Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission declines to adopt proposed changes to council rules; debate centers on authority and process
Summary
A proposal to amend council rules (align language with Robert’s Rules, change agenda submission language and clarify suspending rules) failed after commissioners disagreed about whether changes would shift power from commissioners to the mayor and whether the rules had been vetted.
The commission considered proposed amendments to the council rules, including clarifying that suspending rules requires a two‑thirds vote (to align with Robert’s Rules) and revising how agenda items are submitted. Supporters said the changes correct technical conflicts between local rules and Robert’s Rules; opponents said the changes were vague, give undue power to the mayor and had not been fully vetted.
Commissioners debated packet timing, agenda submission processes and historical context — including references to the charter and the emergency-manager era. Several commissioners said the item had been discussed repeatedly in committee and asked for more time for review; others pressed for correcting what they described as an existing conflict with Robert’s Rules. A motion to approve the amendments failed when it did not reach the required two‑thirds threshold.
Outcome: Motion to adopt the proposed council-rule amendments failed; the existing council rules remain in effect.
