LODI CITY COUNCIL -
SPECIAL
Carnegie Forum
305 W. Pine Street
AGENDA - Special Meeting
Date: January 30, 2025
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Mayor Cameron Bregman
Mayor Pro Tempore Ramon Yepez
Councilmember Lisa Craig-Hensley
Councilmember Mikey Hothi
Councilmember Alan Nakanishi
Notice Regarding Public Comments
Public Comment may be submitted in the following ways:
• In-person
• Email – [email protected]
> Received no later than two hours prior to the meeting • Mail – City Clerk’s Office, P.O. Box 3006, Lodi, CA 95241 • Hand delivered to: City Clerk’s Office, 221 W. Pine Street, Lodi, CA 95240 > Received no later than two hours prior to the meeting Public comment received via email, mail, or hand delivery will be provided to the City Council and included in the official minutes record of the meeting, but will not be read aloud at the meeting.
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING
City Council, Economic Development Ad Hoc Committee,
Greater Lodi Area Youth Commission, Library Board of Trustees, Lodi Arts Commission, Lodi Improvement Committee, Lodi Senior Citizens Commission, Measure L Citizens' Oversight Committee, Parks and Recreation Commission, Personnel Board of Review, Planning Commission,
and Site Plan and Architectural Review Committee
A. Call to Order / Roll Call
B. Regular Calendar
B.1 Receive Public Meeting Management and Local Official Training Refresher (CA) Attachment 1 - PowerPoint PresentationAttachments:
1 City Council - Special AGENDA January 30, 2025
C. Adjournment
Pursuant to Section 54954.2 (a) of the Government Code of the State of California, this agenda was posted at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled meeting at a public place freely accessible to the public 24 hours a day.
______________________________
Olivia Nashed
City Clerk
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All staff reports or other written documentation relating to each item of business referred to on the agenda are on file in the Office of the City Clerk, located at 221 W. Pine Street, Lodi, and are available for public inspection .
Agendas and staff reports are also posted on the City’s website at www.lodi.gov. If requested, the agenda shall be made available in appropriate alternative formats to persons with a disability, as required by Section 202 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12132), and the federal rules and regulations adopted in implementation thereof. To make a request for disability-related modification or accommodation contact the City Clerk’s Office as soon as possible and at least 24 hours prior to the meeting date. Language interpreter requests must be received at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting to help ensure availability. Contact Olivia Nashed at (209) 333-6702. Solicitudes de interpretación de idiomas deben ser recibidas por lo menos con 72 horas de anticipación a la reunión para ayudar a asegurar la disponibilidad. Llame a Olivia Nashed (209) 333-6702. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Meetings of the Lodi City Council are telecast on SJTV, Channel 26. The City of Lodi provides live and archived webcasts of regular City Council meetings. The webcasts can be found on the City's website at www .lodi.gov by clicking the meeting webcasts link. Members of the public may view and listen to the open session of this meeting at www.facebook.com/CityofLodi/.
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2 AGENDA ITEM B.1
COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
AGENDA TITLE:
Receive Public Meeting Management and Local Official Training Refresher (CA) MEETING DATE:
January 30, 2025
PREPARED BY:
Katie Lucchesi, City Attorney
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Receive Presentation from Colantuono, Highsmith, and Whatley, PC on Public Meeting Procedures and Refresher Training on Local Official Obligations.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Due to numerous requests from City staff and members of City of Lodi Boards and Commissions, the City Attorney’sOffice coordinated with the law firm Colantuono, Highsmith, and Whatley, PC to provide training on public meeting procedures and tips for those officials that chair City meetings. This training will also provide an overview and refresher of local official obligations to conduct City business in compliance with the Ralph M.
Brown Act and other state laws, Lodi Municipal Code, and City meeting procedures. The presentation and training will be conducted by Michael Colantuono, from Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC, and a copy of the presentation slides are included as Attachment A to this item.
STRATEGIC VISION:
8B. Public Well-Being: Partner with other entities to provide outreach, education and activities to engage diverse cultures and communities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Not applicable.
FUNDING AVAILABLE:
Not applicable.
