Committee reviews emergency meeting rules and raises questions about term limits and board composition

Committee members reviewed model charter language on emergency meetings and emergency ordinances and asked whether the committee wished to adopt similar thresholds. The model language discussed allows the council to act promptly on a public emergency "affecting life, health, property, or public peace" on the call of the mayor or a designated number of council members, with limits on taxing authority and short-term borrowing; the sample number discussed for emergency action was six affirmative votes.

Members also raised two other governance issues in shorter discussion. Several commissioners recalled earlier consideration of term limits; the transcript shows there is already an existing two-term limit in the charter, and the committee noted that some model charters recommend no term limits but that the committee had previously considered and retained two-term limits. Finally, members asked whether city employees should be prohibited from serving on boards and authorities. Staff and counsel noted the composition of authorities and many boards is typically established by ordinance or bylaw and can be addressed separately.

The committee asked staff to include the emergency language and a summary of the term-limit and board-composition issues in the next meeting packet for further drafting and potential motions.