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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-02-18 WK ANDOVER CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING – FEBRUARY 18 , 2025 MINUTES The Workshop Meeting of the Andover City Council was called to order by Mayor Barthel, February 18, 2025, 6:00 p.m., at the Andover City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW, Andover, Minnesota. Councilmembers present: Rick Engelhardt, Scott Schue, and Jonathan Shafto Councilmember absent: None Also present: City Administrator, Sarah Cotton CITY COUNCIL VACANCY - THE CITY COUNCIL WILL REVIEW APPLICATIONS AND SELECT INDIVIDUALS TO MOVE FORWARD FOR INTERVIEWS ON TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2025 The City Council is requested to review all submitted applications and identify a short list of finalists to be invited for interviews to fill the vacant City Council seat. City Administrator Cotton reviewed the staff report and shared they received 12 applications for the vacant Council seat. She noted two of the applicants did not submit a letter of intent, which was a requirement. She said it will be up to the Council if they would like to direct staff to reach out to these individuals and ask them to submit a letter. She added one applicant also lives outside of the City limits so is ineligible. Mayor Barthel stated he would not like them to have a set number of applicants that they move forward as finalists but rather interview all applicants who the Council deems worthy to be interviewed. Councilmember Schue said he would not be interested in considering the two applicants who failed to submit the letter of intent as the instructions and requirements for applying were clearly spelled out. The Council agreed. Mayor Barthel said he would like the applicants they choose to interview to be those who have actively participated in the City as he believes those who have given their time and efforts to the City should be on the list. He stated these applicants would be Karen Godfrey, Randy Nelson, Greg Mueller, and Jeff Sims. Councilmember Schue added he would like them to consider interviewing Charles Knealing. Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes – February 18, 2025 Page 2 Councilmember Shafto said he also had Mr. Knealing on his list. Councilmember Schue noted they had a lot of great candidates apply and even if they are not selected in this part of the process does not mean that they were not good candidates. He reiterated that people who have already served on the Council or a Commission have already stepped up and have a proven track record of this. Councilmember Shafto shared he also had Michael Schmitz on his list of stand-out applicants. Mayor Barthel stated there was not a single applicant that he read that he instantly thought would not work out as all of the applicants were great. The Council discussed their top six applicants, Karen Godfrey, Randy Nelson, Greg Mueller, Jeff Sims, Charles Knealing, and Michael Schmitz. Mayor Barthel shared Ms. Godfrey has served on the Planning and Zoning Commission for many years and is currently the Chair of this Commission and there have never been any issues with her. He added whoever they appoint will have an advantage during the next election cycle as they will not be the incumbent. He said Ms. Godfrey does not have political aspirations above and beyond this. He shared his support for interviewing Ms. Godfrey. Councilmember Shafto noted he has served with Ms. Godfrey on the Planning and Zoning Commission, and he agrees with everything Mayor Barthel shared about her. He added she knows the issues of the city well. Councilmember Engelhardt agreed that Ms. Godfrey would be a great candidate and has a great history of involvement and leadership within the City. Councilmember Schue said he does not know of anyone else who has come to more City Council meetings than Ms. Godfrey. He added he was pleased to see how she answered the challenging question on the application about what the City has not done well in the past, which is critical for Councilmembers who want to make the City better. Councilmember Schue shared when he read Mr. Knealing’s application it was evident that he has a lot of experience, has been a long-term resident of Andover, and has had a lot of involvement with the community. He noted his application was very direct and he shared his honest concerns. Councilmember Shafto noted Mr. Knealing seems very data driven, which is important when it comes to making the expensive decisions that the Council has to make. He added he liked his answer on decision making in regard to allocating public funds. He said he may also have some interesting perspectives he could offer. Councilmember Engelhardt added Mr. Kneeling seems to be detail and process driven. Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes – February 18, 2025 Page 3 Mayor Barthel shared Mr. Knealings answer that the commercial and resident long-term strategy seems random and not clear to residents is concerning to him. He explained if Mr. Knealing had followed Council meetings or been involved in meetings in the past he would know that it has not been random. He added he wonders how much research Mr. Knealing has done. He noted it would likely take the Council a while to get Mr. Knealing up to speed. Councilmember Shafto noted they do need to consider which applicants seem like they would be able to jump in and get to work right away. Councilmember Engelhardt echoed the concerns of Mayor Barthel. Ms. Cotton suggested the Councilmembers each select their remaining top two candidates they would like to interview. Councilmember Engelhardt shared his top two candidates were Mr. Nelson and Mr. Mueller. Councilmember Shafto shared his top two candidates were Mr. Nelson and Mr. Schmitz. Councilmember Schue shared his top two candidates were Mr. Nelson and Mr. Mueller. Mayor Barthel shared his top two candidates were Mr. Nelson and Mr. Mueller. th Ms. Cotton asked where they would like the interviews to be on the agenda for March 4. Councilmember Schue suggested having the interviews near the end of the meeting so those residents who have come to speak on a different item on the agenda do not need to stay around for the interviews. Ms. Cotton asked the Council if they would like the applicants to be provided with the interview questions before the meeting. Councilmember Shafto said he does not feel strongly either way but would prefer the applicants to not have the questions beforehand. Councilmember Schue stated the second and third applicants would have an unfair advantage over the first applicant as they would be able to hear the interview questions before it is their turn to interview. He said he would be okay with giving the applicants the questions in advance. Ms. Cotton asked how they wanted to determine the interview order. She said they can draw names to determine the order. The Council was in agreement with this. Council consensus was reached to direct staff to invite Karen Godfrey, Randy Nelson, and Greg th Mueller for interviews on March 4 at the end of the Council meeting. There was also consensus to provide the applicants with the interview questions beforehand. Andover City Council Workshop Meeting Minutes – February 18, 2025 Page 4 ADJOURNMENT Motion by Schue, Seconded by Shafto, to adjourn. Motion carried unanimously. The workshop meeting adjourned at 6:42 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Ava Major, Recording Secretary