Keizer council amends rules of procedure; one councilor calls the change "chilling"

The Keizer City Council adopted a resolution amending its rules of procedure to add clarifying language about proclamations and to add a new paragraph about initiating inquiries or investigations under the council—s internal oversight procedures.

City Attorney Lindsey explained the amendment was drafted after a recent request that the council clarify how proclamations are recognized (formal presentation versus informal recognition) and to place language about initiating oversight inquiries in a prominent location within the rules. The proposed language references the internal oversight process included elsewhere in the rules document.

One councilor, Kathy Clark, said the added language could chill council oversight and the ability of members to request public records or ask procedural questions. Clark said, "I find this change to be chilling," and said she would vote no because she feared members would be discouraged from seeking information pertinent to public fiduciary responsibilities.

Other councilors said the language was intended to set a clear process so the full council, rather than individual members, would authorize investigations or formal inquiries. After discussion, Council President Starr moved the resolution; the council adopted it by a 6-1 vote (Councilor Clark voted no).

Ending

With the adoption of the amended rules, the council established the clarified proclamation language and the added oversight initiation paragraph; the council did not change any statutory reporting obligations and the attorney advised that statutory duties (for example, mandatory reporting requirements) would supersede internal rules where applicable.