Forest Lake council declares vacancy, directs application process and names acting mayor and liaison appointments

The Forest Lake City Council on Jan. 13 formally declared a vacancy on the five-member council after the newly elected mayor assumed office and directed staff to solicit applications to fill the seat by appointment.

Council members said the city, a statutory-plan city operating under a weak-mayor model, is not required to hold a special election because less than two years remain in the vacated term. Jolene, a city staff member, told the council the staff recommendation was to open an application period immediately and return to council with applicants for interviews and appointment.

"I'll make a motion declaring a council vacancy," said Council Member Jeff Larson during the meeting; the motion carried after a voice vote. Council members discussed a schedule in which staff would post the application and leave it open through the 20th (the staff representative described this as roughly a nine-day posting window), bring applications to the Jan. 27 meeting to narrow finalists, and, if needed, interview up to three candidates with the goal of seating an appointee at the Feb. 10 meeting.

The council also approved, by motion, several liaison assignments to city boards and commissions and named Council Member Hannah Valento as acting mayor for absences by the mayor. The mayor read the list of recommended liaisons and the council approved the slate by voice vote.

The council additionally moved—and approved by voice vote—to table consent agenda items b through e to a meeting on Jan. 27.

The motions were procedural and did not commit the council to a particular candidate; staff will screen applicants for residency requirements and return a list for council consideration at the scheduled meetings. The council gave staff direction to post the application on the city website and advertise on the city Facebook page to solicit interest.