CC_Minutes_2009_0105 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Regular City Council Meeting Monday, January O5, 2009 Page 7 City Manager Malinen noted that some ordinances were being considered under the Consent Agenda; however, the General Ordinance section had been created to provide for public comment on those items. Mayor Klausing noted Councilmember Ihlan's previous concerns that ordinances creating laws for the City should not be included under the Consent Agenda; and further noted that a formal Public Hearing was not required when enacting an or- dinance. Councilmember Ihlan reiterated her previous request on page two, first paragraph, of the Rules of Procedure, that the second and last sentences of that paragraph be removed, opining that they were cumbersome and served no purpose. Council- member Ihlan further opined that there was no good policy reason to make it harder for Councilmembers to bring items forward to be included on an agenda. Mayor Klausing clarified the language and intent of that paragraph, as well as the one immediately following, that allowed for a mechanism to address items com- ing up after preparation of the agenda, but of atime-sensitive nature; and allow- ances for a simple majority vote of the City Council to include such items. Mayor Klausing briefly noted that this item had been reviewed several times in past dis- cussions; and reviewed his original concerns and intent in proposing the language as currently written. Mayor Klausing noted that, in the past, individual Council- members frequently added agenda items immediately before an agenda came out, allowing no opportunity for other Councilmembers, or staff, to consider necessary background information and informed decision-making by the City Council as a whole. Mayor Klausing noted that from those past discussions, and at the rec- ommendation of Councilmember Roe, each agenda now included a section for "Councilmember Initiated Future Agenda Items," that appeared to work exceed- ingly well. Mayor Klausing opined that he was not inclined to further revise that language. Councilmember Roe questioned what advantage would be found in revising the language from that written, when a simple majority vote can determine whether an item be added or removed. Councilmember Ihlan opined that the presumption was whether the Council wanted to make it harder for individual Councilmembers to raise issues by putting a procedural impediment in place requiring that additional hoops be jumped. Mayor Klausing polled individual Councilmembers as to their interest in revising the language as proposed by Councilmember Ihlan; with no interest indicated. Councilmember Johnson opined that the last paragraph of Rule 3 appeared to provide sufficient mechanisms for any further changes.