Fremont City Council Meeting: 10/08/24 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: City Attorney's Office
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Plans, Policies and Studies
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 5287) DOC ID: 5287
Updated: 10/3/2024 3:12 PM by Dina Lewis Page 1
REVISE CITY COUNCIL HANDBOOK OF RULES AND PROCEDURES -
Consideration of Revisions to the Council Handbook to Update the Procedure for Requests for Ceremonial Recognition, Add a Handbook Acknowledgement Form, and Make Minor Clerical Corrections to the Document.
Contact Persons:
Name: Rafael Alvarado
Title: City Attorney
Div/Dept: City Attorney's Office
Phone: 510-284-4030
E-Mail: [email protected]
Executive Summary: The following report is being presented to the City Council for consideration of adoption of a resolution to amend the City Council Handbook of Rules and Procedures. The amended handbook updates the procedure for requests for ceremonial recognition, adds a handbook acknowledgement form, and makes minor clerical corrections to the document.
BACKGROUND: Since the incorporation of the City of Fremont in 1956, City Councils have relied on the City Council Handbook of Rules and Procedures (“Council Handbook”) as a guide to conduct business as a group and a tool to facilitate public meetings. The content of the Council Handbook is a series of procedures and rules developed by past and present councils. In December 1997, the City Council adopted the existing Council Handbook.
Throughout the past twenty years, amendments have been made periodically by resolution.
The purpose of the Council Handbook is to serve as a convenient reference and guide for conducting the business of the City at public meetings by listing relevant procedures, practices and customs. The primary users of the handbook are the City Councilmembers, City Manager, City Attorney, and City Clerk. It is a public document.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: At the September 17, 2024 City Council meeting, the City Council unanimously adopted a motion directing City staff to update the Council Handbook to clarify that individual Council members cannot request proclamations and to create a handbook acknowledgement form. Accordingly, City staff recommends that the City Council approve the attached updated City Council Handbook that includes the following proposed edits:
• Appendix C, Requests for Ceremonial Recognition: Adds the following sentence to the second paragraph: “No individual Council member shall submit requests for ceremonial items, issue ceremonial items on behalf of the City of Fremont, or commit the City to approving requests for ceremonial items without the approval of the Mayor.”
• Appendix D, Council Handbook Acknowledgement Form: Adds a form for Council members to sign that acknowledges: (1) receipt of the Council Handbook, and (2) the Council member’s responsibility to review the Handbook.
Council Staff Report (ID # 5287) Meeting of October 8, 2024 Updated: 10/3/2024 3:12 PM by Dina Lewis Page 2
All changes are reflected as Track Changes in the attached draft of the Council Handbook.
Other minor non-substantive changes are also noted in Track Changes in the attached draft of the Council Handbook.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: The updated Council Handbook is an organizational, and/or administrative governmental activity that is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378 and pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) in that the activity is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Since it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the proposed amendments may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Draft Resolution - Council Handbook of Rules and Procedures • Draft Updated City Council Handbook of Rules and Procedures
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt a resolution amending the City Council Handbook of Rules and Procedures.