WS 2013 02 25
CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
FEBRUARY 25, 2013
The City Council interviewed the following commission candidates from 5:00 to 6:15: Kim
Tennyson, Luke Thunberg, Cole Kelly, Jacqueline Prescott, and Thomas Kelly. At 6:25 Mayor
Furlong called the work session to order.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mayor Furlong, Councilman McDonald, Councilwoman
Tjornhom, Councilwoman Ernst, and Councilman Laufenburger
STAFF PRESENT:
Todd Gerhardt, and Laurie Hokkanen
PUBLIC PRESENT:
None.
UPDATE ON CREATION OF FIREFIGHTERS HANDBOOK AND PERSONNEL POLICIES,
ELIMINATION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BYLAWS.
Todd Gerhardt and Laurie Hokkanen reviewed background information on creation of the Firefighters
Handbook and Personnel Policies, noting a major change would be eliminating election of a fire chief to
appointment by the City Manager. Mayor Furlong asked about the amount of support from fire fighters
for this change. Councilwoman Ernst asked what other cities have done. Councilman Laufenburger
asked how this change will impact the fire study being conducted by Springsted. Councilwoman
Tjornhom asked for clarification on the practice of the City Manager appointing the fire chief.
Councilman McDonald asked for clarification of what will change with interaction between the City and
City Council and if a fire chief can be hired outside of the department. Mayor Furlong suggested
changes for clarification under Section 4 regarding probationary period and budget impact associated with
firefighters using the Rec Center, adding the City Manager’s discretion under Section 11 and clarification
on the hierarchy between the City’s Employee Handbook and Firefighters Handbook.
Mayor Furlong adjourned the work session at 6:55 p.m.
Submitted by Todd Gerhardt
City Manager
Prepared by Nann Opheim