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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/06/1995 FEBRUARY 6, 1995 CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MINUTES CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO 7500 W 29TH AVENUE The City Council Study Session was called to order by Mayor Wilde at 7 00 P m Councilmernbers present Rae Jean Behm, Don Eafanti, Vance Edwards, Jean Fields, Ken Siler, Tony Solano, and Claudia Worth Also present City Clerk, Wanda Sang; City Administrator, Robert Middaugh; Parliamentarian, Mary E Bahde, PRP; and staff The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Council Rules of Order and Procedure Motion by Mr Edwards to suspend for the entire meeting the City Council Rules of Order and Procedure pertaining to the section regarding no public comment shall be entertained at a study session, to allow citizens to speak regarding their concerns and on public comment; seconded by Mrs Fields, carried 7-0 Mr Middaugh introduced Mr Ed Arnold, Executive Director and Dr K L Pattison, Sr Pastor, Clear Creek Valley Baptist Church; representing Children's Services of Colorado, Inc Dr Pattison and Mr Arnold outlined the mission that Children's Services provides is to minister to children and increase their quality of life and be of service to families Consensus was 4-3 that the City Council conduct and take care of City business first and then allow for public comment Mr Middaugh explained and briefly commented on his memo of January 23, 1995, and what he suggested was not to eliminate, to restrict, to ban or abolish public comment What he was suggesting that there is a problem in the way that we communicate and that it would be advantageous to the City to find new and improved additional ways in which to communicate public comments, to have public debate and discussion on the various issues that come before the City Discussion on Council Rules of Order and Procedure Section 2 , GENERAL RULES Consensus was 7-0 Section 2 3, Comoellinq Attendance; Add that upon absences by Councilmernbers they notify the City Clerk, and the City Clerk will duly notify City Council at the beginning of the meeting why a Councilmernber is absent CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MINUTES, FEBRUARY 6, 1995 PAGE 2 Consensus was 7-0 Section 2 4, Right of Floor. That this section be clarified, that the word debate be changed to discussion, and that City Council has the right to speak two times, five (5) minutes each, and questions and reading into the record is not held against that time Consensus was 7-0 Section 2 4, Riqht of Floor; Delete the last two sentences starting with the word "If " Consensus was 7-0 Section 2 8, Elected Officials That the present Section 2 8 be deleted Consensus was 7-0 Add a new Section 2 8, Duties of Parliamentar- ian. The duties of the Parliamentarian should be to advise City Council on Parliamentarian Rules, and should be the person that keeps the time clock as to the two five minutes presentations by members of City Council Section 3 TYPES OF MEETINGS. Mayor Wilde stated this portion of the rules deals with the types of meetings held by City Council Mr Edwards stated he has requested proposed changes to this section be placed on the Agendas for February 13 and February 27 for consideration He filed the proposed changes with the City Clerk February 3, 1995 He outlined the proposed change for Section 3 1, Regular Meetings. Delete the last sentence starting with "No public comment and ending with the word participate," and be replaced and changed under what would be notified Monday under agenda as stating "Public Comment is permitted at Study Session in accordance with Section 8 2 of Council Rules " Consensus was 7-0 Section 3 1, Regular Meetings. That citizens be allowed to comment only on specific items that are placed on the Study Session agenda Mr Edwards states under Section 3 1 1, Pre-Meetinqs. And suggested that the section starting with the sixth line, delete beginning with the word "members of the public may not participate in any discussions held at such informal exchange of information between Council members and staff as to ongoing City projects and problems," and be replaced with a sentence stating "Public Comment is permitted at Pre-Meetings and informal session " Consensus was 7-0 that the proposed change stated by Mr Edwards for Section 3 1 1 Pre-Meetings. Be considered CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MINUTES, FEBRUARY 6, 1995 PAGE 3 Discussion on Section 3 4 Executive Sessions. Mr Edwards stated that he has had concerns where an Executive Session has been held and he felt that it was not legally held and moved that it be terminated and the meeting was not terminated, but he still felt that it was illegal He questioned that according to the wording in this