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Agenda Report
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DATE: APRIL 4, 2022
TO: HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CITY COUNCIL AD HOC COMMITTEE - COUNCILMEMBERS MADISON,
WILLIAMS, AND MAYOR GORDO
SUBJECT: INFORMATIONAL ITEM RELATED TO AGENDIZING CITY
BUSINESS PRIOR TO PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS NOT ON
THE AGENDA, ON A TRIAL BASIS
RECOMMENDATION:
This report is provided for information only; no action is required at this time.
BACKGROUND:
A City Council ad hoc committee composed of Councilmember Madison, Councilmember Williams, and Mayor Gordo was formed to discuss and analyze City Council procedural issues and rules related to meetings. Included with the committee's review was a discussion on the format of Council meetings and how to make meetings more efficient and ensure the public's opportunity to provide timely input and allow for thoughtful decision-making on the important business before the City Council.
During meetings, it was noted by the committee that public matters on the Council's agenda should be the focus of Council meetings, and should therefore occur prior to public comment on matters not on the agenda. By shifting matters noticed and agendized for Council action to occur first, it was the committee's intention to ensure the timely consideration of agendized items and provide members of the public with the opportunity to give public comment prior to action by the City Council. Further, it was noted by committee members that decisions on agendized items are the final action of the City, and often constitute the public's last opportunity to support or oppose an action under Council consideration. Moreover, members of the public will continue to retain the right and opportunity to speak to matters not on the agenda during public comment at the meeting, and also in writing prior to or subsequent to all meetings. For these reasons, the committee agreed that agendized and noticed items that the public is expecting to be discussed, and which often constitutes the final decision by the City on such matters, should have precedence over matters not on the agenda.
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One other consideration in taking public comment on matters not on the agenda at the end of the meeting is its close ties to City Council requests that occur at the end of the agenda for future agenda items. Often, comments on matters not on the agenda prompt members of the City Council to briefly ask questions and request more information from staff or for a future discussion on the topic. In this way, these two related aspects of the meeting regarding brief comments on matters not on the agenda will now occur at the same point in the meeting.
As part of its review and discussion, the ad hoc committee requested meeting rules, procedures, and information for similarly sized cities. This change is consistent with cities such as Glendale and Santa Monica, where public comment on matters not on the agenda occur at the end of meetings (community announcements occur in the middle of the agenda in Glendale). Likewise, at the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor meetings, public comment on matters not on the agenda occur after the Board's consideration of agendized items.
Recognizing the importance of providing an opportunity for all residents to address the Council, and consistent with the provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act, those who wish to speak on matters not on the agenda may do so at the end of the meeting. As stated previously, this change is being put forward on a trial basis to determine if the ad hoc committee's direction provides greater efficiency to City Council meetings and increases the public's opportunity to weigh in on matters noticed and agendized for City Council consideration, where a vote often represents the City/City Council's final action.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the proposed action.
Respactuly submitted
Uak m. st
Victor M. Gordo
Mayor of Pasadena