City Council - Special Meeting

second. So fast.

Well,

okay. Okay, we're ready to start now. We're ready to start. Okay, I'd like to welcome Council Member Saxton and Council Member Jackson, Council Member Wilson, and Council Member Hbert. And now we are just going to go like to welcome all of you for this meeting tonight and we are going to have a public comment meeting uh period right now for you get three minutes each and just state your name and if there's something that you want to say um and it goes over three minutes then there's our there's papers up there that you can fill out and give them back to us. So, does anybody have any public comments before we announce uh who our now council member is going to be? Okay. So, how do we go about doing this then? Okay.

So, it it's for the consideration of and so you can discuss it or h you can call for a vote. So we can discuss everybody that we interviewed. Yeah. Okay. Anybody have any discussion? Do you want anything to say? Okay. If that's [clears throat] Yes. Um so

throughout this whole process, it's been a couple weeks. It feels like so much longer. Um but there's been a lot of public input that has come to us as a council um through, you know, we've been approached or we've been emailed and it's I've really appreciated the insights that have come from the public on that matter. Um, one of the things that has come up even, you know, starting two weeks ago up till now that I have really really thought through a lot is the thoughts about the election results and how that should bear weight on our decision tonight. Um, so I I it's not something that I had considered right off the bat and so I appreciated that that thought that came forward because I did think about it a lot. And what I've come to kind of realize is that the election and the results um the election was not a controlled study that was intended to evaluate the reasons why a vote was cast or wasn't cast for a specific person. And so I fear just kind of looking at the results and taking that number and applying it to a different situation. Um we actually do vote a similar we vote yes or no on judges um in the state and so we'll get you know our ballots and they'll say shall justice so and so be retained and the answer is yes and no and um the election is not set up that way um in this municipality and so I just want to kind of bring that forward and and just kind of address that that that's something that I did think through a lot and just was trying to you know try to understand what that means and where it comes from and it makes a lot of sense I think on the surface but just to kind realize what that data is does show and that what that shows is that somebody got more number of votes than another person. The reasons why are left to um are purely speculative and so they they just aren't um reflected in the results of the election. Um, so I I would implore the the council I think that as we talk about this and we try to decide on who would be who would be a fit for this for this position and and to join the council that we leave our um leave it based on merit and qualification as we have observed and as we have researched um and and not to consider you know runners up in the election for

any for any of the the races that they've chosen to run in or those who chose not to run. let that not bear weight on our decision because I don't think that it's as applicable as it seemed on the surface. Okay. Any other comments?

I'd like to just kind of jump in with that. We find ourselves in a different position. we aren't the um you know a large body that is voting and what we now have ourselves as a responsibility is because really we are a democratic republic and so a republic has a different set of responsibility when you're the leader and that's where that research comes in that's where um references that's where um a different set of responsibilities come so I think that you were able to verbalize that well but we just need to remember our respons responsibility is is a little bit different in this role that we have because of that um position that we are.

I I just agree with both of you and well said and much better than I could say. So we'll just leave it at that. Hey, I want to add a a thought as well that we've we've now spent some time, you know, interviewing and researching um lots of applicants, nine in fact, and there was something impressive to me about all of them. And so that's a good thing. Uh that's a great thing because I think that we're going to be able to make not just the best decision that with what we've got, but I think we'll be able to make a good decision based on that. So, um I just I really just want to commend the quality of the applicants that we have and and state my uh confidence that we're going to end up with a good decision tonight.

And could I just add to that? just a little bit more of the human side of things that I was in all of the applicants place I don't know how many months it's been but before the election when um Joe Paul resigned and and I'll tell you now that it's unfortunate that we can't choose several of you because like she said there's very good quality candidates um and I just thought to myself um they could make a whole new council and they'd be fabulous and all that you So, um, and so there's a lot of great candidates and I know what it feels like to not be chosen. And, um, but now that I'm on the side of choosing, um, it's you feel it's a lot more difficult than you think. And you probably will be upset if you don't get chosen. I was for at least a couple weeks. It was painful for me. and um but then I just put my head down and went back to work and got involved in the community and did what I just do. So I just want to say that as well that just because you don't doesn't mean that it won't turn out later in the future for you. So,

right. So, I I thought there were so many candidates that could fill this position and um very qualified people and um I just think it's going to be a tough decision cuz there's a lot of them that would be fantastic to be on this council and I just hope those who don't get chosen that they this is a two-year council position. So, in two years, um there'll be some other council member positions that will be open and we would hope that you would um put your head in to run run for that. And in the meantime, come to council meetings. Um get involved. And the more you learn about how a council is run and how the city runs, I think the more experience you will have that if you do run again, you that much more knowledge you will have that when you go around and campaign and you can tell the citizens, you know, I'm I'm ready to be on this council, I've learned this. I've done this. And I think that um the more that you that we are familiar with your faces also and familiar with you coming to council meetings um I just think that that would be a plus for you for the next time that you run and hopefully that if you don't get chosen today that you will put your hat in in two years. So So any other comments? Yeah, [clears throat] I'm probably I've been through this twice before and uh I'm I'm a firm believer that the election results that the public put forward

should count for something. I know in our previous appointments they did. And so I might be on the other side of some of your thoughts, but uh I I believe the public they must have got it right. You're sitting here. So why would we discount what the public thinks now? And so again, I [clears throat] don't mean to be a pain, but I just want people to know that that these people that got election results, stood up, and put their name on the ballot

