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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 Page 1 of 3 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 Page 2 of 3 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 Page 3 of 3