Alternate Dispute Resolution
The Alternate Dispute Resolution process provides for the efficient, fair, and consistent resolution and/or administration of complaints against individual City Councilmembers by other Councilmembers.
The first step in resolving any conflict among Councilmembers should be open dialogue through Alternate Dispute Resolution. All Councilmembers are encouraged to engage in good-faith dialogue and attempt to resolve the matter fairly and efficiently before it escalates to the disciplinary process. This approach serves not only the interests of the Council, but, more importantly, the interests of the residents and businesses of our City by promoting fairness, efficiency, and effective governance. However, if the matter is sufficiently serious or cannot be resolved through dialogue and Alternate Dispute Resolution, disciplinary action remains available as a next step.
A Councilmember or Mayor seeking to raise a concern regarding an alleged policy violation by a colleague shall submit such information to the City Attorney for consideration of Alternate Dispute Resolution as the first step toward resolving the matter. The concerns regarding the alleged violation shall be shared by the City Attorney with the Mayor and the entire Council, including the Councilmember(s) or Mayor who is the subject of the alleged violation, unless prohibited by applicable law.
If the complaining party and the subject of the alleged violation agree to participate in open dialogue through Alternate Dispute Resolution in an effort to resolve the matter, the City Attorney shall notify the entire Council. A professional mediator shall be retained and shall facilitate the Alternate Dispute Resolution process between the complaining party and the subject of the alleged violation. Both parties are encouraged to participate in good faith, focus on the matter at hand, and avoid introducing unrelated past disputes into the process, with the goal of fairly and efficiently resolving the matter and moving forward.
The professional mediator shall be a neutral third party who assists the parties in discussing the issues and working toward a mutually acceptable resolution. The mediator may actively engage with the parties and propose potential solutions, in addition to facilitating the discussion.
If the Alternate Dispute Resolution process is deemed successful by both the complaining party and the subject of the alleged violation, the City Attorney shall notify the entire Council and the matter shall be considered closed.
If the Alternate Dispute Resolution process is not deemed successful by both the complaining party and the subject of the alleged violation, the City Attorney shall notify the entire Council, and the matter may proceed to the next step in the process: consideration of disciplinary action.