WS 2001 01 29CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
JANUARY 29, 2001
Mayor Jansen called the work session to order at 5:30 p.m.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
Councilman Ayotte and Councilman Labatt
STAFF PRESENT: None
Mayor Jansen, Councilman Peterson,
PUBLIC PRESENT: Melissa Gilman (Chanhassen Villager), Debra Kind(Applicant),
Thomas Furlong(Applicant).
DISCUSS PROCESS FOR FILLING VACANCY ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
Mayor Jansen began the discussion with a review of the number of applications received
for the position. She stated that with twenty-three applications 30 minute screening
interviews would require the council to conduct twelve hours of interviews. This would
require three evenings of seven to eight interviews each. Cutting the interview time to
twenty minutes would be eight hours or fifteen-minute interviews would require six hours
of interviews. She then asked for comments from the council on the process everyone
would be the most comfortable proceeding with.
Mayor Jansen also added that she had contacted Roger Knutson (City Attorney) about
Councilman Ayotte's pending complaint against him by one of the applicants (Mr. Senn).
The city has been advised that there is no legal restriction against Councilman Ayotte's
participation in all of the appointment discussions including his ability to participate in
the interview proceedings with that applicant.
Councilman Peterson thought that the council could eliminate candidates based upon the
applications rather then interview all of the candidates. He suggested examples of criteria
to eliminate candidates as length of residency in Chanhassen (3 yrs or less eliminate),
eliminate previous elected officials and/or commissioners. His preference was to not
interview all of the candidates.
Councilman Ayotte thought the council could restrict the number of candidates to be
interviewed. However he voiced a concern that since the council had not advised the
public that they might do a "paper cut", the applicants might not be prepared for that
action. He voiced an interest in the 10 - 15 minute interviews as a way to explore the
candidates' community interests and concerns.
Councilman Labatt expressed concern with the time commitment involved with
interviewing all of the candidates. That many evenings committed to interviewing would
be a burden. He was concerned that he had not received copies of 23 applications which
it was later determined that he had in fact received all of the applications.
City Council Work Session - January 29, 2001
Mayor Jansen stated that she had come prepared to discuss interviewing all of the
applicants. Unlike a private company, these were applications for a public service
position. She felt it was only fair that everyone have an opportunity to meet with the
council to discuss his or her interests. However, she acknowledged the concern of the
other council members about the lengthy time commitment of interviewing all 23
candidates.
She stated that she would not be opposed to compromising on a reduced number of
candidates for the screening interview with a lengthier hour interview for the final
candidates.
A discussion about the pros and cons of eliminating candidates ensued.
The council decided that everyone should list their top 10 to 12 candidates based upon
the criteria contained in the city managers' memo dated January 17, 2001. Financial
Acumen; Organizational Participation/Management; Public Interaction/Communication;
and Planning/Land Use/Development. However, after presentation of his list of
candidates, Councilman Peterson noted that he had used Public Service Record,
Volunteerism and Outside Activities as his selection criteria.
Mayor Jansen tabulated everyone's lists and posted on the white board the names of
seven candidates that had received 3-4 votes each from the council:
Jim Andrews, Gayle Degler, Roderick Franks, Thomas Furlong, Mark Kroskin, Mike
Mason and Kathleen Peck.
Councilman Peterson stated that he was okay just interviewing the seven candidates.
Mayor Jansen asked if she should list the next five candidates that had received two votes
each. The council consensus was to just interview the top seven vote getters.
Council discussed having staff schedule 30 minute interviews with the candidates for
Monday, February 5th from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. The first interview to begin at 6:00 p.m.
Following the completion of those interviews, council will determine the short list of
candidates for a second interview.
Tuesday, February 6th, 7:00 p.m. - (TBD) was set as the date for second interviews to
determine the final selection. These will be one-hour interviews with 3 - 4 candidates.
The final tabulation of candidates and votes is attached for the public record.
Councilman Labatt briefly reviewed and submitted to Mayor Jansen some information
that he had received in response to his inquiry about compliance checks done by the
Carver County Sheriff' s Office in Chanhassen in 2000. The material contains an
application that is time sensitive and could not be held until the next council meeting.
Mayor Jansen suggested the information be reviewed with staff and placed on a future
council agenda for review if found to be necessary.
Mayor Jansen adjourned the work session meeting at 7:10 p.m.
Submitted by
Prepared by Linda Jansen, Mayor.
CCAppt. Minutes