2001-02-28 CC Handouts - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council - Individual Council Member Taken From LMC Handbook CITY COUNCIL AND ITS POWERS 1. This is a time of rising expectations, diminishing resources, and increasingly complex issues. 2. Balancing individual constituent interests with the long-term good of the community is becoming increasingly difficult. 3. In order to be an effective decision-maker, certain standards of conduct should be followed. 4. The laws and rules governing openness and ethics in government must be followed and promoted 5. Any actual or perceived conflict of interest should be avoided. 6. All members of the city council should encouraged high ethical standards in making decisions. 7. An ethical manner is essential to restore public confidence in our democratic institutions. 8. It is the duty of the mayor, clerk, and council members to ensure the city is properly exercising its functions, fulfilling its duties under the law, and not exercising powers that it does not legally possess. 9. Furthermore, the council must direct and control the actions of city employees, making sure they are properly carrying out their duties and not exercising authority they do not possess. 10. The voters of the city and the courts hold elected city officials responsible for the proper performance of these duties. 11. City officials can sometimes be held personally liable for failure to act, for improper actions, and for unauthorized actions on the part of the city. 12. To avoid personal liability suits; city officials should gain a working knowledge of the laws that regulate city government. 13. Whenever there is any doubt about the validity of an action or procedure, city officials should consult their city attorney. 14. One important step city councils can take to reduce the city's and their own exposure to lawsuits is to limit the activities of the city government to things the city can perform effectively and well. The council should not adopt ordinances unless they are enforceable. The city should not begin new projects and programs unless the city is committed to their success. A city council should determine what it expects the city to accomplish and keep the city's activities within the scope of the council's determination. This will reduce the possibility of an inadequate job, resulting in potential liability exposure. 15. Another way to reduce liability exposure is through training. 16. City officials should increase their knowledge of the decision- making process and develop new skills to add to their level of understanding. 17. The League sponsors a wide range of training opportunities for citysofficials. 1