Title
Adoption of Resolution Rescinding Resolutions 12567, 13031, 13304, and 14656 which Established the Rules of Order Governing the Proceedings and Order of Business of City Council Meetings and Adopting New Rules of Order Governing City Council Meetings; and
Introduction of Ordinance Amending the Alameda Municipal Code by Deleting Section 2-91.13.f of the Sunshine Ordinance Pertaining to Meeting Adjournment. (City Clerk)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers
From: Lara Weisiger, City Clerk, and Janet Kern, City Attorney
Re: Adoption of Resolution Rescinding Resolutions 12567, 13031, 13304, and 14656 which Established the Rules of Order Governing the Proceedings and Order of Business of City Council Meetings and Adopting New Rules of Order Governing City Council Meetings; and
Introduction of Ordinance Amending the Alameda Municipal Code by Deleting Section 2-91.13.f of the Sunshine Ordinance Pertaining to Meeting Adjournment
BACKGROUND
On May 2, 2017, Councilmember Matarrese brought forward a referral on the Rules of Order for City Council meetings (current resolutions attached as Exhibit 1). The City Council directed that the rules be reviewed by a Council subcommittee of Councilmembers Ezzy Ashcraft and Oddie and the Open Government Commission (OGC). The Council subcommittee’s review was presented to the OGC on February 5, 2018. The OGC formed a subcommittee to review the existing rules and provide recommendations, which were approved by the Commission on March 5, 2018 (Exhibit 2). The OGC suggested Council adopt and receive training on Rosenberg’s Rules of Order (Exhibit 3), with additional special rules that apply to Alameda. The Council subcommittee reviewed the OGC recommendations and made revisions, which are being presented to the entire Council for consideration.
DISCUSSION
The recommendation suggests adopting Rosenberg’s Rules of Order and carving out amendments that are specific to conducting Council meetings in the City of Alameda. The Council subcommittee reordered and amended the OGC recommendations, which are shown in redline in Exhibit 4. The Council subcommittee recommendations are incorporated in the proposed resolution.
The recommended rules include:
1) A supermajority vote of Council is required to suspend any rule
2) Proclamation recipient group comments are timed and limited to two minutes
3) Public comments on non-agenda items are limited to three minutes, with no ceding time and only allowing comment once on the same topic even where multiple meetings are held on the same night
4) Public comments on agenda items: are limited to three minutes for items with six or less speakers, two minutes for items with seven or more speakers, and one minute for items with thirteen or more speakers; no speaker may cede time to another; public comment is not permitted on motions; presentations and Council questions precede public comment; public comment shall not be used to elicit a debate and speakers shall avoid personal attacks of members of the Council, staff or public
5) Council and the public are permitted to remove items from the Consent Calendar for discussion
6) A Councilmember’s comments are limited to nine minutes per item
7) Three votes are required for any Council action, unless a supermajority is required
8) New items cannot be called after 11:00 p.m.
The rule to not allow new items to be called after 11:00 p.m. requires amendment of the Sunshine Ordinance. As recommended by the OGC, the change eliminates voting at 10:30 p.m. and eliminates the requirement for regular meetings to be added if three meetings in a row go past 11:00 p.m.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact from revising the Rules of Order.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
Municipal Code Section 2-1.7 addresses Rules of Order being set by resolution and Section 2-91.13.f addresses the 11:00 p.m. vote requirement that meetings be added under certain circumstances, and the 10:30 p.m. vote.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is not a project for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under CEQA Guidelines section 15061 (b) (3) as there is no possibility that this action may have a significant effect on the environment.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution which rescinds the previous Rules of Order and establishes new rules; and introduce an ordinance deleting Municipal Code Section 2-91.13.f pertaining to meeting adjournment.
Respectfully submitted,
Lara Weisiger, City Clerk, and
Janet C. Kern, City Attorney
Exhibits:
1) Rules of Order Resolutions
2) Open Government Commission Recommendation
3) Rosenberg’s Rules of Order
4) Council Subcommittee Redline Revisions