Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Administrative Publication Bonds topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Staff proposes modernizing notices and code delivery; commission discusses bond language cleanup
Summary
Commissioners discussed allowing website publication of ordinances if state law permits, stopping paper distribution of the code to officials, and clarifying redundant bond language across the charter.
City staff recommended several administrative updates to the charter during the May 21 work session, including allowing website publication of ordinances (if state law permits), stopping routine paper distribution of the city code to officials, and removing redundant bond language.
A staff member told the commission that pending state legislation would permit cities to publish ordinance notices on their websites rather than pay for newspaper publication. "Newspaper publication is very expensive...Most cities would highly favor the ability to have the option to publish on the website instead of, publishing instead of newspaper publication," the staff member said. Commissioners discussed access concerns for residents without internet access and suggested the city provide alternative options such as paper copies at City Hall or the library.
Staff also proposed amending the charter to stop requiring a printed code be given to city officials because the code is available online and city email accounts exist for council members. "As it stands now, when an ordinance is adopted, it becomes a permanent city record... They could come on-site and inspect the documents," a staff member said. Commissioners supported updating the requirement to reflect modern electronic distribution.
On bonds, staff noted redundant language across Article 3 and Article 12 about the council's authority to require bonds for officers and employees. "These sections are, again, they're not inconsistent...But if we were, for example, to remove section 3.17, it may not be apparent to the voters why," staff said. Commissioners agreed streamlining could be reasonable but indicated caution about removing options without clear voter education.
Ending: Staff will draft charter language allowing optional website publication if state law permits, update code-distribution requirements to reflect digital delivery, and propose streamlined bond language while preparing voter-facing explanations if redundancies are changed.
