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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-117-10/21/2003-REPEALING AND READOPTING GUIDELINES FOR INITIATING AND DEVELOPING COUNCIL ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS RESOLUTION 2003-117 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS REPEALING AND READOPTING GUIDELINES FOR INITIATING AND DEVELOPING COUNCIL ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS WHEREAS,on December 17, 1996,the City Council adopted certain guidelines for initiating and developing Council ordinances and resolutions that originate either from the Council Policy Agenda, a Council committee, a City staff initiative or direction received from three or more Councilmembers; and WHEREAS,Section 2 of said resolution,which pertains to developing the substance of,and options for,such ordinances or resolutions provides that if the City Attorney or City Manager needs clarification and additional direction or the resolution of conflicting approaches to the content of such an item, direction is to be sought from either a Council committee, the "Council Leadership Team" (Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem), or, if necessary, the entire Council; and WHEREAS, the majority of the previously existing Council committees have, through Council action, been abolished, so that such method of obtaining direction often no longer exists; and WHEREAS,the Council Leadership Team may,on occasion,be divided in its direction with regard to the development of such an item; and WHEREAS, it is seldom practical to require a formal vote of the entire Council in order to obtain direction with regard to the development of such items; and WHEREAS, with regard to items not on the Council Policy Agenda that originate at the direction of the Leadership Planning Team or three or more Councilmembers, the City staff has recommended that clarification of such items could most clearly and simply be obtained from the Councilmembers who request the items; and WHEREAS,the Council agrees with this recommendation and wishes to modify the above- referenced guidelines in this fashion. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS that the process for initiating staff work on an ordinance or resolution,and developing the substance of,and options for, such items shall be as follows: 1. INITIATING WORK ON AN ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION. The source of ideas for new and revised policies may come from the Council policy agenda, individual Councilmembers,citizens,City boards and commissions, service clubs and organizations,ad hoc task forces,community groups,neighborhood associations,etc.The following procedures shall be followed in determining whether staff resources should be devoted to the initiation of an ordinance or resolution in response to such proposals. (a) Council policy agenda. Upon Council's adoption of its policy agenda, and without further direction from the Council,work on specific ordinances and resolutions implementing the policy agenda and the goals and projects established by the Council will be commenced by City staff as directed by the City Manager. (b) Other Council initiated ordinances and resolutions. Work on other ordinances or resolutions can be initiated at the direction of the Council Leadership Team or at the direction of three Councilmembers, which direction may either be given at a regular Council meeting,a study session or a Council committee meeting;provided,however,that if any Councilmember desires that formal action of the Council be taken with regard to such request, such formal action shall occur at a regular Council meeting and shall require the approval of a majority of the Councilmembers present and voting. (c) Recommendations from City Boards and Commissions. If a City board or commission would like Council to consider adopting a policy or revising or eliminating an existing policy, the board or commission should contact its Council liaison or another Councilmember and discuss the request. The Council liaison or other Councilmember would then forward the request to a Council committee or to the entire Council at a regular meeting or study session underthe"Other Business"segment of such meeting or study session. The Council liaison may forward with the request his or her comments and/or recommendations with regard to the request. Councilmembers shall then provide direction on whether or not staff should proceed with initiating work on an ordinance or resolution with regard to the request, in accordance with subparagraph (b) above. (d) Staff initiated ordinances and resolutions. Staff requests and suggestions for other ordinances and resolutions will be reviewed by the City Manager and presented to the City Council as he or she deems appropriate. (e) Staff follow-up. Council will be informed of work proceeding on any ordinance or resolution.Such communications will be particularly important for work that is initiated by a Council committee or the City Manager which is outside the context of full Council gatherings. 2. DEVELOPMENT OF THE SUBSTANCE OF, AND OPTIONS FOR, AN ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION. (a) Ordinances and resolutions on the Council policy agenda.After commencing work on an ordinance or resolution on the Council policy agenda, the City Attorney or City Manager may seek clarification, additional direction, or resolution of conflicting approaches to the content of such item from the Council Leadership Team or,if necessary,by motion under"Other Business" at a regular Council meeting, as approved by a majority vote of the Councilmembers present. (b) Ordinances and resolutions not on the Council policy agenda. After commencing work on an ordinance or resolution that is not on the Council policy agenda and that has been requested by the Council Leadership Team or by three or more Councilmembers, the City Attorney or City Manager should seek any necessary clarification, additional direction or resolution of conflicting approaches with regard to such item from the Councilmembers requesting the item. Optional versions of the item may be requested by two or more Councilmembers. Any Councilmember may seek staff input and/or staff recommendations regarding the item and either the City Manager or City Attorney may,in his or her discretion,make recommendations to the Council with regard to the item as part of the accompanying Agenda Item Summary. The Agenda Item Summary shall identify the Councilmembers requesting the item as the contact persons for the item. (c) Cessation of work pending clarification. If either the City Attorney or City Manager is unable to obtain clear direction or a resolution of conflicting approaches on any proposed ordinance or resolution,staff work on a pending ordinance or resolution will be suspended until such clarification and resolution is provided by City Council. City Council will be notified, in writing, when staff work on a pending ordinance or resolution has ceased. Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held this 21st day of October, A.D. 2003. ayor — ATTEST: 4w6Lt)p� City Clerk