Boulder council study session advances process-review items; staff to scope mayor-pro tem, declarations and email rules

Boulder's City Council study session reviewed a package of procedural changes recommended by a council process working group and directed staff to investigate several items further, including formalizing mayor pro tem selection rules, examining code changes for landmark reviews and drafting a comprehensive declarations policy.

The working group, formed after the council's 2024 retreat, prioritized 15 ideas and brought six forward to the full council for direction. Pam Davis, assistant city manager, presented the items as matters that would require council direction before staff could develop formal proposals.

The six areas presented were: - mayor pro tem selection (whether the informal tradition favoring the longest-serving member who has not previously served should be codified); - landmark and historic-preservation review (whether to reduce council review through code amendment or appeals); - mandatory full-council participation in annual evaluations of council employees; - rules limiting use of community email addresses and other contact information to official council business; - formalizing how ceremonial speaking opportunities and Council Agenda Committee (CAC) substitute assignments are shared; and - a full review and…