2020.01.14 WS Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mayor Johnson stated she would like to see the Commission meetings remain limited for public comment, unless a public hearing was scheduled, in order to allow Commissioners address the items on their agendas and to be allowed to have a healthy discussion. Commissioner Allen suggested public comments be allowed but that a person only be allowed to speak for three minutes. Councilmember Burg indicated she could support members of the public being allowed to speak so long as the Commission Chair and staff was comfortable with this change. Massopust stated he would speak with the City Attorney and noted he could support this change. Mayor Johnson believed it would greatly benefit the Commission Chairs to have additional training to ensure they understand how to run a meeting while also allowing Commission members to have a voice. Massopust reported this could be incorporated into the Commissioner training that was conducted on a yearly basis by City Clerk Spangrud. Mayor Johnson stated another option would be for the Council to host a retreat or worksession meeting with Chairs and Vice Chairs in order to discuss how to better work together. Councilmember Jacobsen supported this recommendation. Massopust questioned if each Chair and Vice Chair should be invited to a future worksession meeting where the Council can ask how Chair's should be accessed for knowledge. She wondered if this should be done two or four times a year. The Council believed this would be a great option. Massopust explained he would go back to the drawing board and would report back to the City Council at a future meeting. Councilmember Allen recommended the Council meet with the Chairs twice a year instead of quarterly. Mayor Johnson asked if Chairs should be assigned by the Council or selected by each Commission. Councilmember Jacobsen stated he felt very strongly that the Commission Chair's should be assigned. Councilmember Burg indicated she did not know if it was necessary to appoint Chairs because she did not personally know each of the Commission members. Councilmember Allen agreed stating he did not have enough knowledge to make a decision about who should be serving as Chair for each Commission. Mayor Johnson commented she was indifferent on this issue. She anticipated that staff could keep the Council apprised of the situation and could bring concerns to the Council if a Chair was not fitting the bill. Councilmember Jacobsen stated he believed it was one of his responsibilities to act on the City's behalf and make a recommendation as to who should be serving as Chair on each Commission. Mayor Johnson indicated each Council liaison should have a good idea about how their Commission was working and should let the Council know if there were any concerns.