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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes orgPROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL CITY OF OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN OlHKOlH ON THE WATER ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING held Tuesday, April 21, 2009 at 12:05 pm in the Council Chambers, City Hall. Mayor Esslinger presided. PRESENT: Council Members Jessica King, Dennis McHugh, Tony Palmeri, Bob Poeschl, Burk Tower and Mayor Paul Esslinger ALSO PRESENT: Mark Rohloff, City Manager, Pamela Ubrig, City Clerk, Lynn Lorenson, City Attorney, and Dave Patek, Director of Public Works NOTE: The newly elected Mayor (Paul Esslinger) along with the three newly elected Council Members (Jessica King, Tony Palmeri, Bob Poeschl) took their oath of office which was administered by the City Clerk. Mayor Esslinger called three times for nominations of Deputy Mayor for the Common Council. Council Member Tower nominated Council Member King. Mayor Esslinger nominated Council Member Palmeri. MOTION: CLOSE NOMINATIONS FOR DEPUTY MAYOR (Tower; second, McHugh) CARRIED: Ayes (6) King, McHugh, Palmeri, Poeschl, Tower, Mayor Esslinger Mayor Esslinger explained each Council Member would announce their choice for Deputy Mayor when the Clerk called their name. The City Clerk called the roll for the election of Deputy Mayor: King voted King McHugh voted Palmeri Palmeri voted Palmeri Poeschl voted Palmeri Tower voted King Mayor Esslinger voted Palmeri VOTE FOR DEPUTY MAYOR: Palmeri - 4 King - 2 The Council seating assignments were decided as follows: (starting with the seat farthest to the right of the Mayor) Jessica King, Bob Poeschl, Tony Palmeri, Paul Esslinger, Burk Tower, Dennis McHugh, vacant seat. Mr. Rohloff explained that Council would be viewing a video as an overview from League of Wisconsin Municipalities Municipal Insurance Company. He explained that the City would 1 receive a bonus once all Council Members and Department Heads viewed the video. He stated that the video was regarding how to prevent public officials' liability. PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL -APRIL 2~, 2OO9 The League of Wisconsin Municipalities Mutual Insurance Video - "The Scope of your Authority: Preventing Public Officials Liability" from 12:10 pm - 12:30 pm. Mr. Rohloff explained that Council Members would contact Pam Ubrig or Lynn Lorenson for an orientation. Ms. Lorenson stated that Council Members should call her office and she would coordinate with Pam Ubrig the time for the orientation. Mr. Rohloff urged Council Members to attend the League of Municipalities workshop in the Valley in the near future. He stated that Council Members should contact Jackie and she would make the arrangements. Discussion of Rules /Agenda Format Mayor Esslinger explained they would review the current "Council Rules" to determine if any changes should be made. There were no changes to the rules. Mayor Esslinger explained they would review the current "Agenda Format" to determine if any changes should be made. Mr. Rohloff explained that any agenda item could be changed to accommodate the Council. He stated that workshops could be done on a day other than the Council Meeting and that the time could be changed to prevent late evening discussions. Council Member McHugh stated that the public seemed confused during meetings as to when they could speak on items. He suggested that a clearer description be presented at the beginning of Council Meetings. Mayor Esslinger suggested that workshops begin prior to the Council Meetings and last for one hour. Council Member Poeschl stated that larger workshops should take place in various community centers. Council Member Tower stated that he was concerned with the workshops held prior to Council Meetings or late afternoon hours as it would conflict with work schedules. He stated that he was not sure an hour would be enough time for discussion on certain topics. Deputy Mayor Palmeri suggested to change the workshop time for 6 pm and to have the Council Meeting at 7 pm. He stated that if the workshop needed more time it could continue on 2 another day. PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL -APRIL 2~, 2OO9 Mr. Rohloff stated that workshops could be held on Tuesdays when there was no Council Meeting scheduled. He stated that to hold workshops outside of City Hall would mean they would not be televised live. Discussion of Board and Committees Deputy Mayor Palmeri questioned the budget committee creation. He stated that the budget had been amended to have a budget committee created by April. Mr. Rohloff stated that there was no formal proposal due to the research that had been completed by the Finance Director. He explained that there were no formal citizen type budget committees. He explained that he and the Finance Director worked on a budget process timeline so that it would be started earlier and given to Council the first Friday in October and a public hearing November 10t" Deputy Mayor Palmeri explained that West Allis had a citizen committee that reviewed all plans for the CIP process. He stated that he had done research and found other cities in the country that had a committee for the operations budget. Mr. Rohloff explained that West Allis had done that because it was required by State Law. He stated that the City of Oshkosh had the Plan Commission serve as the body that reviewed the CIP for the City. Deputy Mayor Palmeri questioned why West Allis was the only one with a separate committee. Mrs. Steeno explained that it was the Plan Commission and the Commission had citizens as well as the Mayor. She stated that it was a workshop type of format to decide what was to go into the Capital Improvement Plan. Deputy Mayor Palmeri questioned why Oshkosh could never take the lead and propose a citizen committee to provide input on the operations budget. Mr. Rohloff explained that a citizens group could get in between the Council and the public regarding budget input. He agreed that there was room for improvement in the budget process. He stated that there had not been opportunity for improvements since the last budget hearing. He explained there was a benefit with more public outreach rather than limiting input to a small group of individuals. Deputy Mayor Palmeri stated that he would revive his prior research on cities that had a budget committee. He questioned what Council Members had thought they voted on at budget time in 2008. He explained that he thought he voted that the City Manager and Mayor were to create 3 a budget committee. Mr. Rohloff stated that it was suggested to have a proposal. He stated that in the absence of a model it would be appropriate for Council to suggest and continue to move forward with the creation of a citizens