HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - March 29, 2006 D-07 SMAGENDA ITEM blpl
CITY OF LODI
COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
AGENDA TITLE: Discuss and provide direction to staff regarding coordination of requests by Council
Members to place items on the agenda
MEETING DATE: March 29, 2006 (Special Meeting)
PREPARED BY: City Clerk
RECOMMENDED ACTION: That the City Council discuss and provide direction to staff regarding
how best to coordinate requests by Council Members to place items
on the agenda.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: This item appears on the agenda at the request of Mayor Hitchcock
to allow Council an opportunity to discuss how staff can most
efficiently and fairly respond to requests from Council Members to
place items on City Council agendas. In addition to the numerous
agenda items placed on City Council agendas by staff, there have been a number of requests by Council
Members to discuss various matters. The length of Council meetings is typically four to six hours and
there have been many instances where agenda items have had to be carried over to the next meeting,
due to a lack of time. Members of the public have expressed frustration and fatigue at having to wait
extended periods of time to speak on an item of interest to them. Below, for informational purposes, are
regulations which pertain to placing items on City Council agendas or speaking on non -agenda items
during a meeting.
Lodi Municipal Code Secfion 2.04.180, Preparation of Agendas, Matters may be placed on the agenda for
consideration by request of 1) any member of the City Council, 2) the City Manager, 3) the City Clerk, and
4) the City Attorney. Any reasonable request by any person named in this section shall be honored, subject
to the City Manager's discretion as to the preparation of accompanying staff reports.
Citv Council Protocol Manual, Section 6.3m, Council Comments on Non -Agenda Items, Council Members may
make comments on any non -agenda item. Comments are generally for informational purposes or to
request a future report on a matter; it is not intended for detailed discussion of an item or for action.
California Government Code Section 54954.2(a) (2), No action or discussion shall be undertaken on any item not
appearing on the posted agenda, except that members of a legislative body or its staff may briefly respond
to statements made or questions posed by persons exercising their public testimony rights under Section
54954.3. In addition, on their own initiative or in response to questions posed by the public, a member of a
legislative body or its staff may ask a question for clarification, make a brief announcement, or make a brief
report on his or her own activities. Furthermore, a member of a legislative body, or the body itself, subject to
rules or procedures of the legislative body, may provide a reference to staff or other resources for factual
information, request staff to report back to the body at a subsequent meeting concerning any matter, or take
action to direct staff to place a matter of business on a future agenda.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
FUNDING AVAILABLE: N/A�}
san J. lackston T�
ity Clerk
APPROVED: i'_—Z).�
Blair , Citv Manager
councilloouncom/Agendaltems.doc
Coordination of requests by Council Members to place items on the agenda
March 29, 2006
Page 2
b-7
CITY CLERKS NOTE: This is page 2 of
the staff report for Item D-7.
it was held from the meeting packet due to
internal questions and is now presented to
help facilitate Council discussion on the
matter.
OPTION #1: The City Clerk's Office prepares a "fending Council Requests' report that contains
excerpts from meeting minutes at which Council Members made a request, suggestion, or asked for
additional information. One option to address these matters in a systematic manner would be to
agendize this report on a routine basis for Council's consideration at a Special Tuesday morning meeting
(in -lieu of a Shirtsleeve Session). An advantage to this option is that it would allow Council Members an
opportunity to deliberate on the merits of the issue and determine whether there is an interest by others
to hear and consider the matter at a future regularly scheduled meeting.
OPTION #2: Schedule all items in the order requested;
OPTION #3: Schedule all items in the order of priority, taking into consideration the time sensitive nature
of the issue(s); or
OPTION #4: Compile agenda items requested by Council Members and schedule them for a Special
City Council meeting in months with five Wednesdays (i.e. to be heard at a meeting on the filth
Wednesday).
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
FUNDING AVAILABLE: N/A
n J. Blacks
City Clerk