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. 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 "redlined" version of the proposed changes to the Rules of Procedure is attached to this agenda item. A "clean" version of the amended section of the Rules of Procedure is also attached for reference.
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