2017.05.02 Work Session Packet (2nd)
Posted: April 28, 2017
City Council
Second Work Session Agenda
May 2, 2017
Immediately Following City Council Meeting
Conference Room A
Pursuant to due call and notice given in the manner prescribed by Section 3.01 of the City
Charter, the work session of the Crystal City Council was held at ______ p.m. on
May 2, 2017 in Conference Room A, 4141 Douglas Dr. N., Crystal, Minnesota.
I. Attendance
Council members Staff
____ Budziszewski ____ Norris
____ Dahl ____ Therres
____ Deshler ____ Gilchrist
____ Kolb ____ Larson
____ LaRoche ____ Revering
____ Parsons ____ Serres
____ Adams
II. Agenda
The purpose of the work session is to discuss the following agenda items:
1. West Metro Fire-Rescue District quarterly update
2. West Metro Fire-Rescue District governance
3. Constituent issues update
4. New business*
5. Announcements*
* Denotes no supporting information included in the packet.
III. Adjournment
The work session adjourned at ______ p.m.
Auxiliary aids are available upon request to individuals with disabilities by calling the City Clerk at (763) 531-
1145 at least 96 hours in advance. TTY users may call Minnesota Relay at 711 or 1-800-627-3529.
4141 Douglas Drive North • Crystal, Minnesota 55422-1696
Tel: (763) 531-1000 • Fax: (763) 531-1188 • www.crystalmn.gov
4141 Douglas Drive North • Crystal, Minnesota 55422-1696
Tel: (763) 531-1000 • Fax: (763) 531-1188 • www.crystalmn.gov
M E M O R A N D U M
DATE: April 3, 2017
TO: Crystal and New Hope City Councils
FROM: Kirk McDonald, New Hope City Manager and West Metro Board Vice
President
Anne Norris, Crystal City Manager and West Metro Board Secretary
Sarah Larson, West Metro Fire-Rescue District Chief
RE: West Metro Fire-Rescue District Governance Options
At its January and March work sessions, the West Metro Fire-Rescue District Board
discussed the current West Metro governance structure and what works and what could be
improved.
The Board agreed the current model including the 7th neutral party works but several
Board members have concerns that having elected officials and appointed staff (city
managers) as members of the board could create a difficult situation for staff in situations
where they would be voting contrary to the elected officials (effectively voting against their
bosses). While the Board has full confidence in the current city managers under the
current board, some board members wish to eliminate the possibility of any potential
conflict in the future.
The Board also discussed having the District function more like a city department (city
manager responsible for department head, department head responsible for department
operations, etc.) In summary, the West Metro Board discussed the following as potential
benefits to changes in governance:
- Have West Metro run more like a city department (i.e., city managers and fire
chief handle operational issues)
- Board not involved in operations – only policy and budget
- Not have elected officials and appointed staff (city managers) as peers
At its March work session, the Board requested both city councils provide comments on
possible changes to the governance and structure of West Metro Fire-Rescue District.
Option 1:
- Keep Board as is
- Board meets regularly to review financial matters, approve budget, policies
Option 2:
- Reduce Board to 5 – 2 from each city (excluding city managers) and 1 neutral
party
- City managers become co-executive directors (Board chair resolves disputes)
- Fire chief reports directly to executive directors instead of the board, to more
closely mirror city operations (ex. Police Chief reports to City Manager, not City
Council)
- Board continues to meet to review financial matters, approve budget, policies
(functions like a city council does for a city)
The West Metro Board would also like feedback on the importance of and/or need for one
of the two city representatives on the Board being a citizen representative.