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Livingston council opens discussion on formal agenda-setting policy, directs staff to research models
Summary
Councilors debated a proposed policy that would standardize how items get placed on city council agendas and asked staff to compile examples from similarly structured cities; no formal policy was adopted.
The Livingston City Council spent substantial time Tuesday discussing a proposed policy to standardize how council meeting agendas are set and how items from council members and staff are added or removed.
Council Member Rupaul introduced a draft agenda-setting policy after citing a recent dispute over who may place items on the agenda. "I feel like this is something that we all should be held to the same standard and the same process of placing items on the agenda," Rupaul said, proposing that council members generally obtain approval from at least one other council member to place an item on the agenda, while allowing a limited number of "entitled items" that any council member could place unilaterally (one open-session and one closed-session item under the draft).
City Attorney and staff explained there are differing legal interpretations about mayoral authority to set agendas depending on whether a mayor is elected or appointed and pointed to guidance from the California League of Cities and municipal code language that references the mayor s presiding officer. Staff flagged potential conflicts with the Livingston municipal code (cited during discussion as section 1-6-4) and recommended any final policy be vetted to avoid Brown Act issues. The council asked staff to research how comparably sized cities with an at-large elected mayor handle agendas and to return with model council-protocol documents. City Manager Lopez and the city attorney emphasized the need for a written strategic plan and clearer council protocols to prevent ad hoc agenda inflation and to give staff clearer priorities.
No ordinance, rule change or formal vote on the draft policy was taken at the meeting. Council directed staff to research agenda-setting and council-protocol documents from similar jurisdictions and return with a recommendation.
Ending: Staff will compile sample agenda-setting policies and council protocols from comparable cities (with elected at-large mayors and similar population) and return with a proposed draft for council review.
