HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - April 12, 2005 SMLODI CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CARNEGIE FORUM, 305 WEST PINE STREET
TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2005
A. CALL TO ORDER / ROLL CALL
The Special City Council meeting of April 12, 2005, was called to order by Mayor Beckman at
7:55 a.m.
Present: Council Members — Hansen, Hitchcock, Johnson, Mounce, and Mayor Beckman
Absent: Council Members — None
Also Present: City Manager King, City Attorney Schwabauer, and City Clerk Blackston
B. REGULAR CALENDAR
B-1 "Discussion and appropriate action regarding the 'Annual Boards, Commissions,
Committees, and Volunteers Recognition Event"'
City Clerk Blackston reported that, for decades, each year in August a recognition event
has been held to thank members of the community for their service on boards,
commissions, task force groups, etc. and to provide awards to outgoing members of these
groups. Originally, the event was held to thank members of City Council appointed groups
only. In the late 1980s, a separate event was held to recognize other groups such as the
Police Partners and Library volunteers. Later on, these events were combined into one for
ease in planning. The number of volunteer groups has increased over the years and now
totals upwards of 500 individuals. Recently, the cost for the annual recognition event has
ranged from $5,000 to $6,000. The staff report (filed) indicates which groups have separate
annual recognition events sponsored by individual departments. This item appears before
Council at the request of Mayor Beckman who had expressed an interest in providing
Council an opportunity to consider reverting back to the original concept of the event being
held to thank members of Council appointed groups, which total approximately 100
individuals.
Mayor Beckman reiterated that the original intent of the event was to thank Council
appointees. Due to many of the other organizations having separate recognition events and
the current budget constraints of the City, Ye felt that Council input on this matter was
warranted.
Council Member Hansen was strongly opposed to "developing a different class of
volunteers," i.e. those that Council appoints, and those that work to help the City such as
the Police Partners. Overall, they are a very dedicated group of people who save the City
hundreds of thousands of dollars in time donated and increase the level of service offered to
citizens of Lodi. It is a foundation for the Lodi community to have a volunteer program. He
emphasized the importance of thanking them once each year for the time and effort they
devote to making Lodi what it is.
Council Members Mounce, Johnson, and Mayor Pro Tempore Hitchcock all recalled having
attended both types of events, i.e. when it was only for Council appointed boards and
commission members and much larger events with a wider range of volunteer groups. They
each expressed support for returning to the original concept of holding an annual
recognition event for Council appointed members. Reasons cited included the ability to
more personally interact and communicate at events when there is a limited number of
attendees, as well as the current budget difficulties, which would be exacerbated by the
cost of hosting a very large event.
MOTION / VOTE:
The City Council, on motion of Mayor Beckman, Mounce second, voted to designate the
annual recognition event to Council appointed members of City boards, commissions,
committees, and task force groups. The motion carried by the following vote:
Ayes: Council Members — Hitchcock, Johnson, Mounce, and Mayor Beckman
Noes: Council Members — Hansen
Absent: Council Members — None
Continued April 12, 2005
C. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was adjourned at 8:06
a. m.
ATTEST:
Susan J. Blackston
City Clerk
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