CCMIN091096 - Laserfiche WebLink

Conduct of Council Meetings Mr. Tarver then referred to time limits for speakers. He believed it was necessary to enforce the long standing rules and procedures about how Council meetings are conducted. He also wanted suggestions in a staff report on ways to limit the meetings. He urged people to present written material ahead of time. He wanted to be sure staff reports on agenda items are available a week before the meetings. He wanted developers to meet with the neighbors on all projects before they get to the Planning Commission and the City Council. Ms. Michelotti agreed with Ms. Mohr that Roberts Rules should be followed. She felt Council comments should be made after the public heating when the people have made their presentations. She wanted the staff presentation of the reports to be as succinct and brief as possible. She also wanted reconsideration of the rule which allows one Councilmember to continue an item; this costs in both public and staff time. She agrees Council must also limit its comments and she has been trying to do that. Ms. Acosta felt it would also be helpful to have motions made sooner. Mr. Tarver indicated he would do what was necessary to have an efficient meeting. He indicated his belief that Roberts Rules of Order was totally out of date for the way business is conducted today. He did not think procedural maneuvers based on Roberts Rules was in the public's best interests. All these issues need to be discussed so we can get to a better way to run meetings. Ms. Michelotti suggested a Council workshop to discuss this. She was also interested controlling that part of the meeting Open to the Public. Mr. Tarver indicated many cities allot a certain amount of time, such as fifteen minutes, and if there are fifteen speakers, each one gets one minute. Mr. Tarver wanted a procedure where speaker cards are filled out in advance, handed to the City Clerk, who then gives them to the Mayor and the Mayor calls on the speakers. That would get people up front and ready to speak. Ms. Dennis suggested a projected timeline for agenda items, so speakers know when a matter will be discussed. She felt it would be helpful to reword the agenda cover to make the procedures more clear. People should be aware that if written material is handed in early, it can be part of the agenda packet and she encouraged people to call early and not wait until the day of the Council meeting. Mr. Tarver also felt it would be helpful to change the mailed hearing notices to include wording that says people will have five minutes to speak to the Council and that people should present material in writing in advance. 09/10/96 -13-