Minutes-171102
MINUTES
Call to Order
Attendance/Roll Call
The meeting was called to order by Chair Wold at 8:37 AM. Present at the meeting were Commissioners Gloria Kumagai, Ralph Schulz and Andrew
Wold; Police Chief Jason Sturgis, Human Resources Director Kirsten Santelices and Administrative Assistant Amanda Johnson.
Additions to the Agenda
Chair Wold requested to add a rules
and regulations discussion meeting and commissioner membership term dates to the agenda under Other Business.
Approval of Minutes of February 6, 2017
Commissioner Kumagai moved to
approve the minutes from the February 6, 2017 meeting as presented; seconded by Commissioner Schulz. The meeting minutes were approved by consensus.
Approval to Initiate a Police Officer
Hiring Process
Chief Sturgis advised four candidates were hired from the current list of eight. Three candidates passed the field training program and one candidate resigned. Chief
Sturgis advised one of the remaining candidates on the eligibility register accepted a position with another department and the other will not be offered a position due to some concerns
discovered in the background investigation. Chief Sturgis stated there are no viable candidates on the eligibility register and he requested approval to initiate a new hiring process.
Commissioner Schulz moved to deem the current police officer eligibility register exhausted; seconded by Commissioner Kumagai. The motion was approved by consensus.
Commissioner
Kumagai move to approve the initiation of a police officer hiring process; seconded by Commissioner Schulz. The initiation of a police officer hiring process was approved by consensus.
Commissioner Kumagai inquired about the demographic information of police officer candidates and HR Director Santelices advised candidates are able to provide demographic information
as part of the application process, but it is voluntary. Commissioner Kumagai advised she would like to see the demographic information that is collected as part of the next police
officer hiring process.
Commissioner Schulz stated the city should be interested in the best-qualified candidates regardless of the demographic information. Chair Wold advised the
best candidates are listed on the eligibility register, but women and persons of color should be ranked at the top of the register if the scores are equal.
Chair Wold inquired whether
the city has a job fair. HR Director Santelices advised the city does not host a job fair currently, but it is something she would like to be able to host in the future.
Other Business
Chair Wold advised he has looked over the city ordinance section pertaining to the Civil Service Commission, the state statute concerning Civil Service Commissions, and
the rules and regulations of the commission. Chair Wold stated the city ordinance language in section 2.55 subd. 3 states “The commission shall continue to have authority to administer…,”
and he believes that language makes the authority discretionary. Chair Wold advised he would like to have a meeting in December where Council Member Clausen can be present and changes
to the city code language can be discussed.
Chair Wold advised the state statute gives the Civil Service Commission absolute control and supervision over the employment, promotion,
discharge and suspension of all officers and employees of the police department. Chair Wold stated the commission has had little to do with the areas spelled out in statute and he feels
the rules and regulations do not align with the current practice of police department hiring. Chair Wold proposed the rules and regulations should also be reviewed at the December meeting.
Commissioner Schulz recommended the city’s attorney attend the meeting as well to help determine whether changes are plausible or advisable.
Commissioner Kumagai inquired whether the
city has an affirmative action policy. HR Director Santelices advised the city does not have a policy, but does follow the rules as an equal opportunity employer.
Chair Wold stated
Minnesota state statute mandates the member in the last year of his/her term shall serve as president of the commission. Currently the member in the last year of his term is Commissioner
Schulz. Amanda Johnson advised officer elections take place at the annual meeting in February and at that time Chair Wold was in the last year of his term. Commissioner memberships
are renewed in May each year and at that time Commissioner Schulz would have entered the last year of his term. Chair Wold requested membership terms be discussed at the December meeting.
Closing Comments
There were no closing comments.
Adjournment
Commissioner Kumagai moved to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Commissioner Schulz. The meeting was adjourned at 9:13
AM.
Respectfully submitted,
Ralph Schulz, Secretary