Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Code Of Ethics topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council restarts code‑of‑ethics review, declines strict limits on public comment; approves consent agenda and a first‑reading ordinance
Summary
Council directed staff to restart the code‑of‑ethics update while declining to severely restrict public comments; the council unanimously approved the consent agenda and passed first reading of an ordinance revising TAC board meeting times.
At the Jan. 5 meeting staff presented a refreshed review of the city's code of ethics and related procedural rules and asked council for direction on several contested points, including executive‑session language, attendance definitions, public‑comment rules and a possible council censure provision.
Staff recommended removing a duplicated list of executive‑session topics from the local code because state law already defines what may be discussed in closed session. On attendance, staff advised that definitions of excused and unexcused absences are best handled via council resolution rather than ordinance so the council can adjust them more easily in the future.
Public comments: Staff presented an option to limit in‑meeting public comments to agenda items and have off‑agenda concerns handled in writing for staff follow‑up. Several council members pushed back, emphasizing that public‑comment time allows constituents to raise a broad range of community issues; no restrictive change was adopted during the workshop.
Censure language: Council discussed a proposed council‑censure procedure. Staff cautioned that censure provisions often lack enforceable penalties beyond public reprimand and removal from committee assignments; they also noted that removing an elected official from office is outside the council's authority. Members cited recent regional examples where censure was used as a formal reprimand but has limited practical effect.
Council actions: Later in the meeting the council moved to approve the new‑business consent agenda; the motion was seconded and "the motion passes unanimously" (transcript records unanimous approval; individual roll‑call votes were not recorded). The council also took a first reading of ordinance 20260-4, which updates TAC board meeting times (item submitted by Chris Lord); the motion for first reading was moved, seconded and carried unanimously on first reading.
What's next: Staff will bring back a redraft of the code of ethics and related ordinance language in a workshop/first‑reading format after incorporating council feedback; attendance definitions will be returned as a proposed resolution. No final ordinance adoptions occurred on Jan. 5.
Ending: The meeting adjourned after the first reading; council asked staff to return with revised drafts and proposed resolutions.
