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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 02/19/2008 - RESOLUTION 2008-023 DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER AND ITEM NUMBER: 28 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: February 19, 2008 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: Darin Atteberry Steve Roy SUBJECT Resolution 2008-023 Directing the City Manager and City Attorney to Provide Training to All Members of City Boards and Commissions and Making Such Training Mandatory for Board and Commission Members. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of this Resolution. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Resolution would require all board and commission members to attend,at least once per term, training regarding the their legal duties and responsibilities and the structure and operations of the City. BACKGROUND There are currently 25 boards and commissions of the City that have been established by the City Council pursuant to the provisions of Article IV, Section 1 of the City Charter. The powers and duties of the boards and commissions, as well as the term of office of the members, are set forth in the City Code. Each year, the offices of the City Manager, City Clerk and City Attorney present a training session for City board and commission members that explains the structure and operations of the City as well as the laws and regulations related to the performance of their duties. Legal matters addressed in the training include open meetings, open records, liability, conflicts of interests and board and commission involvement in supporting or opposing ballot measures,as well as the conduct of quasi- judicial proceedings. While a number of board and commission members have attended this training over the years,many have not. City staff believes that it would be in the best interests of the City, and in the interests of the members themselves, for this training to be made mandatory because: (1)the training provides board and commission members with information about the context in which their boards and commissions operate and the roles of all involved, including staff liaisons and Council liaisons, as well as the appropriate procedures for making their recommendations known to the Council; and February 19, 2008 -2- Item No. 28 (2)it is important that all board and commission members understand and comply with the laws and ethical regulations that govern the performance of their duties. The proposed Resolution provides as follows. 1. All current members of City boards and commission who have not previously attended the training program offered by City staff would be required to receive that training, either in person or in such other fashion as the City Manager and City Attorney may deem appropriate, on or before July 1, 2008. Staff intends to make the training session available on DVD for the convenience of those members who are unable to attend the training in person. 2. The training would also be made mandatory for all future members of City board and commission members. The training requirement would have to be fulfilled within six months of the appointment of the members and repeated within six months after the commencement of any new term of office. 3. A record of compliance with these requirements will be maintained in the office of the City Clerk and retained for at least two years following the expiration of each board and commission member's term of office. 4. Notice of the requirements will be included in the City's Board and Commission Manual. RESOLUTION 2008-023 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY TO PROVIDE TRAINING TO ALL MEMBERS OF CITY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND MAKING SUCH TRAINING MANDATORY FOR BOARD AND COMMISSION MEMBERS WHEREAS,pursuant to the provisions of Article IV, Section 1 of the City Charter,the City Council has heretofore established numerous boards and commission of the City; and WHEREAS,the members of these boards and commission are appointed bythe City Council and have a wide variety of duties and responsibilities; and WHEREAS,such members are subject to various legal and ethical requirements established by federal, state and local law that govern the way in which they perform their duties; and WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the City and of the members themselves that the members are fully informed about their legal and ethical duties and responsibilities and are also familiar with the structure and operation of the City government; and WHEREAS,each year,the offices of the City Manager,City Clerk and City Attorney present a training session for City board and commission members addressing these topics; and WHEREAS,the Council believes that such training sessions should be made mandatory for all board and commission members. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: 1. That all current members of City boards and commission who have not previously attended the training program offered by City staff with regard to the structure and operation of City government and the legal and ethical duties and responsibilities of board and commission members must receive such training, either in person or in such other fashion as the City Manager and City Attorney may deem appropriate, on or before July 1, 2008. 2. That such training is hereby made mandatory for all future members of City board and commission members. This requirement must be fulfilled within six months of the appointment of said members and the training is to be repeated within six months after the commencement of any new term of office. 3. That a record of compliance with this requirement shall be maintained in the office of the City Clerk and retained for at least two years following the expiration of each board and commission member's term of office. 4. Notice of this requirement shall be included in the City's Board and Commission Manual. Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this 19th day February, A.D. 2008. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk