HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 03 Council Procedures Regarding Support Requests
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date:
Meeting Type:
Department:
Staff Contact:
Staff Phone No:
Estimated Time:
June 4, 2007
Work Session
CMO
Amy Sowa Gb'
x3700
15 Minutes
SPRINGFIELD
CITY COUNCIL
ITEM TITLE:
COUNCIL PROCEDURES REGARDING SUPPORT REQUESTS
ACTION
REQUESTED:
Review proposed Council Procedures Regarding Support Requests and provide
staff direction to implement the procedure.
'-
ISSUE
STATEMENT:
Council requested a process for responding to requests for proposals of support or
opposition on particular issues.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Proposed Council Procedures Regarding Support Requests
DISCUSSION/
FINANCIAL
IMPACT:
On April 2, Council discussed a letter that had been received asking a Council
member to write a letter of support for a particular issue. It was determined that
Council did not have an official process for handling these types of requests.
Council asked staff to prepare a process that could be used in these types of
situations and bring it back to Council for discussion.
Council Procedure - Requests of Support/Opposition
Often requests come to the Mayor and Council as a whole or individually asking for a
letter of support or opposition on a particular issue.
If a Councilor is being asked to provide the letter as an individual Councilor or simply as
a citizen, they may choose to forward the request to the other Councilors for their input
before submitting their response or providing the letter; however, it is not required.
If the request is asking for a position by the entire Council, the following steps must be
followed:
1. The Councilor receiving the request provides a copy of the request letter to the
City Manager and Mayor, providing comments or opinions regarding the request
if desired.
2. Council leadership reviews the request during the next available Agenda Review
meeting and determines a recommended response.
3. The Council President and/or the Mayor notifies remaining Council members of
request and Council leadership recommended response, and asks for any
objections or comments.
4. The letter is brought to the next Council meeting with any objections or
comments for discussion. Council makes a motion to approve/approve with
changes/or not approve the response letter.
5. The final letter approved by Council will be sent out by staff on City letterhead,
with a copy retained for the file.
6. If Council cJlOoses not to submit a response letter, a Councilor (preferably the one
receiving the original request) will contact the requestor to let them know the
Council does not wish to take a position on the matter. A Councilor, however,
would still be free to take a position as an individual Councilor or citizen.
The Council shall not take any positions on Quasi-judicial land use matters which
will be considered by the Planning Commission or City Council.
I:/Council Mise/Council Procedure - Requests.doc
May 31, 2007
A TT ACf. IMENT 1