HomeMy WebLinkAbout20220418 - CC Workshop MinutesHastings, Minnesota
City Council Workshop
April 18, 2022
The City Council of the City of Hastings, Minnesota met in a workshop on Monday, April
18, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. in the Community Room at the Hastings City Hall, 101 East 4th Street,
Hastings, Minnesota.
Members Present: Mayor Fasbender, Councilmembers Braucks, Folch, Fox, Leifeld,
Vaughan
Members Absent: Councilmember Lund
Staff Present: City Administrator Dan Wietecha
Assistant City Administrator Kelly Murtaugh
Community Development Director John Hinzman
Finance Manager Chris Eitemiller
Communications Coordinator Dawn Skelly
Mayor Fasbender called the workshop to order at 5:35 p.m. and opened the conversation to
review progress on the strategic initiatives. Wietecha explained that at two full quarters in, he
would like to know how this process is working. The agenda provided a number of questions for
councilmembers to reflect on.
Eitemiller provided the five-year budget simulation he built as a part of the strategic initiatives.
The simulation tool can help identify how a change in staffing, revenue, capital equipment, etc.
can carry through the budgeting process and help with projections long term.
Council discussion on the recent Finance Committee conversation about the timeline and
expense of updating the parks. Discussion on prioritization of capital expenditures and how it
helped understanding true priorities.
Next, Wietecha explained that diversity, equity and inclusion efforts may be part of the course
correction within the initiatives. Two years ago, the City joined Government Alliance on Race
and Equity (GARE) to assist in training efforts for Councilmembers and employees. GARE then
underwent some restructuring during the COVID years and has delayed training for government
entities at this time. The City has expanded recruitment outreach to broader audiences to expand
the candidate pools. Additionally, the City is doing an employee engagement survey soon that
may offer insight for future training. The Building Remembrance group proposed a Community
Investment Fund project to further explore a memorial for the Brown’s Chapel. The City could
utilize funds that were set aside for training to support the work around this project.
Council discussion on supporting a local group on a project that helps with reconciliation of the
past. The project and training through GARE were two different objectives. There is a desire to
review policies that create obstacles or identify specific outcomes that are needed. Council
discussion about the Brown’s Chapel memorial project may offer a visual representation that