REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Consider Reinstating the Pilot of the Process for City Council Colleague Memorandums to Propose new Agenda Items Previously Included in Council Policy 7.3.19 (Council Meetings)
Report
BACKGROUND
On January 12, 2021, former Councilmember Fong sponsored Study Issue OCM 21-03 (Consider the Creation of a Formal Process for City Council Colleague Memorandums). Mayor Klein along with Councilmembers Melton, Cisneros and Din cosponsored the Study Issue. The Study Issue described the purpose of a Colleagues Memorandum as an opportunity that allows Councilmembers to prepare memoranda on topics coming before the Council or on any matter within Council's subject matter jurisdiction.
On September 14, 2021, the City Council provided feedback on this Study Issue during a Study Session. During the Study Session, Councilmembers discussed whether a colleagues memorandum policy should address items already on a Council agenda or be used to add items to a future agenda. Additional discussion included concerns about Councilmembers commenting on agenda items prior to the public hearing on the item. There was general consensus for a follow up study session outlining a process for memorandums to add items to future agendas.
On October 26, 2021, the Council reviewed draft Colleagues Memorandum language for potential inclusion in Council Policy 7.3.19 (Council Meetings) during a study session. There was general consensus for adding the proposed language to Council Policy 7.3.19. Additional discussion involved treating the proposed policy modification as a pilot amendment to the Council Policy either through scheduling a review of the policy 1-year after the revision was made or by including an automatic removal of the language that was included in the policy to allow for Colleague Memorandums after 1-year.
On January 4, 2022, the City Council added a pilot process for City Council Colleague Memorandums to propose new agenda items (RTC No. 22-0019). Th...
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