26 Operational protocolsCITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM BRIEFING SHEET
Submittal Date:
Originating Department:
Presented By:
Agenda Item No.:
0g/07/0g
Council Date:
City Council
Kevin Carruth
26.
08/11/08
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Not an action item.
POLICY ISSUE(S):
Operational protocols
BACgGROUND:
Council has requested a discussion to evaluate and possibly modify meeting and legislative
protocols. Council asked staff to review three possible changes:
1. Question: Should ordinances go through two readings before adoption and allow for
a majority or super majority vote to suspend the rules and allow only one reading
(should Council determine that circumsta.nces warrant)?
Review: There was not a consensus in the staff review of this item. The positives
include allowing more thorough council deliberation and giving more public notice on
potential changes to the law. The primary negative is that it could slow action on
issues by having readings at two meetings. Additionally, major substantive changes
between readings may trigger a new first reading, adding a couple of weeks to the
process.
2. Question: Should Council have a meeting workshop before regulax meetings (e.g.
immediately prior to the regular meeting or a day or two before)?
Review: In light of other regularly scheduled meetings and processes as well as
Council Member scheduling, a workshop on any day prior to the regular meeting does
not seem feasible. However, having a workshop in the conference room starting at
4:00, 4:30, or 5:00 (assuming a 6:00 council meeting) would allow for questions to be
addressed or researched before the regular meeting and help prevent late night
sessions. There may be conflicts with Council Member schedules.
3. Question: Should the meeting time and/or days of the month be changed?
Review: The lead time required for agenda and packet preparation (7-10 days)
precludes compressing the schedule; however, moving the meeting day to the second
and fourth Tuesday does not conflict with other regularly scheduled meetings, gives
Council Members another day to digest the meeting packet and ask questions,
eliminates potential conflicts with Monday holidays, and can be accomplished without
shortening the preparation process. There was also a strong consensus on moving the
beginning of the meeting and/or pre-meeting workshop to anywhere between 3:00
p.m. and 5:00 p.m. so as to prevent late night sessions and reduce meeting fatigue.
Starting before 5:00 p.m. may handicap the attendance of Council Members or
citizens who have to work until then.
City of Paris
Revised 2/04/08
. 000283
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
EXHIBITS:
ACTION:
BUDGET INFO:
❑ Financial Report ❑ Minute Order
Expense
$
❑ Department Report
❑ Resolution
gudgeted Amt.
$
❑ Presentation
❑ P
bli
H
i
❑ Ordinance
~ O
h
y`I'D Actual
$
u
ear
c
ng
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t
Acct. Name
Acct. Number
NISCAL NOTES:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Z Administtation Z City Clerk ❑ Community Development Z EMS/IT N Finance ❑ Fire
❑ Municipal Court ❑ Legal ❑ Library ❑ Police
❑ Eng./Public Works ❑ Utilities
City of Paris Revised 2/04/08
. U00284