work toward a common shared conclusion.
- Nurture all styles: give each respect to work.
Schedule a retreat for cooperative visioning and goal setting.
- Establish a more solid Council-HRA link.
- Define roles of Council/HRA.
- More open, face-to-face communication: more of these meetings.
- Do not micro-manage; understand leadership roles.
- Give more definite direction to HRA Director.
- Meet with each other regularly to go over roles and goals. Include other
Boards and Commissions.
- Get to know each other better through meetings and other events, including
work and social.
- Discuss and document the written roles of each organization within the City.
9. It was agreed that the Council and HRA would meet within the next 2 months to
review problem areas, refine causes, clarify consequences and identify other major
disagreements and to determine actions to better manage conflict and increase effec-
tiveness.
10. The Council adjourned at 12:30 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
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Larry Thompson
City Administrator
Approved