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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.F.2. Approval of Minutes: May 06, 2008 OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION SHAKOPEE, MINNESOTA MAY 6, 2008 Mayor Schmitt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with Council members Steve Clay, Pat Heitzman, Matt Lehman, and Terry Joos present. Also present were Mark McNeill, City Administrator; Kris Wilson, Assistant City Administrator; Judith S. Cox, City Clerk; R. Michael. Leek, Community Development Director; and Jim Thomson, City Attorney; Dan Hughes, Police Chief; Angela Trutnau, Shakopee Police Sergeant;. Al Geis, Acting Fire Chief; Dave Judd, lst District Chief; and Trevor Geis, 1St Lieutenant. Joos/Heitzman moved to open the public hearing on the proposed vacation of easements within OPUS MVW and OPUS MVW 2" Additions. Motion carried 5-0. Mr. Leek presented Council with the Vacation of Easements in OPUS MVW and OPUS MVW 2na Addition. Mr. Leek said the vacation is being proposed in connection within the preliminary and final plat application of the property. The pending plat application would require that any necessary easements be provided as part of that plat application.. The Planning Commission recommended approval. Mayor Schmitt asked if there was anyone in the audience who wanted to speak at the public hearing. No one responded. Clay/Joos moved to close the public hearing. Motion carried 5-0. Joos/Clay offered Resolution No. 6770, A Resolution Vacating the Easements within OPUS MVW and OPUS MVW 2na Addition, and moved its adoption. Motion carried 5-0. Joos/Heitzman moved to recess until fire department personnel returned from a fire call. Motion carried 5-0. Mayor Schmitt re-convened the meeting at 7:1 l p.m. Mark McNeill, City Administrator, said that the workshop was to address questions which arose recently from the Fire Chief background investigation, and to talk about the fire department going forward from this point. Mr. McNeill stated he received several questions from fire department personnel and grouped them -into four categories,. the hiring process, Personnel Decisions, Ines. roll in the process, .the background investigation, and allegations against employees/precedents. Mr. McNeill explained the City's position regarding each of the questions which related to the categories listed. 1St District Chief Dave Judd stated that one of the biggest concerns for fire department members is how off duty activities on personal time can affect their jobs as firefighters as well as the "spill-over" that could affect their full-time jobs and careers. He also realizes that administrative leaves are necessary in certain situations but thinks the City also needs to deal with those leaves more cautiously so it does not affect that person's full-time jobs and careers. Mr. McNeill stated that he did not have an answer for him. Official Proceedings of the May 6, 2008 Shakopee City Council Page -2- Lt. Trevor Geis asked Council why the questions regarding the Chief's selection process weren't answered when they were first submitted over two weeks prior to the workshop, specifically, why a member of the Shakopee Police Department conducted the background investigation and . not an outside source. Mr. Thomson, the City Attorney, explained that the questions couldn't be answered because many of the questions regarding the process spilled over into a pending investigation of one of the candidates. The City had. to be very careful to protect the privacy rights of the people involved. Mr. Thomson said the State's privacy laws trump any rules that the City has regarding the questions that were asked by fire department members. There were other questions from unidentified members of the fire department and community members that mainly related to a Shakopee Police Officer conducting the background investigation on the Fire Chief candidates. They felt that it would have been un-bias if an Outside agency would have conducted the background investigation. Ed Schwaesdall wanted to clarify for the record that he and his attorney only agreed to the Shakopee Police Department conducting the investigation on the allegations made against him -but did not agree to the Shakopee Police Department conducting the employmentbackground on the Fire Chief candidates. Acting Fire Chief Al Geis asked Council and Administration what is expected of the fire department from this -point on so he can direct the department on a path that is acceptable for the City. Mayor Schmitt stated that Council would like the department to perform the same level service as it has in the past and they are all very proud of the fire department and everything they have done for the community.. Joos/Heitzman moved to adjourn to Tuesday,. May 20, 2008 at 7:OOp.m. Motion carried 5-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m. ~J udith S. Cox City Clerk Kim Weckman Recording Secretary