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HomeMy Public PortalAboutCouncil Minutes 2002 12/16MINUTES McCall City Council Special Meeting Monday, December 16, 2002 Table of Contents Call To Order and Roll Call Business AB 02-150 Council vacancy Adjournment Page 1 of 6 December 16, 2002 City Council Minutes CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Mayor Colton called the special meeting of the McCall City Council to order at 3:02 pm. Ms. Arp, Mr. Muller, Mr. Colton, Mr. Eimers answered roll call. A quorum was present. City staff members present were City Manager Robert Strope and Deputy City Clerk Tina Clark. BUSINESS AB 02-150 Council vacancy Mr. Colton discussed the ground rules of selecting a new council member. Whoever we appoint officially we swear in the first meeting in January, and that there is no obligation on the City Council members part to indicate why or why not we choose that person. Ms. Arp said she would like to here from council on what they are looking for in a council member. Mr. Strope said the council members must meet as a committee of the whole to be consistent with the code on the selection of a new council member. Mr. Colton moved to go into a committee of the whole, Mr. Eimers seconded the motion. At a roll call vote, Mr. Muller, Mr. Eimers, Mr. Colton, Ms. Arp voted aye. The motion carried. Mr. Colton said he was looking for someone to be neutral and to have some sort of balance. Not looking for someone to agree or disagree with everything he says. Mr. Muller said he primarily looked at experience and what experience people had. The four members that were presented to us have a mind of their own. Mr. Muller didn't see it as an issue if someone agreed or disagreed but that someone would take the time to know the issue and understand them. He weighed heavily on experience and what they had done in the past. Mr. Eimers said balance is where we want to go, we are where we want to be as a city financially we're sound and the utility projects are done. We're on a steady as she goes and right now we need the best advice we can get. The one that brings the most to the table for us is what I'm looking at. Ms. Arp said she was looking for someone that has no agenda who's not out to fix things. A neutral person and someone sensible who does their homework and comes prepared and open minded, and also a generalist someone that is looking at the broad community that will make progress through out the community. Page 2 of 6 December 16, 2002 City Council Minutes Mr. Eimers said he paid attention to the question Marilyn asked and that was, "what is it you choose to accomplish?" "That question help to influence the things I thought about in my decision making of a new council member." Ms. Arp was looking for an answer to a statement Bonnie Bertram had made about being more progressive with business and what that had meant and had anyone else had a chance to talk with her about it. Mr. Eimers thought it meant economic development, and helping to encourage business development. Ms. Arp was not clear on this because she thought they had been there to encourage business development. Mr. Muller said he had worked with Bonnie on the McCall Improvement Committee and most of the information that they accomplished in that committee was pro -business and all the projects and pending projects are done the same way. Mr. Muller didn't know what she had meant by more either. Mr. Colton said one of the issues he is unclear about with Bonnie is her residency. Her house now being her primary residence Bonnie said that it is, but she also said that it would be effective in January. "To me her issue of primary residency is somewhat c".ouded until that is resolved that would influence my vote towards Bonnie. Secondly Bonnie and I have had this discussion when she was opening her restaurant she made the statement, that a couple of us are progressive and a couple of us that were not, and I was one that was not. I hate to have Bonnie come into a situation when automatically we have some history that is negative. Who ever comes in here I would like them to be positive. I think Bonnie would be an excellent city council member and that come November she would choose to run." Mr. Eimers, guessing at that comment, "I don't think it was about you that maybe it was in regards to a meeting that you didn't get to finish your comment." Ms. Arp said as far as the residency issue it's a non -issue for her. Mr. Muller said he couldn't second guess anyone and he wasn't going to try to. Ms. Arp said neutrality is a big issue with her. "I went through four years when I was told at times that it didn't matter what I thought because the votes were already there. In the last year since the election 1 feel I've endured some hostility. I also feel there was some shabby treatment of David Kaiser, I thought he did a good job I don't think he was voting with anybody as a routine matter he had his own ideas. I do have some real issues with neutrality with some of the past things. I'm grateful that we do have a good list to choose from." Some of the reasons were pro -business, length