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Aiken council approves ordinance allowing consent agendas to streamline routine items
Summary
On second reading the City Council amended city code to permit consent agendas for noncontroversial items and outlined a public-removal process and online form; council approved the change unanimously.
Aiken City Council on Aug. 11 approved a change to the city code that allows the use of consent agendas for routine or noncontroversial items at council meetings.
City attorney/staff presented the ordinance amending section 2‑64 of the Aiken City code and described a public-notice and online form process for identifying items proposed for the consent agenda. Staff said consent-agenda items would typically be matters that passed unanimously on first reading and that the council would include a cover memo indicating when an item would be placed on consent. The package shown to council included sample legal ads, an online form for citizens to request an item be removed and a mock-up of how a prior agenda would have looked with a consent agenda in place.
Councilwoman Roehl moved the ordinance on second reading and Councilman Walt seconded; after public comment and brief discussion the measure passed unanimously. Mayor Milner led the vote.
Staff said the online form would be available when the agenda is published (usually four days before the Monday meeting) and that members of the public who do not see an item in advance may still present a request the night of the meeting before the gavel comes down to have the item pulled from consent and discussed. City staff emphasized the council intends to exercise restraint in using the consent agenda and that funding matters and controversial items would not be placed on consent.
