TSAC adopts bylaws change to require rehearing of tie votes and forwards revised rules to city council

The Transportation Safety Advisory Committee voted on Feb. 4, 2026, to add a provision that requires reconsideration of requests that tie as a result of members’ absence and to forward the committee's revised rules and procedures to city council.

Committee members debated several proposed edits to the bylaws and rules of procedure, including who should present committee recommendations to council (chair vs. staff), whether the word "affirmative" should be retained for items forwarded to council, rehearing intervals for defeated items, and how to handle tie votes caused by absences. Scott Hughes (ACD manager) clarified distinctions between reporting to council and placing an item on the council consideration list.

On the tie-vote language, the committee considered adding paragraph 16.3: "In the event of a tie vote caused by committee members' absence, the request shall be considered at a future committee meeting where all committee members are present and voting on the item." The committee debated whether that standard should require all seven members or some other quorum and discussed the interaction with Robert's Rules of Order. After discussion the committee moved and seconded the proposed paragraph and approved it by voice vote.

Later in the meeting a member moved that the committee accept the revised rules and procedures as discussed and forward them to city council; the motion passed and the revised document will be presented to council for review and action. Committee members said the city manager and staff will coordinate council presentation, with the chair available to attend or designate a member as needed.

The committee did not adopt a shortened rehearing interval for defeated submissions and left the 365-day rehearing provision in place unless new pertinent safety information is provided. Members said the intent is transparency to the council while limiting unnecessary repeat hearings.