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Council deadlocks on rule change after heated debate over "urgent" business and process
Summary
After extended debate over council rule 21(c) concerning urgent/new business items, an amendment to restore the original language passed 8–4 but the primary rule change failed 4–8. Councilors debated transparency, minority participation and use of 'urgent' items, citing recent uses to introduce time-sensitive resolutions.
Missoula City Council debated and voted on proposed changes to council rule 21(c) at the Aug. 11 meeting. The proposed change would have replaced the existing “urgent items” language with language authorizing only “emergency” actions under Rule 27 or unforeseen fiscal/contracting matters to be added to the City Council agenda for new business without prior committee consideration.
An amendment by Councilor Daniel Carlino to revert the item back to the original version brought forward at the committee meeting passed on a roll-call vote, 8–4. The committee’s original proposal — which Councilor Bob Campbell and Councilor Vaseca (name in transcript) had sponsored — would have retained a broader “urgent items” standard only after specific limiting language was applied. After the Carlino amendment passed, the council then voted on the original proposed rule change; that…
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