and ran. And something's got to be said for that. And so that's where I'm at on it. Right. Thanks. Thank you. So now, do we have to do a motion to go into the vote or I've never done this before. Yeah, you could. You just call for a vote. Okay. So, do you individually call them, Britney, and ask them who they're voting for if there's no more discussion? Okay. Just to be clear, um, are we is it anticipated that we'll be discussing the candidates and our notes, our thoughts about them or you can

is I just don't know. Is that what was expected? I'm fine to do that. I just don't want to. You can or you can vote how I mean, however you could. Yeah, you can do either. Depends on the time you want. Sure. Okay. It depends. I guess my idea was that the first time we vote [clears throat] if we don't agree then we That's just what I was thinking. Yeah. Then you would So it's a majority vote. Three three votes and then I'm the tiebreaker. So right if there's a tie there's a tie. If there's a tie for first. So if it was two two then you would be the tiebreaker based on okay the way the code reads but otherwise you wouldn't vote. Okay. So does the coin thing not apply anymore?

It does. Oh okay. So explain that. So, if there's a tie for second place, so say someone gets two votes for first place and then there's a tie for second place, then Britney would get to flip the coin um to determine that tie breaker for second place and then you would revote as a council um between those two that are left. I see how that goes. Oh, okay. Okay. So, do I call on everyone? And

can I continue? Sorry. I just figure if I'm going to be voting for someone, maybe I should give reasons why. Um, so before I, you know, so that you can hear, um, I was, oh, I, they took my notes. They took them away, said they couldn't have them. Um, there were three candidates I was very, very impressed with, um, their expertise and their knowledge and I felt lacked a little bit just in experience of the of where we are locally. And this all is going again with the emphasis that I mean everybody everybody who who interviewed would be an excellent choice. So I we I mean this is a nitpicky thing but I think that uh that's what kind of separated those three from my next two which were the the two highest who who seem very very invested as well as all of them are um knowledgeable about um about the where the city has been and where the city is going and their intentions on how to be a part of that. Um, and those two were um, Jason Spar and Randy Scatteren um, for their involvement and their understanding and expertise of of where things have been. And so to me, what it what it just comes down to is the mention um, of the two two issues that are actually on later agenda um, for tonight that that the two of them had expressed, you know, knowledge about and and had already been thinking about. Um, I in in the end I I am going to probably vote for Randy Scatteren because of the the information that he had and because of how he has already primed with um where he's been in the city and the work that he's put in, he's kind of it's kind of would just he would just kind of carry it on. So that those are my thoughts. I figure if I'm going to put out a name and I got to give a name, I feel like I got to give a reason. Um, and that's that's it. So

well I agree that I believe past involvement is a really important part and it's um difficult to come for an interview but it's I think even more difficult to put yourself through some of the um you know attending meetings all the time being involved in different uh committees being involved in uh an election um all of these things I do believe add up as well to excellent qualifications and so I think that is just in addition to some of the fundamental qualifications which of course you know are it's a little different than if you were applying for a different type of job. You know the qualifications I think come down to fundamental principles and so um that would kind of help me sway one way or the other a little bit when we're talking about uh excellent candidates. you have to kind of narrow it down. What could possibly sway when several things are come across as fairly equal and even if we're all saying more, um I will say that I did take into consideration for my vote also experience. Um and I do think that and maybe I'm biased this way, but um being on the planning commission I think is a valuable experience. So, um, just know that if that was one thing I took into consideration when voting as well. So,

so, so if there's no discussion, then it would be a roll call, a roll call vote and Britney would conduct the roll call. Everybody's done saying what they want to say. So, okay, Britney, I guess we're ready for a roll call vote. Council member Saxton,

my selection is easy. Um it's based on history and tradition and uh I think our appointment should go to Mike. Council member Wilson, Jason Far,

Council Member Halbert, Jason Spar,

Council Member Jackson, Randy Scatam for mentioned reasons. So that means maybe I'll let you announce that, but go ahead. That's the tie for second place then between Mike Van Elfen and Randy Scannon. So then Britney would flip the coin and then you would vote on the top two. [laughter] Sad. Yes. Yeah. So, who's heads and whose tails? Okay. And yeah, I would write it.

Sorry, I'm writing as well. Sorry. You want them? Just a sign. So, heads will be Randy Scatteren and tails will be Mike Van Alen. Then I would just flip it down here and just let it fall. Go your eyes.

Okay, that was Mike Van. That is Mike Van. And so now, so, so now it would be a revote of the council, which another roll call vote between Mike Van Alphen and Jason Spar.

Council member Halver. Jason Spar. Council member Jackson, Jason Spar,

Council Member Saxton, Mike Ben,

Council Member Wilson, Jason Spar, So with three votes for Jason Spar and one or one vote for Mike Van Alen, Jason Spar will be your newest council member. [applause]

So Jason, they're going to swear you in. [clears throat]

Yeah.

[clears throat]

swear or I will support and defend the United States and that I will discharge the duties. That's my office.

[applause]

You have to sit by me. It's a great place to be. By you. Okay. Now we make a motion to adjourn. Anybody? I move that we adjourn this special meeting. Do I have a second? I'll second. Okay, Jason, your first act. Okay, this meeting is adjourned and then our regular meeting will all in favor say I. I.

And our next meeting will start at 5:30. Get my book. only took four and a half years.