Title
Adoption of Resolution Reauthorizing Resolution No. 16104, which Amended the Rules of Order Governing City Council Meetings Concerning the Consent Calendar, Speaking Times for the Public and Reviewing, Changing or Rescinding Prior Council Actions. (City Clerk 10012010) [Continued from May 21 and June 4, 2024]
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Lara Weisiger, City Clerk
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
When City Council authorized amendments to the meeting Rules of Order concerning the Consent Calendar, speaking times, and reviewing, changing or rescinding prior Council actions, the motion included direction to have the amendments return to City Council for reauthorization after six months.
BACKGROUND
On May 15, 2018, the City Council adopted Rules of Order governing City Council meetings. The Rules of Order were amended on September 15, 2020, February 16, 2021, May 4, 2021, March 15, 2022, and October 3, 2023. When the City Council adopted Resolution No. 16104 in October 2023, the motion directed that the amendments return to City Council in six months for review and reauthorization.
DISCUSSION
The amendment to the Rules of Order changed Section 5 to allow the Mayor or Councilmembers to ask brief questions or make brief statements on Consent Calendar items without pulling the item for a full discussion or Councilmembers may pull items to request a presentation or full discussion. Any Consent Calendar items pulled are heard after Regular Agenda Items. The changes seem to have effectively streamlined the Consent Calendar.
Another amendment adjusted public comment time limits to be consistent across all sections of the agenda. For all public comment periods, fewer than five speakers may comment for three minutes and five or more speakers may comment for two minutes.
Lastly, a new Section 10 was added to address motions to reconsider and capture the practice of the City Council majority having the discretion to review, change or rescind prior decisions. Section 10 expressly provides that placing an item on an agenda at a future meeting to review, change or rescind a prior City Council action is not reconsideration of the prior action and does not require a 4/5 vote.
ALTERNATIVES
• Adopt the resolution to keep the adopted City Council Meeting Rules of Order in effect; or
• Amend the resolution and provide direction to staff; or
• Rescind Resolution No. 16104 to revert to the prior Rules of Order.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact from revising the Rules of Order.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
Alameda Municipal Code Section 2-1.7 addresses Rules of Order being set by Resolution. This item relates to the City’s Fiscal Year 2023-26 Strategic Plan priority to Practice Fiscally Responsible, Equitable and Inclusive Governance.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. This action is not a project pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21065 and CEQA Guidelines section 15378.
CLIMATE IMPACT
There are no climate impacts from amending the Rules of Order governing City Council meetings.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution amending Resolution Nos. 15382, 15697, 15766, 15772, 15875 and 16104 to reauthorize amendments to the Rules of Order governing City Council meetings.
Respectfully submitted,
Lara Weisiger
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Margaret O’Brien, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Council Meeting Rules of Order