HomeMy WebLinkAbout10C - City Council Bylaws RE: City Council Forum
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4646 Dakota Street S.E.
Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
June 4,2007
10C AI
Frank Boyles, City Manager X.
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A AMENDMENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
BYLAWS REGARDING THE CITY COUNCIL FORUM
Introduction
The purpose of this agenda item is to request that the Council consider a Bylaw
revision which would facilitate greater public input at the City's Public Forum.
Historv
The City Council established the Public Forum over fourteen years ago to
provide a means by which the public could provide input to the City Council.
Initially, the Forum was scheduled before one Council meeting each month. Now
the Forum is conducted as part of every Council meeting in order for those
watching on TV to be aware of the issues and concerns of their fellow residents.
Forum presenters may not discuss items on the City Council agendas.
Current Circumstances
The City Council has been seeking a means of allowing greater opportunity for
public input on City Council agenda items. It has been particularly challenging to
allow input on non-public hearing items because of concerns that such action
could flaw the process. The Bylaws and Compensation Committee met to
discuss how the Bylaws might be changed both to enhance public input and
preserve the process.
The Committee explored various options and decided to follow the "Occam's
Razor" principle. The simplest solution appears to be to amend the Forum
restrictions to allow the public to address the Council on agenda items scheduled
for that evening unless the item is scheduled as a public hearing subject to the
time guidelines already adopted.
The City Council Bylaws could be amended to read:
"207.4 Items to be considered on the agenda may Rat be addressed on
the Public Forum unless thev are on a public hearina or public information
hearina item."
Conclusion
The Council should determine if amendment of the Public Forum as outlined
above will facilitate greater public input.
The Bylaws and Compensation Committee believes that this Bylaw amendment
will accomplish a number of things:
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Phone 952.447.9800 / Fax 952.447.4245
FINANCIAL
IMPACT:
ALTERNATIVES:
RECOMMENDED
MOTION:
· Revitalize the Public Forum.
· Provide greater opportunity for public input at Council meetings.
· Reduce or eliminate possible due process problems.
· Public input and the decision-making process are separated enough so that
the Council can give careful consideration to comments made.
· Better decisions through improved citizen input.
· More satisfied customers because they can have an opportunity for input if
they wish.
· This approach is consistent with "Occam's Razor" where, all things being
equal, the simplest solution tends to be the best one.
The Committee recognizes that Council agenda sheets will need to be changed
to reflect this Bylaw revision. The City Attorney has worked with the Committee
on this proposal and concurs with the approach.
There is no appreciable financial impact.
1. Approve the proposed City Council Bylaw amendment.
2. Take no action or recommend other alternatives.
Alternative #1.