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Maricopa council adopts streamlined committee rules; changes 'liaison' to 'liaisons' and clarifies goals vs. agendas
Summary
The Maricopa City Council approved a one-page ordinance to simplify committee procedures, change references from singular 'liaison' to plural 'liaisons,' and direct that committee goals should originate from council direction or liaison recommendations; the change takes effect after a 30-day grace period.
The Maricopa City Council voted June 20 to adopt a streamlined one-page ordinance that revises how city advisory committees set goals and agendas and adjusts language throughout the document to reflect that committees may have multiple council liaisons.
Councilmember Marsh proposed a change to the draft that replaced the phrase “agenda topic should originate by council direction” with language directing that “goals should originate by council direction in an open meeting setting or as recommended by council liaisons,” and added that meeting agendas should support those goals. The change was discussed and accepted by the council; several members emphasized the intent that committees retain flexibility to set agendas consistent with assigned goals while council liaisons and the chair coordinate agenda language.
Councilmember Gettle asked whether references to a single council liaison should instead be plural when committees have more than one council member assigned; Marsh and staff agreed and the ordinance was amended throughout to use “liaisons.” City Manager Horst clarified that specific committee duties and agendas would still be set by resolution for each committee and that committees could meet at whatever frequency the council and chair determine.
Councilmembers also discussed a 30-day grace period to allow existing code to remain in effect until the new ordinance takes effect; the council encouraged the city’s three committees (Age-Friendly, Cultural Affairs & Arts, and Parks, Recreation & Library) to finalize their goals for the coming fiscal year and present them by resolution during that transition period.
A motion to adopt the ordinance with the stated modifications was made by Councilmember Marsh, seconded by Councilmember Gettle, and carried on a voice vote with no roll-call tally recorded in the transcript.
The ordinance directs staff and committee chairs to coordinate agenda language with council liaisons, and gives the council flexibility to add items to committee agendas when necessary. The change is procedural and does not itself reassign committee memberships or change committee powers; individual committee scopes and duties will be formalized by resolution following the ordinance’s effective date.
