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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-28-2014 ([Date/Time])CITY or_ Council Operations Committee �U.. 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 Page 1 of 3 0 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 Page 3 of 3