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Committee backs amendment to send multi-committee bills to committee of the whole
Summary
The committee gave a favorable recommendation to O 9-26 and its amendments, including a mayoral amendment that would require matters referred to more than two standing committees to be heard by the committee of the whole instead of in multiple separate committees.
The Rules and City Government Committee voted to give a favorable recommendation to O 9-26, which updates the standing-committee provisions of the city code. Members discussed three amendments and supported a mayoral amendment that would send legislation referred to more than two standing committees to a committee of the whole rather than subjecting it to multiple separate committee meetings.
A committee member argued the change makes practical sense for efficiency: "Once you get 2 committees, you get 6 of us. When you get 3 committees, you got 9 of us," the member said, urging consolidation to reduce duplicated staff work and overlapping public broadcast obligations. The committee moved and seconded the favorable recommendation and approved the measure as amended by voice vote.
Supporters said the change would streamline consideration of cross-cutting legislation and reduce pressure on staff and broadcast resources; the committee did not record individual roll-call votes in the transcript. The legislation will move forward to the full council with the committee's recommendation.
