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Who controls the council agenda? Webinar urges written rules to prevent disputes
Summary
The webinar advised mayor–council cities to adopt clear agenda rules — including processes for multiple council members to request items — to head off recurring disputes over what gets discussed at meetings.
Jared, legal director at the Utah League of Cities and Towns, identified agenda control as a common flashpoint between mayors and council members and recommended that councils adopt explicit rules and regulations that define how items are added. He gave one example: some cities require two or more council members to request an item from the council chair to ensure it appears on the agenda.
"The council should adopt rules and regulations of a meeting," Jared said, recommending communities spell out how to pass ordinances and how items are placed on agendas. He said setting these procedures early reduces conflict by clarifying expectations about the chair's role versus the council majority's power.