section that he must stay at a meeting that he feels is illegal Consensus was 4-3 under Section 3 4 Executive Sessions. leave as is, but delete in the last sentence starting with the word "censure of elected officials," Consensus was 7-0 delete entire Section 3 6 Beveraqe allowed ln Council Chambers. Section 4 CHAIRMAN AND DUTIES Consensus was 7-0, under Section 4 3 Council President. Change that the City Attorney shall be designated Parliamentarian for Council Meetings, and incorporate what was adopted by City Council December 12, 1994 Mr Solano work with Mr Edwards in developing wording for a job description for Council President Section 5, ORDER OF BUSINESS AND AGENDA Discussion of Section 5 3 Aqenda, centered around not setting up introducing of agenda items prior to meeting Consensus was 4-3, Section 5 3 Aqenda. Add to the rules that when an agenda item that represents any district, or the people from that district, have the first right to introduce it Any other item on the agenda, if you want to call and ask the Chair to introduce that item, and that should be allowed also, first come first serve--needs clarification Mr Edwards read his proposed changes to 5 4 Time Schedule: stating "Consensus of a majority of a Council Committee or any two Councilmembers who wish to place a subject on the agenda must notify the City Clerk's Office, and file all backup documents by noon on Wednesday preceding the Monday on which Council meets Each Councilmember shall be allowed to originate only one item per meeting to be added to the agenda " He explained the reasons for the proposed changes Mayor Wilde stated for clarification ln Section 5 4, to put an item on the agenda it must be submitted two Fridays prior, but then the backup material must be submitted by Wednesday preceeding the Monday meeting CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MINUTES, FEBRUARY 6, 1995 PAGE 4 Consensus was 4-3, Section 5 4 Time Schedule. That wording be added stating, "concerning wednesday documentation be provided at noon, that any two members of Council can add an item to the agenda, and that they be able to add one item per meeting, and that the City Clerk or Council President be given that notification " Consensus was 5-2 Section 5 5 Public Hearinq Add wording "A rebuttal by the applicant and a rebuttal by the opponent stating their position " Section 7 BOARDS, COMMISSION AND COMMITTEES Consensus was 5-2 Section 7 1, Creation of Modify and state "Only the City Council may create boards, commissions, special or select committees to assist in the conduct of the operation of the City Government with such duties as may be specified not inconsistent with the City Charter(Sec 9) and Code of Laws Ken Siler recommended that we re-Iabel 7 3 and substitute a subparagraph of 7 3, and add that the Mayor may appoint from time to time special members to special or select committees as needed Section 7 2, Membership and Selection. Delete that last sentence Section 8 CITIZEN'S RIGHTS Mr Edwards read the current wording in Section 8 1 Public Comment and then stated his proposed changes under Section 8, Public Comment. and his reasons for the change Discussed substituting the word "subject" for "item" Consensus was 5-2 Section 8 1 Public Comment To be changed to read; "Any person may speak for a maximum of three minutes on any item other than Agenda items Speakers must sign the Public Comment roster Public Comment shall always precede all other official business except Call to Order, Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call, Approval of Minutes, and Proclamation or Ceremonies There shall be no restriction on the number of citizens who wish to speak under Public Comment The content of any speaker's comments under Public Comment cannot be censored That a person is allowed to donate time to other speakers to a maximum of nine minutes, and that no written comments will be entered into by the Chair unless a member of the public is present to read them into the record " Consensus was 3-4 to delete Section 8 4 Manner of Addressinq Council. (Failed) CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION MINUTES, FEBRUARY 6, 1995 PAGE 5 Discussed having a compeling interest in government issues Consensus was 6-1 Section 8 4 Manner of Addressinq Council, delete the sentence "There will be no argument between speakers and Council " Consensus was 7-0 Section 8 4 Manner of Addressinq Council, add the word to the sentence "Members of the audience are ASKED to maintain a decorous attitude and not make audible responses " Consensus was 7-0 to add a new section, Section 11 ROBERT RULES OF ORDER, and adopt Amended Newly Revised Edition of Robert Rules of Order Public Comment by speakers in the audience followed There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 11 37 P m , \ ... - ~- Wanda Sang, City ~C~erk