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Council directs committee to draft code requiring a council member sponsor for legislation
Summary
Following a report from the committee on council processes, the Common Council directed that the committee proceed with legislation to require that every ordinance or resolution have a council member sponsor; the motion to continue work carried 8–1 on a roll call.
The Bloomington Common Council voted to direct the committee on council processes to draft an ordinance requiring a council member sponsor for every piece of legislation. Committee chair Pete Mossmith said the change would improve early communication between council members and the mayor’s administration and help ensure legislation is clearer to lay readers.
Mossmith said the committee’s proposal includes department‑to‑council assignments so that certain departments would have designated sponsor lists. “It would improve communication… and put council members in control of bringing legislation forward,” Mossmith said.
After questions and discussion about whether sponsorship implies support, the council moved that the committee proceed with work to draft code changes. The motion carried 8–1 on a roll call vote. The committee will return proposed code language for future action.
