4 minutes on all City Manager related topics until this process is finished and
the Commission concurred.
The Commission, staff, and Mrs. Klein discussed breaking the cycle, doing what the
residents want, Commission attendance at the meet & greet, interacting with residents,
extending the meet & greet to 8:30 p.m., Deltona's unique issues, candidates' approach to
problems, pre-set questions, and interview freedom.
After discussion, Mayor Avila requested that the Commission be free to ask
whatever questions they have proposed and the Commission concurred.
The Commission, staff, and Mrs. Klein discussed interview length, voting at the April 15th
meeting, extending the timeline, being long-winded, and sticking to the provided schedule.
C.
Discussion regarding the City Attorney and the future of that position.
The Interim City Manager gave a brief overview of the item.
The Commission and City Attorney discussed work-shopping the topic, hiring a larger firm,
institutional knowledge, resident perception, land development and use, the pass-through
ordinance, the volume of work to do, confidence, over-correcting, bringing back trust, more
legal help, issues with developers, proportionate fair share, taxpayers' costs, improvement,
accessibility, fresh eyes, wisdom and experience, personal attacks, the rumor mill, being
proactive, the previous law firm, soliciting the right help, an in-house attorney, billable hours,
team work, Charter Officers, loyalty, waiting for the new City Manager, firms we employ, too
much change at once, being short-staffed, City Attorney helping where needed, insurance
lawyers, Roper P.A., specialty attorneys, hiring a search firm, bringing item back to the
Commission, putting a plan in place, sustainability, consulting prior firms interviewed,
having a hybrid model, having a staff lawyer, and hiring paralegals.
Motion by Commissioner Shimkus, seconded by Commissioner Heriot,
to have the Interim City Manager reach out to the last two top ranked
firms and have them submit back whether they are still interested and if
their proposals have changed as well as reconsider this topic at a
workshop within the next 60 days.
The Commission discussed personal feelings, loyalty to the City, protecting the City,
outgrowing the previous law firm, other firms, land use codes, the Comprehensive Plan,
getting a fresh perspective, competency, things falling through the cracks, not waiting for a
"good time", and making the motion time specific.
Mayor Avila opened the public comments and Kathy Bryan, Carolyn Hickerson, and Elbert
Bryan addressed the City Commission.
The Commission and staff discussed starting the process, going out to bid, hiring in-house,
the new City Manager's input, timeline for seating new City Manager, poor follow through,
and headhunters.
Amended motion by Commissioner Shimkus, seconded by
Commissioner Heriot, to have the Interim City Manager reach out to the