_______________________________________
Katie O. Lucchesi
City Attorney
City of Lodi Printed on 1/29/2025Page 1 of 1
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3 GETTING HOME BY
MIDNIGHT
Meeting Management Tips
for Local Officials
Presented by:
Michael G. Colantuono, Esq.
1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 1 4 Goals of Meeting Management
1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 2
• Comply with the law
• Balance efficiency w/ public input
• Make meetings shorter
• Relieve “meeting anxiety”
• Deal w/ disruptive people
• Avoid parliamentary paralysis
• Present a public face of competence,
civility, and efficiency
5 Public Participation Requirements
1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 3
• Brown Act: off-agenda, on-agenda,
and special meeting comment
• Public Hearing Requirements
• Due Process
• First Amendment – no content-
specific regulation other than to
preserve purpose of the meeting
6 1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 4 • Roles strictly observed
• Audience speaks only when called on
• Time limits apply
• Councilmembers speak when called on
• No straying from the topic
• No debates / communication via chair
• Rules of decorum & procedure
strictly followed
Types of Meetings - Formal
7 1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 5 • Fewer barriers between audience
and Council Members
• Town-meeting atmosphere
• Participation is encouraged and
less structured
• Generous or no time limits
Types of Meetings - Informal
8 1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 6 • Attendance
• Controversy
• Skill of Chair
• Potential for Disruption
• Length of Agenda
• Size of Meeting Room
• Seating of Council Members and Audience
• Broad- or web-casting
How Much Formality is Needed?
9 1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 7 • Formality is a tool for meeting
management
• Use as much as is needed for the
circumstances
• You need not employ the same
degree of formality at all times,
or in all settings
How Much Formality is Needed?
10 1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 8 Audience Problems
• Hostile audience
• Disruptive “regulars”
• Exceeding time limits
• Wandering from subject
• Speaking on every issue
• Refusing to take “yes” for an answer
• Rude behavior & personal attacks
Why Meetings Go On and On
11 1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 9 Staff problems
• Unprepared staff
• Incomplete staff reports
• Non-responsive answers
• Overly talkative staff
Why Meetings Go On and On
12 1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 10 Agenda Problems
• Poorly organized
• Overly long
• Poorly timed closed sessions
• When matters agendized
–Too soon for meaningful discussion
–Too late for meaningful discussion
Why Meetings Go On and On
13 1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 11 Chair Problems
• Too passive
• Too controlling
• Unprepared, disorganized
• Fails to perceive the mood of
the group and allows one
person to dwell on something
when group ready to move on
Why Meetings Go On and On
14 1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 12 Council Member Problems
• Talking too much
• Failure to distinguish large from small
issues
• Unprepared / reading reports at the
meeting
• Disorganized
Why Meetings Go On and On
15 1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 13 • Limited public participation at start of meeting
• Public Hearings Early
• Consent Calendar – and Pulled Items – Late
• Start and Finish on Time
• Use Study Sessions
• Schedule Closed Sessions so as not to keep
the public waiting
• Be realistic about agenda length
Organize the Agenda
16 1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 14 • Council Member may request an item be
considered on a future agenda, subject to
manager’s control of staff resources
• Staff will prepare a staff report if formal
Council action is required and/or to
determine if the Council as a whole wants to
devote substantial staff resources to a topic
Adding Items to Agenda
17 Be Prepared
1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 15 • Ask questions at meetings the public needs
to hear; get your own information needs
met “off-line”
• Give staff a heads up about
public questions
• Read the agenda packet and note questions
& comments where you can find them
18 1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 16 • Don’t violate the Brown Act by deciding
matters outside of meetings
– Daisy chain and serial meetings
– Email and social media
• Don’t give the impression you aren’t
listening
• Be careful about using electronic devices
during meetings
Don’t Be Too Efficient
19 Manage Public Input
1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 17 • Use speaker lists and pre-announce
next few speakers
• Enforce reasonable time limits
• Insist speakers address the Council
(position podium to reinforce this)
• Allow Council Member questions of
speakers, but discourage debates and
dialog
20 Manage Public Input
1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 18 • Consider “Council Member response” and
“staff response” times after public
comment
• Keep the audience informed as to
where you are on the agenda & where you
are headed
• Be polite and encourage courtesy –
