HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Packet 03/29/2016 Rules ofp rocedure
PORT ANGELES CITY COUNCIL
Why • work sessionon — Rules of
► On January 19 and on March 1 , Council requested a discussion on specific
topics that fall under Council Rules of Procedure
GOALS for the Rules of Procedure:
No. Provide transparency and an avenue for public involvement as a way to
increase overall community confidence
No. Ensure that the Council can efficiently and effectively carry out its
business operations, which is the primary purpose of bi-monthly meetings
No. Provide clear expectations and understanding of the meeting
framework for both the Council and the public to reduce confusion and
conflict
What are tonight ' s expectations?
► Review and discuss the Council Rules of Procedure from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
► Provide staff with any suggested modifications or additions, through
consensus, determined by the majority of Council
► Direction from Council will be with the overall goals in mind
► No public comment will be taken during the work session
► Public will have a chance to weigh in at future Council meeting(s)
Does Council have additional goals or expectations?
Sections that are not anticipated to
be covered tonight:
► Section 1 - Rules ► Section 9 - Order of Business
► Section 2 - Open Public (Section 9A will be discussed)
Meetings Act ► Section 10 - Voting
► Section 3 - Executive Sessions ► Section 13 - Notice of Public
► Section 4 - Work Sessions Hearings
► Section 5 - Quorum ► Section 14 - Council Vacancies
► Section 6 - Attendance
Major Discussion
► Reference materials were provided to Council in advance of the work
session. These materials presented a wide array of Rules of Procedure
examples from other municipalities
► The following have been identified by Council as possible items for
discussion:
How to Address Signage in City Council Chambers
Adjournment Procedures
Speech and Decorum
Parliamentary Procedures
Section 7 - Chair of the Council
► Mayor shall be the Chair of the Council and shall preside at all Council
meetings
► In the absence of the Mayor, the Mayor Pro Tempore shall preside.
► If neither the Mayor or the Mayor Pro Tempore is present, the presiding officer
shall be selected by a majority of the Council, provided there is a quorum.
► Procedural decisions shall be made by the Chair
► may request advice on such matters from the City Attorney
► may refer to Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised (current Edition).
► Procedural decisions made by the Chair may be overruled by a majority
vote of the Council.
Section i Agenda
► The City Manager shall prepare the agenda of business for all
Council meetings.
No. Topics may be added to the agenda
1 ) When deemed appropriate by the City Manager,
2) At the direction of the Mayor, or
3) By motion approved by a majority of City Council Members attending
a regular Council meeting
No. Section 8 outlines what must be included for each agenda item.
Council recently added a section requiring that all memos include
information on financial impacts
Section 9A - Public Comment Guidelines
► Council recently added a second public comment period as item
M on the agenda
► The following guidelines apply to both public comment periods:
The Mayor will invite citizens to speak to the Council about topics
that are not scheduled for a public hearing.
Prior to the start of the first public comment portion of the meeting,
all persons wishing to be heard are asked to sign in with the Clerk,
giving their names and addresses, and topic.
The Mayor may arrange the order of speakers so that testimony is
heard in the most logical groupings.
Section 9A - Public Comment Guidelines
Guidelines applying to both public comment periods continued:
To allow time for the Council to complete its legislative agenda,
comments should be limited to no more than three minutes per
person and a total of 15 minutes for the comment period. At the
discretion of the Mayor, the time allotted for public comment and
the time allowed per person may be lengthened or shortened.
No speaker may convey or donate his or her time for speaking to
another speaker.
If many people wish to speak to a particular issue, the Mayor may
limit the total amount of time dedicated to that single issue.
I E
Section I I - Decorum & Debate (Council)
► When two or more members wish to speak, the Chair of the
Council shall name the member who is to speak first. No member of
the Council shall interrupt another while speaking except to make
a point of order or privilege
► No Council Member shall be permitted to indulge in personalities,
use language personally offensive, or use language tending to
hold a member of the Council up to contempt
Section
Boards & Commissions Vacancies
► The process for filling board and commission vacancies is outlined
in a 7-point process that in specific situations may be revised by
majority vote.
No. Section 12 deals primarily with how Council fills vacancies on City
boards and commissions. Council may want to discuss procedure
for filling positions for outside boards, committees and commissions.
Recent examples include the County's Lands Trust Advisory
Committee and the Feiro Marine Life Center's City Pier Master Plan
Stakeholder Committee
Next Steps
► Staff will incorporate the proposed changes/additions that are
identified by Council consensus
► A draft resolution will be brought to a regular Council meeting for
discussion and possible future adoption
Considerations:
► Does Council want another work session on this topic?
► When would Council like to see the first draft?