HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-01-2014* Special Council Operations
c'Ty or- �--�� Committee
October 1, 2014 - 3:30 PM
f°— WASHINGTON City Hall Conference Room 3
CALL TO ORDER
A. Roll Call
Chair Wagner called the Special Council Operations Committee meeting to
order at 3:30 p.m., in Room 3 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 and City Engineer Ingrid Gaub, and City
Clerk Danielle Daskam.
B. Announcements
There was no announcement.
C. Agenda Modifications
There were no agenda modification.
11. CONSENT AGENDA
There was no consent agenda item.
III. DISCUSSION ITEMS
A. Independent Salary Commission Appointments
Chair Wagner recessed into executive session at 3:35 p.m. for 30 minutes in
order to discuss the qualifications of the potential appointments to the
Independent Salary Commission pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(g). Mayor
Backus, City Attorney Heid and Director Roscoe attended the executive
session.
The Committee reconvened at 3:50 p.m. and took a 10 minute recess.
The meeting reconvened at 4:00 p.m.
B. Council Rules and Procedures
City Attorney Heid stated the topic covers both Ordinance No. 6532 and the
Council Rules and Procedures.
The Committee requested Special City Council meetings added to the
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ordinance under the same format as regular meetings. The Committee
discussed that the Study Sessions will be held at 5:30 p.m.on the first, third
and fifth Mondays of each month and the Regular meetings will be held at
7:00 p.m.the second and fourth Mondays of each month. There will no longer
be any Committee of the Whole or Council Operations Committee meetings.
The changes would take effect January 1, 2015.
The Committee discussed the seating arrangements for the dais at Council
meetings. The Committee discussed the difference between regular Council
meetings, Special Council meetings and Study Sessions.
The Committee discussed the First and Second readings of Ordinances.
Both readings are at Regular City Council meetings. The Council can choose
to discuss the ordinance at a study session also. The ordinances will be
listed on the agenda under either first or second reading.
The Council discussed the Council reports section on the agenda. They
discussed reducing the amount of time each Councilmember can talk, topic
discussed, repeating topics, and the Mayor's report.
The Committee discussed the formation of an ad -hoc committee. The Deputy
Mayor would appoint the members to an ad -hoc committee. The
Committee requested language to be added to clarify an individual
Councilmember can request information or action from the Mayor, but only
the full Council can direct the Mayor. The Committee discussed the
procedure for moving items from the Study Session agenda to the Full
Council agenda.
The Committee discussed how they would handle an ethics violation by a
Councilmember. They discussed who would appoint the members of the ad
hoc committee to investigate potential violations.
The Committee discussed allowing the Mayor to appoint Councilmembers to
represent the City at various local, regional and national committees and
ensuring the City has a strategy for assigning Councilmembers to each
committee.
Committee members discussed the selection process for Deputy Mayor. City
Attorney stated the selection is guided by state statute, which provides
biennially at the first meeting of the new Council, the Councilmembers shall
select from among their councilmembers a person to serve as Deputy Mayor
and is included in the Council Rules under Section 12.1.
Mayor Backus noted the Council has voted on the selection of Deputy Mayor
at the last Council meeting of the year to ensure a Deputy Mayor is in place
until the first meeting in the new year. The selection of the Deputy Mayor is
then confirmed by the Council at its first regular meeting in January.
Member Wales suggested that the Council annually review the designation of
Deputy Mayor.
Member Wales questioned the Council's travel authorization. Mayor Backus
explained the Council travel budget is approved by budget. The Council
rules, Section 18.1, provide, "...approvals or expenditures of travel related
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costs and /or approval of specific travel events or activities by
Councilmembers beyond the authority provided in the travel policy shall be
as follows:....."
Upon further discussion, the Committee members recommended inserting
the words "and budget' so that the section reads in part, "...travel events or
activities by Councilmembers beyond the authority provided in the travel
policy and budget shall be as follows:...." Mayor Backus recommended
Committee review of the travel policy.
Committee members agreed that the special meeting of the Council
Operations Committee scheduled for October 13, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. be
changed to a special Council meeting for the purpose of discussing proposed
Ordinance No. 6532 and Resolution No. 5105.
Committee members discussed the effective date of the proposed ordinance
to change the format of the Council Committees to Council study
sessions. Mayor Backus recommended the transition take place January
2015.
Committee members recommended an effective date of January 1, 2015 for
Ordinance No. 6532. The reference to the commencement of Council Study
Sessions will be removed from the new Code Section 2.06.010(B) and
Section 39 of the ordinance will be modified to reflect an effective date of
January 1, 2015.
It was consensus of the Committee to recommend City Council approval of
Ordinance No. 6532, as modified.
Committee members recommended the Ordinance appear on the October
20, 2014, City Council agenda.
It was the consensus of the Committee to recommend approval of Resolution
No. 5105.
Committee members recommended the Resolution appear on the October
20, 2014 City Council agenda.
C. Council Study Session Issues
See Council Rules and Procedures above.
IV. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting adjourned
at 5:40 p.m.
APPROVED this 3� L�day of October, 2014.
Rich Wagner, ChaitO Danielle Daskam, City Clerk
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