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Home My WebLink AboutCity Council Meeting - Council Workshop - Minutes - 01/03/2012 "I!!5!KEN>T Kent City Council Workshop January 3, 2012 d Council Members Present: Albertson, Higgins, Perry, Ralph, Ranniger, and Thomas. Council Member Boyce arrived at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Council President Perry. Government Relations, Michelle Wilmot distributed copies of maps show- ing the new Legislative and Congressional districts, which Council members reviewed and discussed. Council members reported on their regional committee assignments. s Review of Council Roles. City Attorney Brubaker gave a Power Point pre- sentation relating to the roles and responsibilities of the Mayor and Council members. He and Pat Mason of Municipal Research and Services Center answered questions from Council members relating to issues such as the budget and the organizational structure. Brubaker agreed to determine whether a second is required when someone moves to end debate. Council member Boyce arrived during this time. 1, Review of Council Rules. Mason led a discussion of ethics, during which Council members commented on three different scenarios. He and Brubaker spoke briefly about requirements of the Open Public Meetings Act and about public records management and disclosure. Mason informed the Council members of upcoming training which will include comprehensive information on those subjects, and encouraged them to attend. The meeting adjourned at 6:37 p.m. i Brenda Jacober, CIVIC City Clerk s p 1 1/3/2012 MAYOR-COUNCIL ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Mayor-Council Cities SEPARATION OF POWERS ♦Federal and state models ♦Executive branch - mayor and department heads ♦Legislative branch - council *Judicial branch - municipal judge and other Washington courts •Kent—A non-charter code city, Title 35A, Revised Code of Washington CHECK AND BALANCE SYSTEM *Certain powers reserved for each branch but all branches interact to some extent e Powers defined by state statute but not in great detail ♦Each branch acts free from unreasonable interference from others 1 1/3/2012 KNOW YOUR ROLES ♦Lines between administration and policy are often somewhat blurred *Conflicts can and do arise and can paralyze city or town ♦Must ultimately work together for success WORK TOGETHER!!! *The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people - Franklin Roosevelt r; COUNCIL: POLICYMAKING ROLE ♦Decides matters of city-wide importance -Comprehensive Plan, zoning, land use -Budget (and attendant service allocations) -Capital improvements -Sets taxes, rates, and fees -City salaries -Contract awards -Confirm board and commission members -Real Property purchases and sales � -Street franchises, licenses, vacatio r 2 1/3/2012 MAYOR: ADMINISTRATIVE ROLE ♦Council sets policy; Mayor imp/ements policy —Spends and transfers funds within established budgets —Hires and fires(supervises)all city staff ♦(Council has limited appointment authority) —Negotiates labor contracts —Enforces contracts —Presides over council meetings —Appoints board and commission members —Reports to council on general health of city —Acts as ceremonial head of city POLICY ♦Mayor proposes policy ♦Council adopts policy ♦Mayor implements policy ♦Mayor reports back to council FLASH POINTS ♦Councilmembers are not to supervise employees on the job or attempt to direct day-to-day operations of city or town ♦Mayor must provide council, either directly or through city staff, with timely information on how city is operating and other data needed to enact policies for city 3 1/3/2012 COUNCIL MEETINGS ♦Mayor presides at all council meetings ♦Mayor usually does not vote, except in case of tie on some items ♦Mayor may have veto over ordinances to extent allowed in statutes *Council can override veto �" IA I s ls^..: ORDINANCE, RESOLUTION OR MOTION? ♦Ordinance: Most permanent; items of long-term application or significance ♦Resolution: More temporary in nature; establish fees; statement of opinion or position on issues ♦Motion: All else; accepting grants, buying or selling property, awarding a contracts, etc. a� ' kp h VOTING ♦Quorum: Ma'ority of full council (4); committee (2� ♦Action: Majority of quorum; but majority of full council needed for: -Ordinance -Grant or revocation of a franchise or license -Resolution for the payment of money ♦ Mayor: May cast tiebreaking vote (except above &quasi-judicial matters) ♦Supermajority of full council required: -Override mayor's veto (at least 5 votes) -Emergency ordinance (unanimous vWG those members attending the 5 votes) 4 1/3/2012 ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER ♦Exist to serve council as it conducts business—these are your rules *General rules -One subject at a time -One person speaks at a time -All members have equal rights to speak, after first being recognized by mayor -Rights of minority must be protected; will of majority must prevail ,. HIERARCHY OF MOTIONS ♦ Main Motion f VA ey ♦Subsidiary Motions -Amend (debatable) -Amend the amendment(debatable) -Limit debate(not debatable) 1 171� -Call for question, or Close Debate(not debatable) -Refer to Committee (debatable) -Lay on table or Postpone(not debatable) ♦Always address the motion at hand, then work your way"back down the ladder'to' the main motion. COUNCIL PRESIDENT ♦ Elected by council ♦2 year term, beginning even-numbered years ♦Must be elected by 2nd meeting in January ♦Serves as Mayor Pro Tempore ♦ Duties: -Appoint committee members and chairs -Set agenda in coordination with Mayor -Ensure adequate council facilities and support -Liaison to Mayor's office -Substitute for absent members at committees -Attend regional meetings to represent councils. views , -Focal point for council, mayor,aryd staff 5 1/3/20]_2 PRO TEMPORE POSITIONS ♦Mayor Pro Tem -Council president serves in Mayor's absence -If mayor and council president absent, most senior councilmember serves ♦President Pro Tern -May be appointed by council president, if absence planned; otherwise, most senior councilmember serves 6