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Council adopts written 30-day notice protocol for council events; city manager to receive requests
Summary
After nearly two hours of debate, East Point City Council on Oct. 6 adopted a protocol requiring council members to submit event requests (budget, time, location, description) in writing to the city manager at least 30 days before the event; the measure passed after an amended motion. Council signaled that events already scheduled within 30 days
East Point City Council voted Oct. 6 to adopt a simple written-notice protocol for events initiated by council members or listed in the council-events budget.
Under the adopted protocol, council members must submit an event request in writing to the city manager at least 30 days before the scheduled date. Each request must include a proposed event budget, the expected time, a location and a brief description. The council amended the motion to specify written submission (email is acceptable) and to require a 30-day lead time. The measure passed on a council vote during the meeting.
Council discussion was lengthy and wide-ranging. Supporters said the rule would improve advance planning, allow staff to coordinate permits, security and other logistics, reduce staff overtime and avoid last-minute advertising that creates confusion for residents. Opponents said the council—s budget already lists many events and that requiring a second layer of approval or a 30-day rule could interfere with long-standing annual events.
Mayor Holliday Ingram and several council members said the motion was intended as a housekeeping step to ensure staff have adequate lead time and to keep the council informed; Attorney Wiggins advised that the new protocol would apply prospectively (adopted rules are effective from the date of passage) and not retroactively. Council agreed that events already scheduled within 30 days of Oct. 6 would be grandfathered; staff said they would work to coordinate those planned events.
Ending — The new protocol requires written notice to the city manager (email allowed) at least 30 days before an event, including budget, time, location and description. Council asked staff to publish the protocol as part of event planning procedures and to present a consolidated calendar of city and council events to aid coordination.
