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House State Affairs committee backs bill to codify local consent calendars
Summary
The House State Affairs Committee voted to send House Bill 172 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation after hearing testimony for and against codifying consent-calendar procedures for city and local boards.
The House State Affairs Committee voted to send House Bill 172 to the House floor with a do-pass recommendation after hearing mixed testimony on whether the state should define consent-calendar procedures for local governments.
Representative Elaine Price, R-Coeur d'Alene, told the committee HB 172 would add language to state code clarifying that a consent calendar is for routine, ordinary business and that a single council member may pull an item for separate consideration. "This is just adding in code some clarity about what a consent calendar is," Price said.
Supporters argued the measure would improve transparency and protect the public. Kelly Packer of the Idaho Association of Cities told the committee that consent calendars are appropriate for routine items such as minutes and payables and that the bill adds clarity that "it cannot include major items and that one member of a governing body may pull that item off the consent agenda to be considered separately." Packer said the association helped redraft the language and supports the bill.
Opponents said the bill would unduly interfere with local control. Ed De Priest, a Hayden city council member testifying on his own behalf, said the measure was "about the state infringing on the autonomous rights of cities to conduct their meetings as is best for them," and asked the committee to deny the bill.
Committee members who spoke included Representative Alfieri (who moved the motion to send the bill to the floor), Representative Barbieri, Representative Scogg and others. Several members said they supported the bill as a minimum step to ensure that items of significance are not passed without public discussion. Representative Skog said the bill is a step toward greater transparency but that she would prefer requiring procedural manuals at the city level.
The committee approved the motion to send HB 172 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. The motion was put by Representative Alfieri and carried (voice vote; individual tallies were not recorded on the transcript).