of time being here and experience. Page 3 of 6 December 16, 2002 City Council Minutes Ms. Arp said she was willing to make a motion. Mr. Muller made a response saying "I don't know what the past has to do with what these four people think today and how they would be neutral or un-neutral. I think all of them stand on their own merits and would take the responsibility in understanding the issues and go accordingly whether they liked or disliked a person is irrelevant. I don't see that as an issue." Ms. Arp said Bonnie is not her first choice, she looked at experience she's been on the McCall Improvement Committee, Valley County Commission and the planning and zoning commission, that's good experience. She also looked at Jerry Greer's experience, he's been on the school board. "I've talked to teachers, patrons and they have been impressed that he comes prepared, he's open minded ready to listen and then make up his mind. He has broad experience in both youth and adult, volunteer, ski patrol, airport, transportation, crime prevention, and little league. Jerry would be my top choice." Mr. Muller moved to put Bonnie Bertram's name on the selection. Mr. Eimers seconded the motion. At a roll call vote Ms. Arp and Mr. Colton voted no, Mr. Muller and Mr. Eimers voted aye. The motion failed. Floor: Is a question possible from the floor of the audience or no. Mr. Colton said he didn't know, we're in a committee. Mr. Strope replied saying it's up to you, it's your meeting if you decide to do that you set the standard to exchange with the audience or keep it at the table. Floor: said he would like a clarification on a word Ms. Arp used and that was neutrality, does she want a person that is neutral so it's easier to push that person in the direction they want them to go, or neutrality if the person can fine out in his own mind without any pushers. Ms. Arp said the second of your definition. Mr. Muller said he's already stated Jerry would do a wonderful job. Mr. Eimers said any vote is not a negative vote we have a first choice and that wasn't it. Doesn't mean anyone's good or bad that just says that was your decision doesn't say anything negative about anybody. Mr. Eimers said Jerry is not his first choice; Bonnie is because she's been on the planning and zoning commission, county commissioner, she's employed dozens of people, past president for the chamber of commerce and a volunteer for several Page 4 of 6 December 16, 2002 City Council Minutes committees. She's for the local option tax and affordable housing, so I went with Bonnie on those things. Ms. Arp moved to select Jerry Greer, Mr. Colton second the motion. At a roll call vote, Ms. Arp and Mr. Colton voted aye, Mr. Muller and Mr. Eimers voted no. The motion failed. Mr. Colton asked if there was a motion for either Christie Gorsline, or Rand Walker. Mr. Colton move to appoint Rand Walker. The motion failed for lack of a second. Mr. Colton asked if anyone wanted to appoint Christie Gorsline. Ms. Arp said the Bonnie and Jerry are her top two choices. Mr. Eimers replied by saying mine too. Mr. Colton asked it anyone had any comments. Ms. Arp said if no action is taken the negative side can have reconsideration at the next meeting. Also Ms. Arp stated she will not be at the next meeting in January. Mr. Colton said we will leave this open until the second meeting in January. Mr. Eimers said the rules state you have to do it through the next business meeting. Mr. Strope explained that you are meeting as a committee as a whole so you can reconvene again as a committee as a whole. Mr. Colton said unless we take any action as a group we can hold this open until the second meeting in January. Mr. Strope asked the committee if they would like the top finalist to come back to council in January for additional exchange with the council members. Ms. Arp said it wouldn't be a bad idea. Mr. Colton said he would have liked Bonnie to have been here so she would be able to answer any questions or comments the committee had. Floor: Dean Martens stated that he hadn't heard that there are two finalists, unless they make a motion they don't have two finalists all four people are still on display. Mr. Colton asked that we recess this discussion until the meeting in January. Page 5of6 December 16, 2002 City Council Minutes Mr. Strope asked the question, would you like the four candidates to come back at the next meeting as another agenda item for additional dialog. Committee discussed that it would be a good idea to keep it open for all four candidates and said yes. Mr. Colton went over other items that are under control; J-Ditch is filling for the second time and the water plant is now open and has been running for the past two weeks without any problems. ADJOURNMENT Without further business, Mr. Colton moved to adjourn. Mr. Eimers seconded the motion. All Council Members voted aye. The motion carried. The Council adjourned at 3:40 pm. ATTEST: 'tirtgi.,/. Ji1 Tina A Clark, Deputy City Clerk Ralph Colton, Mayor s9: x" cu= SEAL o • *.• ;*. • ,•,••.'' L L, 9 ` �••••• •,.•4 CAL •..� 141 Page 6 of 6 December 16, 2002 City Council Minutes