Committee narrows rule to allow joint subcommittee meetings only with full-council approval

The Turner Rules Committee voted Tuesday to amend Rule 9 to clarify how joint subcommittee meetings may be held.

Under the adopted change, subcommittees generally may not meet at the same time or on the same night unless the full city council previously approves a joint meeting. Committee members also added language directing that if a joint meeting would comprise a majority of the full council, the council may instead call a committee of the whole for that subject.

Proponents said the amendment addresses confusion about past joint meetings and ensures proper notice and compliance with open-meeting rules. Councilor Linda Bacon raised concerns that two chairs could otherwise arrange a joint meeting with insufficient notice and potentially create a de facto special council meeting; the amendment’s requirement of prior council approval was intended to address that risk.

Several members suggested alternative approaches: one speaker noted some municipalities use a committee-of-the-whole structure for recurring, multi-committee matters, and the committee asked the law department for guidance about membership and voting in joint meetings.

The committee approved the amendment by voice vote.