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Issaquah council forms ad hoc committee to review rules of procedure
Summary
The Issaquah City Council voted unanimously Feb. 23 to form an ad hoc committee to review council rules and procedures (AB 9,137), with councilmembers urging the group to consider appointment seniority, a finance/audit committee and a social media policy.
The Issaquah City Council on Feb. 23 voted unanimously to establish an ad hoc committee to review and recommend amendments to the councilrules of procedure, returning a formal recommendation to the full council at the May 4 meeting.
City Clerk Tisha Gieser, who presented the proposal, said the committee would review a list of potential changes ranging from community listening session rules to the process for placing new business on the agenda. "We're suggesting that the Council form an ad hoc committee to consider some revisions to your rules, returning to the full Council with a recommendation at the May 4 meeting," Gieser said.
The proposed list Gieser reviewed included 23 items; she highlighted nine she considered more significant: community listening sessions, the new-business request process, the structure of committees (including whether to form an audit or finance committee), a social media policy, and revisiting how seniority and abstentions are treated. Gieser said an ad hoc committee could meet two to three times in March and April and is typically dissolved after it issues its recommendation.
Councilmember Walsh urged the committee to consider two additions: easing restrictions that have required exceptions to place council members on standing committees and examination of whether a separate finance and audit committee should be created. "We continually have council make an exception to our rules in order to appoint council members to standing committees," Walsh said, adding that a finance/audit body could be structured as standing or temporary.
Deputy President Martz moved to establish the committee under AB 9,137; the motion was seconded and carried by unanimous voice vote. The council agreed to convene membership discussions and to return a recommendation by the May 4 meeting.
The committee will be appointed consistent with council rules and could choose its chair at its first meeting. The council did not make decisions on specific rule changes at the Feb. 23 meeting; the ad hoc group will consider public input and staff suggestions during its review.
