Council unanimously asks staff to return with options for oversight and budget‑process reforms

Following presentations and public comment, councilmembers coalesced around a series of procedural reforms and asked staff to return with options and proposed language. Councilmember (speaker 6) moved that the council ask staff to bring back items for discussion, including requiring the finance director’s presence in closed‑session MOU negotiations, an annual grant funding report by department, reformed budget workshops, an orientation and government‑finance basics program for newly elected members, and the formation and scope of a financial oversight committee. The motion received broad support and the council registered a 5‑0 consensus to pursue those follow‑ups.

Councilmembers debated whether the review of past decisions should be handled by an independent panel or sent to the grand jury; several members recommended an advisory finance review body focused on future oversight and improved reporting. Staff indicated participation in an advisory committee would not place an undue burden on the finance team; the council asked staff to return with specific structures and timelines for the proposed reforms.