City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: January 28, 2025
Agenda Item: 14.A
1 of 3
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Douglas Sloan, City Attorney, City Attorney's Office, Administration Subject: Adoption of a Resolution Amending the Council Rules of Procedure Recommended Action
Adopt the attached resolution amending the Council Rules of Procedure pursuant to Council direction.
Executive Summary
Pursuant to direction given at the Council meeting on December 17, 2024, the Council Rules were amended primarily to make meetings run more efficiently for the benefit of the public, City staff, and the Council. Other substantive changes were also made, as requested by Council.
Discussion
Efforts to streamline and shorten meetings for the public, staff, and Councilmembers include:
• Limit Councilmembers’ time to speak:
o 10 minutes per agenda item
o 1 minute per Point of Privilege
o 5 minutes to protest a Council action
o 2 minutes per proclamation or commendation
• Increase the types of items that can be on the consent calendar. • Move consent calendar before closed session.
2 of 3
• Start closed session or special agenda items earlier than 5:30 if meeting will be lengthy or hold closed session at separate special meeting. • Limit number of proclamations to two per meeting, except in extraordinary circumstances, and honorees shall appoint one or two representatives to speak, and their time to speak shall be limited to two minutes each. • Meetings no longer require a vote to extend past 11:00 p.m.
In addition to the changes to enhance the order and efficiency of meetings, other substantive changes were made:
• Include the land acknowledgement in the order of business. • Prohibit resolutions regarding international affairs, except items of support or condolence for natural disasters or similar tragedies involving Santa Monica sister cities.
• Allow for the formal censure of Councilmembers.
• Limit the use of the Mayor Pro Tempore title to times when the Mayor is unavailable, otherwise the Mayor Pro Tempore shall be referred to as Councilmember.
• Board and Commission seats to be filled by ranked choice voting.
Other minor changes were made to bring the rules into compliance with current practice, and to clean up the rules.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of the recommended action.
3 of 3
Prepared By: Katie Doerr, Deputy City Attorney III
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. CAO-Council Rules Reso
B. Written Comments