Discuss Council Organization

Purpose:  The purpose of this report is to determine the committees, boards, or authorities to which Council members will be appointed.  Also to be determined are the appointments for the official newspaper, approval of the annual contract with TimeSavers Off-Site Secretarial Service (TOSS), and appointment of legal services.  

Background:  Each year, Council members are appointed to serve on different committees, authorities and boards.  Council members are asked their preference for appointment, and a resolution with the final selections will be adopted by Council via the Consent Agenda at the regular Council meeting this evening.  The Chair and Vice-Chair positions for each committee will be appointed at that committee level.  With regard to EDA appointments, the Code states that the appointments shall be made by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council.  

Attached is the resolution that is on the Consent Agenda this evening for formal adoption.  The appointments have been basically kept the same.  Please note:  If there are any changes to the appointments based on discussion this evening, those changes will be incorporated in the resolution that is on tonight's agenda, prior to execution.  If there are any changes, it should be noted during the adoption of the Consent that this resolution is adopted as amended.  Following the resignation of Kristine Williams, any board, committee, etc. that she was appointed to serve on, the alternate was moved into that spot.  The only new appointed alternate made by Council at that time was to the EDA.  Alternates remaining to be appointed are for the Happy Days Committee, the Ramsey/Nowthen Joint Powers Board and the Anoka County Fire Joint Powers Group.  Staff has plugged in Council names to serve as alternates for those Committees:  Happy Days - Councilmember Kuzma; Ramsey/Nowthen Joint Powers Board - Councilmember LeTourneau; and Anoka County Fire Joint Powers Group - Councilmember Riley.  This of course may be amended if Council desires. 

The organizational resolution includes declaring the City's official newspaper.  At the time of this writing, the City has received one proposal - ABC Newspapers - the Anoka County UnionHerald.   Such proposal is attached to this case.  The Anoka County UnionHerald has historically served as the City's official newspaper and currently provides the most regular coverage of City.  The proposal from ABC Newspapers states the rates for 2018  will remain unchanged.   

Also included for Council review and approval is the Addendum to the Recording Secretary Service Agreement that extends the expiration date to December 31, 2018.  The addendum shows a less than  2.5 percent increase in the rates.  Approval of the contract with TOSS is part of the resolution.

Appointing legal services is another part of the Organization Resolution.  The contract with Joseph Langel of Ratwik, Rozak & Maloney, for General Legal ended December 31, 2017.  Staff is recommending Council extend the contract another year, through December 31, 2018.  By adopting this resolution as is, the contract will be extended.  The firm of Eckberg Lammers has been contracted with as of January 1, 2018, for prosecution services through 2021.  The City's policy is to review outside professional contracts on a three to five year basis.  

Approximately 10 minutes

N/A

City Administrator
City Clerk

To receive clear direction from the Council with regard to the appointments to committees, boards, and authorities, designation of the official newspaper, the addendum to the Recording Secretary Service Agreement and appointments for legal services.