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Committee asks clerk and solicitor for report on petitions, resident standing and 90‑day rule
Summary
Committee discussed Rule 11 and who may place petitions, and the chair issued four chairman’s orders asking the clerk and city solicitor to report on roles and best practices for residents petitioning the council, how the 90‑day rule has been used historically, and how petitions are placed on agendas.
The Municipal Legislative Operations Committee took up a transmittal about Rule 11 and what processes govern placement of petitions, orders and resolutions on the city council agenda.
City Solicitor and city clerk staff explained the charter requires that citizens have a reasonable opportunity to be heard but does not clearly define who may place petitions on the agenda; Rule 11 and longstanding practice give the clerk responsibility to place items, subject to legal review. The clerk noted practice differs across municipalities: some cities restrict petitions to residents or require a councilor sponsor, while others allow public petitions broadly.
Chairperson Councilor Morris Bergman instructed the clerk and solicitor to prepare reports under chairman’s orders. The committee’s requests included: (1) a report from the city clerk and solicitor on the roles of residents and councilors in placing items on the city council agenda; (2) a report on the best process for residents to petition their elected officials; (3) a review of the 90‑day rule’s history and relevance to petitions; and (4) a general review of how other cities manage petitioning and agenda placement. The committee filed the transmittal and held the matter pending those reports.
