HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-28-2014 ([Date/Time])CITY or_
Council Operations Committee
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July 28, 2014 - 2:00 PM
Council Conference Room -City Hal
WASHINGTON MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER
A. Roll Call
Chair Wagner called the Council Operations Committee meeting to
order at 2:00 p.m., in the Council Conference Room at Auburn City
Hall, 25 West Main Street in Auburn.
Members in attendance included Chair Rich Wagner, Vice Chair Bill
Peloza and Member Largo Wales. Also in attendance were Mayor
Nancy Backus, City Attorney Daniel B. Heid, Community
Development and Public Works Director Kevin Snyder, Assistant
Director of Engineering Services / City Engineer Ingrid Gaub and
Deputy City Clerk Shawn Campbell.
B. Announcements
There was no announcement.
C. Agenda Modifications
Discussion of the Council Rules and Procedures was added to the
agenda.
CONSENT AGENDA
A. July 9, 2014 Minutes
Vice Chair Peloza moved and Member Wales seconded to approve
the July 9, 2014 meeting minutes.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3 -0
III. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. Transition from Standing Committees to Study Sessions
The Committee reviewed and updated the Council Study Session
Format document. The Committee asked for the document to be
added to the next Council Operations Committee meeting
agenda with track changes. The Committee discussed when and
how to allow citizen comment at study sessions. Vice Chair Peloza
wanted to ensure all information and comments are made to the full
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Council at one time. Chair Wagner wanted to ensure the public's
right to comment and be heard is referenced in the document. The
Mayor will still have the authority to assemble a taskforce for added
citizen involvement.
The Committee discussed raising the Mayor's signing authority. City
Attorney Heid stated the surrounding cities are not consistent with
the amount or a formula used in designating the signing
authority amount for the Mayor. The amount for the City of Auburn
has not been increased since Mayor Booth. Chair Wagner stated he
believes there should be some oversight by Council. Mayor Backus
noted the money still has to come out of the budget and a budget
amendment would have to be passed ratifying the changes.
The Committee asked staff to bring forward an ordinance increasing
the Mayor's signing authority to $50,000.00.
Chair Wagner stated he is concerned with taking away the oversight
of Council regarding design standards. Assistant Director Gaub
explained the Council would still be consulted for items that affect
the quality of life for the citizens of Auburn.
Matrixes
Director Snyder explained the staff recommendation for matrixes.
Once the Council has transitioned to study sessions the matrixes
would be emailed to Council for their review. The matrixes would not
be included in the study session packet. If a Councilmember has a
question regarding an item on a matrix they can either ask the
Mayor or bring it forward to the next study session.
Councilmember Wales stated it is important to keep the Capital
Projects matrix in its current form. The information is very concise
and easy to understand.
The Committee discussed some of the items they would like to see
on the new matrixes. Mayor Backus suggested sending the matrixes
back to the Committees with the new template and request each
Committee recommend the items that will need to be added to
the new matrix format.
C. Council Rules and Procedures
Mayor Backus noted the Council Rules currently state a
Councilmember is encouraged to defer the detailed reporting for an
item on the agenda until the discussion of the item on the agenda.
The Committee discussed Council reports becoming very long and
including items that are not City business. Mayor Backus noted she
reminds the Council before Council Reports start that this is 8traF2 of 3
to report on City business and actives from local, regional and
national level committees. The Committee stated Councilmembers
will need to monitor themselves on this item.
Mayor Backus stated each Councilmember could do a report on
Channel 21 to inform the public of their activities.
The Committee requested the August 25, 2014 Council Operations
Committee meeting be rescheduled to August 11, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.
IV. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 3:20 p.m.
Approved this \ \' day of August, 2014.
Rich Wagner, Chair Shawn Campbell, Deputy City Clerk
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