City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: May 13, 2025
Agenda Item: 4.K
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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
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached resolution amending the Council Rules of Procedure to account for posting of agendas on City wayfinding kiosks, modify rules for public input, and make other changes to clarify and amend the procedural rules for the preparation for and conduct of Council meetings.
Executive Summary
The City Attorney and City Clerk have prepared the proposed changes to the Council Rules to identify City kiosks as the location for City meeting agendas to be posted, and to make adjustments to the rules regarding public input, particularly when a large number of speakers wish to speak during a particular public input section of the agenda.
Background
New Agenda Posting Location
Currently, the City Clerk posts hard copies of meeting agendas on the front windows at the SMI room. If adopted, City meeting agendas will now be posted on all City wayfinding kiosks. This is consistent with the requirements of the Brown Act, as the California Attorney General has interpreted the requirement that agendas be posted at a location “freely accessible to the public” may be satisfied by posting on a touch screen electronic kiosk accessible to the public without charge 24-hours a day. While the agenda will be accessible on all City kiosks, the primary posting location will be the kiosk right outside City Hall, on the corner of Main Street and Olympic Drive. Agenda 2 of 3
materials in accessible formats will still be available in the Clerk’s Office upon request, and all materials will continue to be available on the City’s website.
Adjustments to Rules for Public Input
Earlier this year, the Council imposed time limits on itself when speaking on agenda items, in the interest of expediting meetings. Council also has the authority to adopt reasonable regulations on public input, including limits on the time permitted per speaker. The proposed changes are content neutral and designed to be fairly imposed regardless of a speaker’s viewpoint. The limits will allow all members of the public to be heard, while also expediting the meeting to have the public’s business heard in a timely and efficient manner.
Proposed changes:
• If more than 25 speakers are registered to speak for any public input section, the amount of time per speaker shall be reduced to one minute per speaker for that public input section. This does not apply to noticed public hearings or quasijudicial items. • Late speakers will only be permitted to speak for one minute if approved by five votes of the Council.
• Members of the public will no longer be permitted to donate their time to another speaker.
Telephonic Public Comment
Members of the public may now address the Council by telephone. They must register no later than 5:00 p.m. the last business day before the meeting, and they will be heard after all in-person speakers are heard.
In addition, the attached resolution makes a few miscellaneous changes to the Rules:
• Deletes the intention that public action items start at 7:00 pm or later. • Reorders public comment on Special Agenda Items to be heard before the Special Agenda items themselves.
• Identifies the Mayor as the official signatory on behalf of the Council on ordinances, resolutions, and contracts, consistent with current and past practice. 3 of 3
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There is no immediate fiscal impact or budget action necessary as a result of the recommended action.
Prepared By: Katie Doerr, Deputy City Attorney III
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Council Rules-Reso
B. Written Comments