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Santa Monica
City Council Report
City Council Meeting: February 24, 2009
Agenda Item: ~~
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Maria M. Stewart, Director of Records and Election Services
Subject: Resolution Amending the Rules of Order and Procedure for the Conduct
of Council Meetings and Repealing Resolution No. 10290 (CCS)
Recommended Action
This report recommends that the City Council adopt the attached resolution amending
the rules of order and procedure for the conduct of Council meetings to clarify the time
for items to be heard after closed sessions, and repealing Resolution 10290 (CCS).
Executive Summary
At the January 27, 2009, City Council meeting, Council directed staff to return with a
revision to Resolution No. 10290 (CCS), Rule 6 of the Council Rules which addresses
the order of business items and the time they will be heard. Staff direction was to return
with more flexible wording on reconvening from Closed Session.
Discussion
Currently, Rule 6 of Council's Rules of Order for conducting council meetings provides
that: "The following is the order of business for items to be heard beginning at 6:45
p.m.:" However, in spite of Council's efforts to return from closed sessions in a timely
manner, because of the importance and the number of closed sessions for
consideration, Council routinely ends closed sessions after 7:00 p.m., and occasionally
as late as 8:00 and 8:30 p.m.
In order to provide more flexibility to the City Council to consider closed sessions
appropriately, and to give better notice to members of the public of the expected time for
items to be heard after closed session, staff proposes to change Rule 6 to read:
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"The following is the order of business for items to be heard no earlier than 6'45 p m
and as soon thereafter when Council returns from Closed Session"
Council also has the option of changing the time in question from 6:45 to 7:00 p.m., or
any other time that Council deems appropriate.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
The recommendation presented in this report does not have a budget or fiscal impact.
Attachment: Resolution
Prepared by: Maria M. Stewart; City Clerk
Approved:
Forwarded to Council:
Maria M. Stewart ~ `~ P. amont EN
Director of Records & Election Services ity Manager
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Reference Resolution No.
10382 (CCS).