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City attorney outlines council‑directive rule: "Not an ordinance or a resolution"
Summary
City Attorney David Rashid briefed the council on Rule 22 (council directives), explaining what directives are, when they should and should not be used, and the process for drafting and approving directives; he emphasized directives cannot reallocate funds or micromanage staff.
City Attorney David Rashid gave a presentation explaining the council-directive rule (Rule 22), describing directives as a legislative tool to issue policy guidance or request research and implementation by administration rather than as formal legislation.
Rashid said directives are intended to provide visibility and accountability for council-led initiatives but are not a substitute for ordinances, resolutions or budget actions. "What a council directive is not, it's not an ordinance or a resolution," he said, and emphasized that directives cannot allocate money or be used for routine operational decisions. He walked through the process: identify the need, draft the directive (written preferred), place it on the agenda, move and second it (it cannot be voted on the same night it is introduced), communicate to the mayor and staff, and monitor implementation.
Council members asked clarifying questions about the location of the final rulebook on the city website and a proposed committee-level variant called "council directive junior"; staff confirmed the rulebook is posted on the alderman page and encouraged members to review the materials before using the directive process.
Rashid also offered practical questions for members to consider before issuing a directive—whether the item is necessary, whether someone is already addressing it, and whether a directive would divert staff resources from higher priorities.
