Council directs staff and attorneys to draft revised committee structure, seeks package before formal vote

The Monroe City Council on March 11 reviewed a proposed overhaul of the city’s committee system and directed staff and the city attorney to prepare a formal package defining committee types, roles and process flow before the council takes any formal vote.

Under the proposal discussed at the strategic planning meeting, the city would replace the current labels (standing and advisory) with two clear types: council committees (chaired by council members, typically with three council members and required attendance by legal and finance staff) and citizen committees (composed of citizens only, chaired and supported by the relevant city department). A new Citizen Advisory to Council (CAC) committee was proposed as a centralized body where department-chaired citizen committees would forward vetted recommendations to the council.

Proponents said the change would reduce administrative burden by limiting routine attorney and finance attendance to council committees and clarify where items such as budgetary proposals, contracts and awards are routed. The council did not approve the structural change at the meeting; instead it asked the attorney and manager to "put some meat on these bones" and return with a drafted package for formal consideration. The transcript shows counsel and staff advised that no formal vote is required to request drafting; council members confirmed consensus to move forward with that direction.

The council also discussed whether certain existing citizen groups (for example, homelessness and addiction, and the Winchester Revitalization Committee) should shift responsibilities to new committees or be discontinued. Staff will draft definitions and a flow chart and return the complete package for future council action.