Title
Adoption of Resolution Amending Resolution Nos. 15382, 15697, 15766, 15772 and 15875 to Amend 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 10022020)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Lara Weisiger, City Clerk
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Council adopts Rules of Order to govern the proceedings of City Council meetings. Amendments are being proposed to address the Consent Calendar, make speaker times uniform and add a section about reviewing, changing or rescinding prior Council actions.
BACKGROUND
On May 15, 2018, 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 and March 15, 2022. Amendments are being proposed to the Consent Calendar and speaking times, as well as adding a new section regarding reviewing, changing or rescinding prior Council actions.
DISCUSSION
The proposed amendment to the Rules of Order makes changes to Section 4 to allow Councilmembers to ask brief questions or make brief statements on Consent Calendar items without pulling the item for a full discussion. These brief questions or statements would be within each Councilmember’s allocated three minutes for the Consent Calendar. A Councilmember wishing to have a presentation or full discussion of a Consent Calendar item may pull the item and it will be heard after Regular Agenda Items. An amendment is also being proposed to have consistent time limits for members of the public to comment whether on Consent Calendar, Non-Agenda or Agenda Items. For any public comment period, fewer than five (5) speakers would have three (3) minutes and five (5) or more speakers would have two (2) minutes.
Lastly, under Rosenberg’s Rules of Procedures which Council incorporated into its Meeting Rules of Order, a motion to reconsider a prior Council action must be taken at the same meeting and made by a Council member who voted in favor of the motion. Otherwise, the item may be reconsidered only if 4/5 of the Council votes to do so. Notwithstanding that provision, it has always been understood, and the practice has been that a majority of the City Council has the discretion to review, change or rescind a prior decision. Accordingly, to clear up any possible uncertainty, staff is recommending that a new Section 10 be added to the Meeting Rules of Order to expressly provide that placing an item on an agenda at a future meeting to review, change or rescind a prior Council action is not considered a reconsideration of the prior action and does not require a 4/5 vote.
A redline version outlining all of the amendments to the Rules of Order is attached as Exhibit 1 to the staff report.
ALTERNATIVES
City Council could:
• Adopt the changes as presented;
• Amend the proposed changes;
• Suggest other changes; or
• Take no action.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact from revising the Rules of Order regarding the presentation time limits.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
Alameda Municipal Code Section 2-1.7 addresses Rules of Order being set by Resolution.
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.
CLIMATE IMPACT
There are no identifiable climate impacts or climate action opportunities associated with the subject of this report.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a resolution amending Resolution Nos. 15382, 15697, 15766, 15772 and 15875 to amend the Rules of Order governing City Council meetings.
Respectfully submitted,
Lara Weisiger, City Clerk
Exhibit:
1. Rules of Order - Redline