Agenda Item Title:
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Council Member Christensen recommending amendments to the City Council Rules of Procedure.
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Presenter:
Council Member Christensen
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Description/Background:
City Council meetings have traditionally started at 5:15 PM beginning with a Work Session. Work Session generally include standing reports and informational items that do not require a vote. Despite the 5:15 start time, the "Council Meeting" portion of the agenda has traditionally began at 7 PM with an opening ceremony, consent calendar, special recognitions and Citizen Comments. Following these items the Council held noticed public hearings and discussed other items requiring a vote. However, Work Session items could carry over to the Council Meeting portion, and other non-voting items have also been a regular feature of the "Council Meeting" portion. Lately, the Council has been testing a deviation from the Standard Order of Business indicated in the Rules of Procedure.
It is proposed that the Council continue to start its meeting at 5:15 PM, but not include pre-designated Work Session time. Standing reports and informational items may continue to be scheduled near the top of the meeting, however, there would no longer be a voting restriction before 7:00 PM. For clarification to the Council and the public, items will be identified as voting, non-voting, and public hearing items. Citizen Comments will continue to be held after the Standing Reports, however public involvement will be significantly expanded by allowing comment to each item on the agenda. Comments will be limited to one-minute per speaker unless they are part of a formal public hearing, or during the Citizen Comments portion of the agenda. To accommodate speakers who cannot attend at the beginning of the meeting, a second Citizen Comments section will also be included shortly after 7:00 PM. If a citizen is unable to address the Council in person at anytime during the meeting, he or she may contact the Council Office to provide written comments which will be read into the record at the appropriate time. The Council will continue to adhere to its policy (and state law) by refraining from voting on items not specifically noticed on the agenda introduced in Council Member Business or other Standing Reports.
A clean version of the amended section of the Rules of Procedure is also attached for reference as well as an example agenda.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
Further action to be taken:
If adopted, Council staff will incorporate the revisions into the Council's policy manual.
Recommended Action and/or Suggested Motion:
Recommendation
Motion to approve the Rules of Procedure as amended.