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Because of the Minnesota Open Meeting Law, most interactions between mayor and council will occur in public during an open meeting where the See Chapter3. mayor is the presiding officer. As a result, meeting management and meeting decorum are key to developing a successful mayor -council relationship. Some keys to success in this area include: • Presiding officers should not dominate discussion. In most cities, the mayor participates equally in council meetings. Generally, the mayor has the same right as any other council member to discuss issues, make and second motions, and vote. Since the mayor is also a presiding officer at meetings, this can create a difficult situation on issues where the mayor may have strong views. In recognition of their dual role as participant and See Appendix A: Minnesota meeting facilitator, mayors may choose to limit their comments or save Mayors Association sample City Council Bylaws. their comments until all other members have had a chance to voice their views. However, this is not a legal requirement, just common practice. If the mayor has particularly strong views on an issue, some city policies on meeting management allow the mayor to step aside as presiding officer and for the appointment of a temporary presiding officer. • Presiding officers should allow all participants to speak and present their views. The role of the presiding officer is to facilitate the discussion. Most city policies on meeting management prohibit speaking out of turn and require the presiding officer to recognize a council member prior to speaking. The reason for this requirement is to prevent the inevitable disorder and confusion of many voices speaking at once. It also greatly simplifies the work of the minute taker and allows an accurate record to be created. Mayors should not use this authority to silence political opponents or suppress views with which the mayor does not agree. • Presiding officers should know and enforce applicable city policies on meeting management and/or rules of procedure. Successful meetings require leadership to keep participants on task. Most city policies on meeting management specify expected conduct for meetings that is essential to an organized meeting. For example, time limits on comments by participants, procedures for being recognized by the presiding officer before speaking, limits on public participation, formal language for making and amending motions, and procedures for voting. If the presiding officer is not familiar with or does not enforce the city policies or rules, often there is little recourse for other meeting participants to enforce the rules themselves. This may create frustration, delay, or unduly extend meetings, lead to confusion over actions taken, and potentially create embarrassment for the council as a whole. Minnesota Mayors Chapter 1-37 Association