committee. PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL -APRIL 2~, 2OO9 Deputy Mayor Palmeri stated that he would also move forward to create a deer management committee. He explained that the committee would manage and enforce the deer management plan. He stated that the committee would be represented by citizens from various sides. He stated that last year the cable commission was rescinded and he urged Council to reconsider creating a local cable commission committee. Discussion of process to fill Vacated Council Seat MOTION: HAVE CITIZEN INPUT ON THE VACANT SEAT AT THE APRIL 28, 2009 WITH ACTION UNDER ADDITIONAL ACTION ITEM; REQUEST FOR LETTERS OF INTENT AND RESUMES BE FILED WITH THE CLERK'S OFFICE BY MAY 5, 2009, WITH INDIVIDUAL PRESENTATIONS AND COUNCIL SELECTION AT THE MAY 12, 2009 MEETING (Palmeri; second, McHugh) WITHDRAWN MOTION: DISCUSS THE PROCESS FOR FILLING THE VACANT SEAT AT THE APRIL 28, 2009 MEETING (Palmeri; second, McHugh) MOTION: AMEND TO CHANGE THE DATE FROM APRIL 28t" TO MAY 12t" (Tower; second, King) CARRIED: Ayes (4) King, Poeschl, Tower, Mayor Esslinger; Noes (2) McHugh, Palmeri Council Member Poeschl stated that the seat was an elected position. He stated his concerns regarding the State Statute that would allow for a special election to be held in November. Ms. Lorenson explained that there was no election in November therefore there would need to be an order for a special election. She stated that the election would take place 100 days from the date ordered. Council Member Poeschl questioned if votes could be cast through absentee mailing only. Ms. Ubrig explained that there would be a large cost factor to consider. Council Member Poeschl explained that the state of Oregon voted absentee only with a huge cost savings. He questioned what the comparison would be to a special election. Ms. Ubrig explained that 42,000 ballots would need to be printed and mailed, the cost of envelopes and postage would need to be addressed. 4 Ms. Lorenson stated that there were laws in other states that allowed voting that way. Council Member Poeschl stated that there was no clear indicator for 4t" place therefore he would move forward with an application process. Deputy Mayor Palmeri questioned the current codes. PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL -APRIL 2~, 2009 Ms. Lorenson stated that it would rely on the State Statutes. Deputy Mayor Palmeri explained that the codes state that the Mayor would appoint the individual to fill the vacant seat. Ms. Lorenson stated that was not the case. Deputy Mayor Palmeri stated that the most dominate voice of the citizens was that the 4t"place finisher and should be appointed to fill the vacant seat. He stated that he had a concern with the automatic 4t" place finisher filling the vacant seat. He stated that the special election would be a lengthy process. He agreed to have a request for letters of interest with a presentation and then voted by Council. He explained that the process would be transparent. Council Member Tower stated that it made no sense to proceed with a special election. He stated that it would be costly and take time. He stated his support to appoint the 4t" place person from the April election. He explained that when contacted by citizens their choice was to appoint the 4t" place finisher. He stated that this was the least subjective method of all methods and it would not set a precedent. He stated that if the seat was filled by appointment it would need criteria. He stated that along with a letter of interest there should be a resume demonstrating points of interest in the City, services in the City, ability to make things happen. He suggested appointing former Council Members as they had been elected by the public and it would move the process along and that individual would agree not to run for the next term. Council Member King stated that on April 7t" there was an open and transparent process completed with debates and forums. She stated that after the vote Mr. Cummings had the rightful place as the 4t" place finisher and should be appointed to the vacant seat. She explained that citizens would not have the transparency to resumes or letters of interest. Council Member McHugh stated that he supported the application process. He stated that the two candidates in question were not elected. He stated that by application they may receive application that would be better than the last two in the election. Council Member Poeschl stated that he had concerns with the resume format. He explained that the process should be simple. Deputy Mayor Palmeri agreed with Council Member Poeschl; however, everyone should be able to complete a resume. He urged Council to move forward with letters of interest and 5 resumes with a deadline date of May 5t" and that the Council select the person to fill the vacant seat. He explained that this had been done in Appleton. He stated that the first person with a majority vote would fill the vacancy. Council Member Tower stated that he would not support the application process and that he believed the election process was appropriate. He stated that he was supportive of the resume as they were important and they explained who people were and what they do. PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMON COUNCIL -APRIL 2~, 2OO9 Council Member King stated that she would oppose the motion and the process. She stated that the election held on April 7t" was the way the citizens had voted. Council Member Poeschl stated that an application used to fill a position on a committee would be acceptable and simple. He questioned how the resumes and letters of interest would be made available to the public. Ms. Lorenson stated that resumes and letters of interest would go to the City Clerk's Office and they would provide copies. Deputy Mayor Palmeri requested that when resumes came to the Clerk's Office, they be put on the City's website. Council Member Tower questioned if the decision on how to proceed could be decided by Council without input from the community. Ms. Lorenson stated that the Council had the decision if public input would be allowed or not. Council Member Poeschl stated that he was not clear as to how to proceed. He stated that he would like to do what the citizens wanted. He stated that he would like to have citizens appear before the Council Meeting to let their opinions be heard. Mayor Esslinger stated that he would support the application/resume and presentation process. Ms. Lorenson explained that if Council wanted public input, it could be put on the agenda as an additional action item to determine the process for filling the vacancy. There was no other business before the Council. MOTION: ADJOURN (Poeschl; second, Tower) CARRIED: VOICE VOTE The meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m. PAMELA R. UBRIG 6 CITY CLERK