City Council - 07/10/1974 i
CITY OF EDEN PRAIRIE
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JULY 10, 1974 MINUTES 7:30 PM CITY HALL
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The meeting was called to order by Mayor Osterholt at 7:40 p.m. Mrs. Meyers
was requested to take minutes. Mayor Osterholt announced the purpose of the
meeting was to discuss the relationship between the Council and Manager.
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Mr. Jack Burke, 15507 Park Terrace Drive , Eden Prairie, requested permission
to address the Council. Council agreed but comments were to be limited to
ten minutes.-
Mr. Burke expressed opposition to the procedure used to set this meeting. ' He
felt the public was under the impression the topic was to be on the July 23rd
regular Council Meeting Agenda. In his opinion, it was not fair to the public
of Eden Prairie to discuss an issue of such importance when the public had
little or no knowledge of this meeting and therefore, was not present to par—
ticipate. He requested the meeting be dismissed .
Mayor Osterholt read from the Handbook for Minnesota Villages the section
regarding rules and regulations applying to special meetings.
Mr. Burke felt the information was not current and suggested the Council
adjourn to a private gentleman's discussion. Council members voiced legal _
restrictions to such a suggestion. The council decided to proceed with the
meeting. Informal discussion would be confined to Council members. No
motions would be made on the topic under discussion .
Mr. Penzel reviewed the reasons f64 and contents of, his letter draft dated
July 7, 1974, and delivered to all Council members July 9, 1974.
Mrs . Pauly said the issue of the Council--Manager relationship should be
on the July 23rd Agenda.
Mrs . Meyers said it was her understanding it would be , and that the letter
and its contents, as a means of resolving the issue, could be on the agenda
if there was consensus of the Council to resolve this issue in this manner.
She had some specific direction additions she would like included in a final
draft. Mr. Penzel agreed we should take action but it should be backed by
firm reason:
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SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
DULY 10, 1974 a
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A. Develop a written communication as a statement from the Council.
B. Allow a reasonable length of time for evaluation (of Manager's com-
pliance with written communication). .
C. This is an accepted business practice..
Mayor Osterholt felt the problems discussed at the Special Council Meeting
of July 1st were well summarized in the letter draft but it should be more
specific. He explained to the Council that his remarks in the Sun Newspaper
article of Wednesday, July 3 , 1974, were to be off the record and he felt the
article has now forced the issue. Mayor Osterholt felt he had spoken to the
Manager on behalf of the Council last spring. Mrs. Meyers said she was not
aware of the specific concerns relayed to the Manager until the meeting of
July 1st. Mr. McCulloch said he knew of the meeting between the Mayor and
Manager but did not know of the substance of the discussion. Mr. Penzel
felt the Mayor had not been directed by the Council to convey any specific
direction to the Manager. Mayor Osterholt said he felt he was acting on
behalf of the majority of the Council based on private discussions with indi-�-
vidual Council members.
Mr. McCulloch said we were talking about a $30,000 man in an administra-
tive position. The Manager was not a beginner and he has years of experience
in management positions. The Manager should not be left cliff-hanging with a
four to six month review as the letter draft suggests and the Council should
decide one way or the other on July 23rd. Mrs. Pauly expressed a lack of
confidence that the Manager could or would want to comply with the letter
contents and suggested that the Mayor relate the substance of his last meeting
with the Manager.
Mayor Osterholt recapped the meeting with the ,Manager on Tuesday, July 9. `
He felt he had made a sincere attempt in offering a solution to the problem
but had felt rebuffed by the Manager.
Mr. McCulloch and Mayor Osterholt felt the manager would look upon the
contents of the letter as restrictive. Mrs. Meyers felt this was just the
sort of specific direction the Manager has been requesting and has confi-
dence he would comply and will do a good job for the City. As Mr. McCulloch
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SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JULY 10, 1974
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pointed out, as responsible policy decision—makers, Mrs. Meyers felt the
letter was an appropriate means of action. Mr. Penzel questioned how individual
Council members might react if they were under similar circumstances and what
they might deem as fair and reasonable treatment.
Discussion continued with members expressing various opinions on the propriety
of possible alternative actions .
At the sad news of the death of Mr. McCulloch's father, Mr. Penzel moved,
Mrs. Meyers seconded to adjourn the meeting at 8:3 0 p.m. Motion carried-
unanimously.
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