AgdaPkt 2012-11-19 - Laserfiche WebLink

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6.2. C. - Page 1 RE PO RT To the Honorable Mayor and City Council From the City Manager November 19, 2012 SUBJECT A Guide to City Council Communications & Business RECOMMENDATION By resolution approve policy entitled "A Guide to City Council Communication & Business." BACKGROUND Mayor Aguirre appointed Council Members Foust and Seybert to an ad hoc committee to work with the City Attorney to develop procedures for the conduct of business before the City Council including guidelines for public participation. The ad hoc committee recommends that the City Council adopt the guide that is attached to this staff report. ANALYSIS A core value of the City is integrity which is enhanced through public participation and civic engagement, which the City Council encourages. The proposed guidelines describe how the City Council conducts its business and describes the rights and obligations of individuals who wish to speak during City Council meetings. Some of the key features are: � Rosenberg's Rules of Order serve as a general guide to procedural matters. (Section IIA) • Civility and respectful discourse is encouraged. Prohibited and discouraged conduct is described in more detail in Section IIC. • In order to assure the orderly conduct of business, public comment guidelines are included such as — no yielding of time to another speaker and speaker cards will be collected at the start of public comment so the mayor may determine the time each speaker will be allotted. (Section III) • Order and time allotted for public presentations during hearings on land use and/or zoning matters and on appeals. (Section IV) • Best practices regarding ex parte communications. (Section IVD) • Procedures for City Council correspondence including use of letterhead and use of titles on candidate endorsements and ballot measures. (Section VI)