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Council members raise concerns about adding agenda items on the fly
Summary
After social media posts about Mount Vernon adding agenda items during meetings, Stanwood councilors discussed whether last-minute additions are allowed; legal counsel said RCW rules allow changes in some contexts but adding items mid-meeting is generally discouraged and special meetings may not add unposted items.
Council members raised concerns on July 9 after reading social media reports that the Mount Vernon City Council had added items to agenda during meetings. A council member asked whether a city council can change the agenda "on the fly."
Legal counsel (speaker 11) and others noted that council rules and Robert's Rules of Order generally frown on adding items during a meeting; counsel said it is permissible to amend the agenda at the beginning of a meeting (for example to add walk-on items) but that special meetings are limited to actions on published agenda items only. “You can amend the agenda at the beginning of the meeting like we sometimes do with walk on items... But I wouldn't say it's best practice to add things on the fly,” counsel said. The discussion emphasized best practices and the importance of following council rules and state law for special meetings.
