HomeMy WebLinkAbout09 - NB-3 - Modifications to Public Comments - 1/6/2015CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: JANUARY 6, 2015 ITEM NUMBER: IVB - 3
SUBJECT: MODIFICATIONS TO PUBLIC COMMENTS, MEETING START TIME AND CONSENT
CALENDAR ON THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
DATE: DECEMBER 23, 2014
FROM: OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
PRESENTATION BY: MAYOR STEPHEN M. MENSINGER
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: BRENDA GREEN, CITY CLERK, AT (714) 754-5221
RECOMMENDATION:
The Mayor recommends that the City Council consider Resolution No. 15-xx that allows
for more public comments near the beginning of City Council meetings; changes the
regular City Council meeting start time to 5:45 p.m.; requests members of the public
wanting to speak on matters during "Public Comments" to submit a speaker card at the
beginning of the regular City Council meeting prior to the first speaker; removes the
"Continued Public Comments" and "Continued Council Member Comments" sections from
the City Council agenda; requests that council members be limited to three minutes during
the "Council Member's Reports, Comments and Suggestions" section of the agenda; and
requires members of the public wanting to speak on a Consent Calendar item on the City
Council agenda to submit such a request on a speaker card prior to the start of the Consent
Calendar.
BACKGROUND:
Mayor Mensinger has suggested modifications to the order of business on the City
Council meeting agenda to improve the meeting process, and allow more time for public
comments near the start of the meeting. To ensure that the public's business is being
conducted as efficiently as possible, it is suggested that the regular meeting time be
changed from 6:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. (with closed sessions scheduled to begin at 5:00
p.m. and end at 5:45 p.m.). Mayor Mensinger intends to conclude the "Special
Presentations" section of the agenda by 6:00 p.m. These changes will allow for a 33
percent increase in scheduled Public Comment time (approximately 6:00 p.m. to 6:40
p.m.) near the start of the meeting.
The Mayor further suggests that the City Council request all speaker cards for "Public
Comments" to be submitted at the beginning of the regular meeting prior to the first
speaker and that the "Continued Public Comments" and "Council Member Comments"
section on the agenda be removed. Individuals who submitted speaker cards in a timely
fashion but did not get to speak during the Public Comments section will be given the
opportunity to address the City Council at the end of the meeting. Similarly, the Mayor
suggests that members of the public wanting to speak on a Consent Calendar item be
required to complete and submit such a request on a speaker card prior to the start of
the Consent Calendar.
The following is the suggested revised order of business:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
ANALYSIS:
Closed Session (as required)
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
Moment of Solemn Expression
Roll Call and Call to Order
Closed Session Report
Announcements
Special Presentations
Public Comments (Up to 6:40 p.m., may be extended by the Mayor or a
majority vote of the City Council)
Council Member's Reports, Comments and Suggestions (3 minutes each,
may be extended by the Mayor or majority vote of the City Council)
CEO Report
Consent Calendar
Public Hearings
Old Business
New Business
Items Removed from the Consent calendar
City Attorney's Report
Adjournment
The proposed modifications to the order of business on the agenda are suggested in
order to allow for more citizens to address the City Council during the Public Comments
section near the start of the meeting and provide a more efficient way to conduct the
people's business. Pursuant to Costa Mesa Municipal Code Section 2-48, a resolution
to modify the order of business on the City Council agenda must be adopted.
FISCAL REVIEW:
There is no fiscal impact for implementing the proposed modifications to the City Council
agenda.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has approved the resolution as to form.
CONCLUSION:
The Costa Mesa Municipal code requires that changes to the order of business of the City
Council agenda be adopted by resolution.
it
BRENDA GREEN
City Clerk
ATTACHMENTS: Proposed Resolution
THOMAS P. DUARTE
City Attorney
RESOLUTION NO. 15-xx
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA,
CALIFORNIA, CHANGING THE ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR CITY COUNCIL
MEETINGS
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA DOES HEREBY
RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, the City Council endeavors to ensure that the City Council may
efficiently conduct the people's business; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to make modifications to the order of business
of the City Council agenda, to change the start time of the City Council's Regular Meeting
from 6:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., and to establish certain procedures for City Council meetings,
in order to enable the City Council to more efficiently conduct its business; and
WHEREAS, this resolution amends Resolution No. 05-8, Resolution No. 05-55,
Resolution No. 07-80, Resolution No. 11-3, Resolution No. 11-50, Resolution No. 12-21,
and Resolution No. 13-56.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
1•».EON Ir_1I►TAI*y_1
1. The order of business and item matter descriptions for City Council meeting
agendas shall be as follows:
(a) Closed Session (as required)
(b) Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
(c) Moment of Solemn Expression
(d) Roll Call and Call to Order
(e) Closed Session Report
(f) Announcements
Resolution No. 15-xx Page 1 of 3
(g) Special Presentations
(h) Public Comments (up to 6:40 p.m., may be extended by the Mayor
or majority vote of the City Council)
(i) Council Member's Reports, Comments and Suggestions (3 minutes
each, may be extended by the Mayor or majority vote of the City
Council)
(j) CEO Report
(k) Consent Calendar
(1) Public Hearings
(m) Old Business
(n) New Business
(o) Items Removed from the Consent calendar
(p) City Attorney's Report
(q) Adjournment
2. The City Council will hold regular meetings on the first and third Tuesdays
of each month at 5:45 p.m. If there are closed session items, the regular meeting will
convene at 5:00 p.m. for consideration of those closed session items. Following the
deliberation in closed session, the regular meeting will reconvene at 5:45 p.m.
3. Members of the public desiring to speak during the Public Comments
period will be asked to submit their speaker card at the beginning of the regular meeting
prior to the first speaker.
4. Members of the public desiring to speak on a consent calendar item will
be asked to submit such a request on a speaker card prior to the start of the Consent
Calendar period.
Resolution No. 15-xx Page 2 of 3
5. A member of the public who timely submitted a speaker card but did not
have an opportunity to speak during the Public Comments period will be given the
opportunity to address the City Council at the end of the meeting.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that this resolution shall take effect and be in full
force immediately after its adoption by the City Council.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 6th day of January, 2015.
Stephen M. Mensinger, Mayor
ATTEST:
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Brenda Green, City Clerk Thomas Duarte, City Attorney
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss
CITY OF COSTA MESA )
I, BRENDA GREEN, City Clerk of the City of Costa Mesa, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that
the above and foregoing is the original of Resolution No. 15-xx and was duly passed and
adopted by the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa at a regular meeting held on the
6th day of January, 2015, by the following roll call vote, to wit:
AYES:
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES:
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT:
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereby set my hand and affixed the seal of the City of
Costa Mesa this 6th day of January, 2015.
Brenda Green, City Clerk
Resolution No. 15-xx Page 3 of 3