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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 09/15/2015 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 122, 2015 AMENDINGAgenda Item 14 Item # 14 Page 1 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY September 15, 2015 City Council STAFF Wanda Winkelmann, City Clerk SUBJECT First Reading of Ordinance No. 122, 2015 Amending Division 1 of Article II of Chapter 2 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins to Add a New Section to Provide for Participation by Boards and Commissions in Ad Hoc Review of Additional Issues on Request. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this item is to amend the City Code to allow City boards and commissions, upon request of the City Council or the City Manager, to participate in review and consideration of specified matters. This will allow participation at "Super Issue" meetings by board and commission members. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION Board and commission members attended a meeting on February 24, 2014 to discuss ways to improve the board and commission system. One suggestion made by the members to improve communication with City Council was the notion of "Super Issue Meetings," where board and commission members are invited to attend the same meeting to discuss a topic or issue. Since then, five Super Issue meetings have been held, covering such topics as Affordable Housing, Nature in the City, and Broadband. Chapter 2, Article III of Fort Collins' City Code describes the duties of each board or commission. Ordinance No. 122, 2015 adds a section to City Code to permit board and commission participation in discussions of specified matters on request of the City Council or City Manager, including Super Issue Meetings. - 1 - ORDINANCE NO. 122, 2015 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AMENDING DIVISION 1 OF ARTICLE III OF CHAPTER 2 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS TO ADD A NEW SECTION TO PROVIDE FOR PARTICIPATION BY BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS IN AD HOC REVIEW OF ADDITIONAL ISSUES ON REQUEST WHEREAS, Article III of Chapter 2 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins (“City Code”) establishes the basic means of operation of the City’s boards and commissions, and sets out for each such board and commission an identified list of functions; and WHEREAS, in discussion of ways to facilitate citizen participation in the City’s boards and commissions and improve the manner in which those bodies function it has been suggested that there be a means of inviting members of the various boards and commissions to meet together to learn about and discuss key topics or issues; and WHEREAS, in light of the success of such “Super Issue” meetings in engaging a cross- section of board and commission members in the timely discussion of issues of interest to the City, staff has recommended that the Code be amended to describe a clear process for inviting boards and commissions to participate in discussion of matters not specifically identified in their stated functions; and WHEREAS, the City Council believes that creating an established process for and recognition of the engagement of boards and commissions in the discussion of broader policy issues is in the best interests of the City and will further enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of City operations. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS that Division 1 of Article III of Chapter 2 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins is hereby amended to add a new Section 2-75, to read as follows: Sec. 2-75. board and commission consideration of matters upon request. In addition to the duties and functions specified in this Article III for any particular board or commission, each such board or commission is hereby authorized to participate on a case-by-case basis in the review, discussion and advisement of Council regarding any policy or program matter, upon the request of the City Council or the City Manager. - 2 - Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 15th day of September, A.D. 2015, and to be presented for final passage on the 6th day of October, A.D. 2015. __________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________ City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading on this 6th day of October, A.D. 2015. __________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________ City Clerk