YEAR THAT STARTED WITH PROMISE SLIPS DOWNHILL//COUNCIL MEETINGS TOUCHY, LEADERS ARE NOT ON THE SAME PAGE
MARISA AGHA, Pioneer Press
September 16, 2002

Promises of a "kinder, gentler'' Roseville abounded one year ago as the largest pool of candidates in recent memory vied for three seats on the embattled City Council.

But, if anything, Roseville's city meetings have grown testier and its leaders more divided since the election.With the prospect of lengthy criminal proceedings looming over Mayor John Kysylyczyn, charged earlier this month with conflict of interest and official misconduct, city leaders face vital choices about the future of this already conflict-weary city, say political observers and experts.

"There's just a lot at stake,'' said Cathy Jacobson, senior vice president of Cincinnatus, a Minneapolis-based leadership consulting firm that works with governments, nonprofits and businesses. "It's an important city (in the Twin Cities).''

Roseville, a first-ring suburb known for its key location between Minneapolis and St. Paul, a strong tax base and economic mix, has seen more conflict than policy in recent years. Before the charges against Kysylycyzn, many citizens were already fed up with the fighting at City Hall.

Resident Barb Obeda was so upset by what she saw on television during one recent meeting that she jumped out of her chair and drove to City Hall about 11 p.m.

"I got out of my pajamas and into my car, which I don't drive after dark,'' Obeda said. "I guess I just thought, 'I've had enough of this. Quit bickering. Quit being rude. Let's have a peaceful council meeting. Make the choices you need to make.' ''

Obeda, who attributes much of the council's turmoil to the mayor's style, strode up to the lectern in the middle of the meeting to speak to the council.

"You're not getting anything done,'' Obeda told the council. "Get on with the business of the city of Roseville.''

Kysylyczyn, who did not return calls for comment for this story, responded at that meeting by defending his tenure and the work of the council since January, when two new council members who initially appeared strongly aligned with him, joined the board.

"This is the most disorganized, dysfunctional, insane governing body,'' Kysylyczyn told Obeda. "For all the craziness that goes on here, this council has accomplished five times more than any other council.''

Kysylyczyn cited the formation of a new citizens' committee formed to address public works and transportation issues and the creation of a Housing and Redevelopment Authority aimed at stimulating affordable housing in town.

Former Roseville Council Member Pat Johnson, who says she still advises Kysylyczyn, admits she is "disappointed'' in his leadership.

"This is not the John that took office,'' said Johnson, who does not believe the 30-year-old Kysylyczyn should resign. "This is not the man that had such great potential.''

Nonetheless, she maintains that he is "decent'' and she is optimistic for him and the city.

"It will hold together,'' said Johnson, who praised city staff and an engaged citizenry. "It won't be ideal ... I'm also hopeful that he (Kysylyczyn) can spend this last year being the kind of mayor that he was when he was elected.''

Resident Marilyn Bartlett, however, does not share Johnson's positive outlook for the mayor and city.

"I think it'll just remain contentious until he resigns or is booted out,'' Bartlett said. "That's the way it is. I don't think he'll be changing.''

There are no clear-cut answers about how a council should move ahead when one of its members faces criminal charges, said Revan Tranter, a visiting scholar in public administration at the University of California-Berkeley's Institute of Governmental Studies and former president of the International City/County Management Association.

"It's tricky,'' Tranter said. "It tends to be a wretched period. Almost anything is awkward, especially council meetings.''

Professionalism, particularly among the city's department heads, helps, but the reality is most people feel embarrassed and tense under such circumstances, Tranter said.

"It takes a lot of care and thought to get around it,'' Tranter said.

The council likely needs to work with a facilitator to lay down ground rules focusing on city, rather than personal issues, said Larry Bakken, a professor of law, public administration and management at Hamline University and a former board member of the National League of Cities in Washington, D.C., and former Golden Valley mayor.

"It's not likely that they'll be able to walk away holding hands and feeling good about each other,'' Bakken said. "But they ought to reach some sort of consensus on how they're going to operate during what it is going to be a difficult time ... It's the welfare of the city that's most important in this situation.''

Jacobson agreed that goal setting and relationship building are vital to the city's future.

"It's the leaders themselves that have to step up to the plate,'' Jacobson said.

Recent signs, however, don't look too promising. Late on a recent Friday afternoon, two groups of council members were divided over the scheduling of a special City Council meeting to set the city's maximum tax levy. One group, led by the mayor, wanted to meet Saturday. But a larger group rescheduled the meeting for Monday, saying that they couldn't meet Saturday and there would not be a quorum, the minimum number of members needed to take action.

Council Member Greg Schroeder, a Kysylyczyn ally, informed city staff that Friday that the mayor had not cancelled Saturday's meeting. Neither Schroeder nor the mayor, however, appeared Saturday, leaving city staff and several residents confused.

But the mayor did show up unexpectedly at the Monday meeting.

Marisa Agha, who covers north suburban Ramsey County, can be reached at magha@pioneerpress.com or (651) 228-2109.

© 2002 St. Paul Pioneer Press and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
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