Lynnwood council holds workshop on Robert’s Rules led by Anne McFarland

Lynnwood City Council held a work‑session training on Jan. 15, 2025, led by parliamentary trainer Anne McFarland of Jurassic Parliament that reviewed Robert’s Rules of Order and local meeting procedures for council members and staff.

The two‑hour workshop, presented as Item 6(a) on the agenda, covered quorum and open‑meeting requirements, consent‑agenda practice, minutes content, points of order and appeals, the eight‑step motion process, amendments, vote counting and recusal, and recommended public‑comment protocols. McFarland delivered examples and role‑play exercises to illustrate how chairs and members should manage debate and maintain decorum. No formal council votes or policy decisions were taken during the session.

Why it matters: Clear procedures affect how the council conducts public business, how the public is heard and protected under Washington law, and how the body complies with the Open Public Meetings Act. McFarland emphasized that stronger meeting practices can reduce confusion, legal risk, and public frustration while improving the council’s ability to deliberate and act.

McFarland opened by saying the training aimed to “energize you to run effective meetings to serve your community.” She repeatedly urged council members to treat the authority of the group as primary: “the authority of the group is more important than any single individual, even the chair,” she said.

Key points covered

- Quorum and open‑meeting risk: McFarland explained that a quorum is based on fixed positions (not current…