be firm about heckling, booing, harassment
21 1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 19 Options
• Rise above it
• Respond in kind
• Remind audience to be civil
• Meet with offenders privately
• Positive reinforcement
of good behavior
Dealing with Disruptive People
22 1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 20 • Take a break
• Eject a violator after
on-the-record warnings
• Clear the room of all but press
Only the first option is without legal risk
Dealing with Disruption
23 1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 21 • Encourage people to avoid repetition
• Ask for a show of hands
• Allow a spokesperson more time
• Curb straying from the subject
• Discourage applause and demonstrations
• Enforce time limits
• Prohibit dialogs
• Encourage written submittals
• Reflective listening
Discourage Repetition
24 Staff Reports
1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 22 • Summarize rather than read reports
• Give the public enough information
to follow the discussion
• Avoid debates with public
or Council Members
25 Manage Conflict
1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 23 • Manage debates and prevent repeated debates
on an issue
• Chair should remain above the fray
• Cooperate to create a positive image for
the Council and the City
• Rotate the Chair
• Team-building, retreats, study sessions, and
social contacts to foster cooperation and trust
26 Manage Conflict
1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 24 • Disagreement is inevitable;
mistrust is not
• Don’t send people home angry
if you can avoid it
27 1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 25 Don’t Attack Staff
• You look like a bully because staff can’t defend
themselves
• Negatively impacts morale and encourages staff
turnover
• Staff takes direction from the City Manager, not
you or
whole Council
• Makes the City look incompetent (You hired these
people, didn’t you?)
• Questions about staff’s performance should be
addressed with the City Manager or in closed session
28 1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 26 Council’s Relationship with Staff
Under a City Manager form of government,
elected & appointed officials prohibited
from:
• Directing staff as a body or as
an individual.
• Getting involved in day-to-day City
operations.
Lodi Municipal Code, §§ 2.12.070, 2.12.100
City Staff
City Official
29 1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 27 Relationship With City Manager
• City Council can only give order to City
Manager during a Council meeting
• Individual Council Members can’t give or
attempt to give instructions to the City
Manager
Lodi Municipal Code § 2.12.060 [Manager
works for Council as a whole]
30 1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 28 Don’t Attack Each Other
Treating each other with respect:
• Encourages teamwork on community issues.
• Maintains residents’ confidence in the City.
• Keeps discussions centered on community needs.
• Sets a positive example for constituents.
• Fosters understanding and productive solutions.
• Enhances Council’s credibility and effectiveness.
31 1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 29 Consequence of Incivility
• Disengaged public
• Damaged relationships
• Stressful for staff
• Alienates voters
• Long, drawn out meetings
• Community fracture
32 Written Procedures
1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 30 • Consider written rules of
decorum and procedure
• Disseminate written rules by
placing them with agendas and
speaker slips
33 1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 31 REMINDER!
You already have decorum rules…
Lodi Municipal Code § 2.04.150
• Council Members. While the council is in session, the members must preserve order and decorum, and a
member shall neither, by conversation or otherwise,
delay or interrupt the proceedings or the peace of
the council nor disturb any member while speaking
or refuse to obey the orders of the council or its
presiding officer, except as otherwise provided by
this chapter. Any member who, after being warned
by the presiding officer or city attorney, repeatedly
violates these rules may be ejected for the
remainder of the meeting by two-thirds vote of the
other council members present.
34 1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 32 REMINDER!
You already have decorum rules…
Lodi Municipal Code § 2.04.150
• Other Persons. Any person who utters language
or engages in conduct that disrupts, disturbs or
otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of any
council meeting shall be warned by the presiding
officer to cease such disruptive behavior. After
issuance of such warning, a person continuing
with disruptive behavior can be barred from
further audience at the meeting before the
council, unless permission to continue is granted
by a majority vote of the council.
35 1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 33 • Adjourn at a reasonable hour
• Take breaks – 7th inning stretch
• Snacks
Know Your Limits
36 1/29/2025 © 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC 34 37 COLANTUONO, HIGHSMITH & WHATLEY, PC
© 2025 Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC1/29/2025 35
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