Committee of the Whole Meeting

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES City Hall, 220 Clay Street November 18, 2024 The meeting of the Committee of the Whole met at City Hall at 6:00 p.m. on November 18, 2024, with the following Committee persons in attendance: Gil Schultz, Chris Latta, Daryl Kruse (via Teams), Aaron Hawkbaker (via Teams), Hannah Crisman, and Kelly Dunn. Absent: Dustin Ganfield. Staff members from all City Departments and members of the community attended in person. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE: Mayor Laudick called the meeting to order and introduced the first item on the Committee of the Whole agenda, Grow Cedar Valley Update and introduced Grow Cedar Valley (GCV) Board Chair Dave Wilson. Wilson gave a brief introduction to GCV’s mission and thanked the City for their partnership and support. Director of Workforce & Talent Stephanie Detweiler overviewed: implementation of a population survey to increase the working age population in the Cedar Valley through use of a national, impartial consulting firm; the Community Champion program to attract individuals to the Cedar Valley; the Talent Connection Program; and the Cedar Valley Intern program. CEO and President Katy Susong indicated GCV has 12 priority projects for the year and stressed focus on accountability; overviewed the Young Professional Program and merger with Cedar Valley Young Professionals; stressed an aggressive approach to lead generation and focus on both current and new programs and businesses; Susong introduced new Director of Business Services and Advocacy Andrienne Miller; and overviewed GCV Ambassadors. Councilmembers thanked GCV for their work and asked about need for access to rail services; Susong and Mayor Laudick indicated data would be provided to Councilmembers after research. Mayor Laudick introduced the second item on the Committee of the Whole agenda, Civil Service Process Changes and introduced Human Resources Manager Bailey Schindel. Schindel provided an overview of recent state legislative changes, effective July 1, 2024, relative to the Iowa Code Chapter 400 Civil Service testing requirements for Police/Public Safety Officers: officers certified by the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy, who have previously taken a civil service examination by another city, with less than a 180-day break of law enforcement service need not retake a Civil Service examination, provided they complete any other prerequisites and meet the position’s qualifications. Schindel provided an overview of additional Iowa Code Chapter 400 legislative changes, also effective July 1, 2024, regarding Council’s ability to approve the suspension of the use of certified hiring lists for entry-level Civil Service positions for one year, with the option to continue the suspension for another subsequent year by vote. Schindel discussed the current Civil Service testing, certification, and hiring process for the City and the average timeline to fill a vacant Civil Service position; adoption of the new process would lower the time frame for hiring and improve efficiency of the process. Schindel recommended a motion for Council to direct staff to draft a resolution approving a revised Civil Service process of one meeting to approve testing materials and suspension of the use of certified hiring lists for entry-level Civil Service positions. Councilmembers, Schindel, Mayor Laudick, and City Attorney Kevin Rogers discussed: the potential change in Civil Service hiring timeline; changes in process; and benefits and risks of proposed changes. Councilmember Latta motioned to approve staff to create a resolution with the proposed new Civil Service process and suspension of the use of certified hiring lists for entry-level Civil Service positions starting January 1, 2025; Councilmember Crisman seconded. There being no further discussion, Mayor called for a voice vote on the motion. Aye: Schultz, Latta, Kruse, Hawbaker, Crisman, Dunn. Nay: None. Motion carried unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 6:36 p.m. Minutes by Katie Terhune, Administrative Supervisor