CC Minutes - 07/13/98 Work Session

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Responding to a question from Ms. Nathanson regarding the motion, Mr. Laue suggested it be clarified with a friendly amendment that the council would sponsor the forum, and Councilor Tollenaar would preside. Mr. Lee concurred. Ms. Taylor said that the forum seemed premature and she did not understand "what the rush is." Roll call vote; the motion passed, 6:1; Ms. Taylor voting no. Next, councilors, the council candidates, and councilor-elect Pape discussed their expectations of the city manager. Mr. Tollenaar cited several years of experience as a chief executive officer (CEO) of a general purpose government or assistant CEO, and management style as the most important items on his list. He referred the council to the memorandum he had prepared outlining his expectations and said that the other traits were about equally important. He said that the manager should have good council relations, provide adequate information and professional analysis, provide the pros and cons of policy choices, have a good sense of the relative roles of the councilors and manager, good community relations, should be accessible to the community but avoid close identification with any particular segment of the community, function as the agent of the council, be good at intergovernmental relations, be collegial, and must see the intergovernmental aspects of each problem facing the council. He stressed the importance of professionalism and appropriate education. Mr. Tollenaar said that the manager should be commited to public service as a career and as a way to achieve social and personal goals. The manager should be an active member and participant in professional organizations and activities. Mr. Lee referred those present to a memorandum outlining his expectations. Ms. Taylor said that she believed the council needed time to determine group expectations. She said she hoped the council got a chance to question more candidates. Ms. Taylor said her expectations were that the manager provided the council with a menu of options and alternatives and the pros and cons of each, and avoided limiting the council's options. She wanted a manager who did not assume that the staff always knew best and who was not overconcerned about being liked. Ms. Taylor said that the manager should make himself or herself available to citizens as time permitted. The manager should present his or her own ideas and not ideas synthesized with staff. She wanted a manager with a focus on planning and who would separate planning from development. She said that the new manager should have knowledge of community policing. The council should be in charge and the manager should carry out the wishes of the council. Ms. Taylor said that the manager should consult the council when making decisions that affect the community's quality of life. She said the manager should encourage a sense of community and reopen community centers. Ms. Taylor said that the manager should be willing to reconsider in-house legal services. She believed a city manager should have a term of three to seven years, and no less than three years to ensure that the individual had time to master the job. After seven years the person was probably too entrenched in the position and too much a "part of the establishment." Mr. Lewis wanted the city manager to be able to do strategic planning that was based on input from the council. He said that the city manager should be somewhat creative. He wanted a manager who was familiar with planning and the core services of the City. He concurred with the memorandums prepared by Mr. Tollenaar and Mr. Torrey outlining their expectations. Mr. Lewis MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 13, 1998 Page 5 5:30 p.m.