G.7 - GT City Council Policies & ProceduresCity of Grand Terrace
Proposed Revisions to City Council
Policies & Procedures
October 10, 2023
Presented by Adrian R. Guerra, City Attorney
Overview
2023 Vision Statement
Background
Proposed Revisions
Additional Minor Revisions
Final Recommendations
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City Council Goal #5
“Engaging in Proactive Communication” by
establishing policies and procedures for meetings of
the City Council to promote community participation
and promoting orderly meetings.
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Background
City Council adopted “City of Grand Terrace Council Procedures”August 10, 2006
Council Procedures revised
January 13, 2015
June 25, 2019
May 25, 2021
September 27, 2022
Special Meeting held—City Council conducted workshop to review & discuss possible revisionsSeptember 12, 2023
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Proposed Revisions
1.Future Agenda Items
2.Clapping and Booing
3.Extension of Time Limitation on Public Comment
4.Sergeant of Arms
5.Mayor as Point Person for Citizen Engagement
6.No Request for Funds on Consent Calendar
7.Public Comment Section Changes
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Future Agenda Items (Section 2.1 d)
Reasons for Revision:
Simplifies process
Provides greater
flexibility to make
requests for issues that
may come up after the
agenda is posted
Proposed Text:
“At this time, the City Council
may propose items for
discussion and/or action at a
future duly agendized City
Council meeting. A consensus
of a majority of the quorum is
required to place an item on a
future agenda.”
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Clapping and Booing (Section 4.4 b)
Reason for Revision:
Clarifies that clapping,
booing, or making other
disruptive noises falls
under the term
“disruptive behavior”
and subject to
enforcement
Proposed Text:
“Disorderly behavior under
subsection (a) may include, but
is not limited to, the following:
….
Clapping, booing, or making
any other noises that disrupt
the meeting.”
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Extension of Time Limitation on
Public Comment (Section 5.2)
Current language:
“Any public member addressing the Council shall limit his or her address to three (3) minutes. The Chair or a Council Member may move to extend the time limitation which shall be extended upon a majority vote of the Council. When any group of persons wishes to address the Council on the same subject matter, it shall be proper for the Chair to request that a spokesperson be chosen to represent the group, so as to avoid unnecessary repetition. A speaker may not yield time to another speaker.”
No revisions necessary
However, suggestions for consideration:
Maximum time limit for an extension
Maximum number of extensions per speaker
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Sergeant of Arms (Section 4.9)
Reason for Revision:
Officially identifies who
is designated the
Sergeant of Arms
Proposed Text:
“The assigned Deputy of the
San Bernardino County
Sheriff’s Department who
attends the City Council
Meeting is designated
the Sergeant of Arms.”
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Mayor as Point Person for Citizen
Engagement
Recommendation:
City Council adopt a
separate resolution to
address this point
Greater policy issue
regarding role of the
Mayor versus
policy/procedure
relating to how a
meeting is conducted
by City Council
Item currently not addressed
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No Request for Funds on Consent
Calendar (Section 2.1 b)
Reason for Revision:
Any appropriation of
funds should be
discussed and not just
approved without
discussion on Consent
Proposed Text:
“No request for funds from the
City may be considered on
Consent Calendar.”
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Public Comment Section Changes
(Section 2.1 c)
Reason for Revision:
Incorporate new policy
from City Council to
have public comment
early in the meeting
Proposed Text:
“Public Comment shall be
placed on the agenda
immediately after conducting
Roll Call.”
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Additional Minor Revisions
1.Future Agenda Items Requests from the Public
2.Mayor’s Authority to Sign Resolutions of Support
3.Posting of Agendas
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Future Agenda Items Requests from
the Public (Section 2.2)
Reason for Revision:
Eliminate redundancy
Proposed Text:
“Any request to have an item
placed on a future agenda
must be made in writing and
submitted to the City Clerk’s
office and the request will be
processed in accordance with
Council Procedures.”
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Mayor’s Authority to Sign
Resolutions of Support (Section 3.6)
Recommendation:
Delete section
1.City Council has already adopted separate
Resolutions to address this process
2.Provision does not fall within scope of document
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Posting of Agendas (Section 2.1 a)
Recommendation:
Delete section
1.Not procedure for conducting actual meeting
2.Already governed by the Brown Act
3.City practices have changed as to location of posting
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Future Recommendations
Preparation of an Amended and Restated Council Procedures for
consideration at future meeting
Reasons for Recommendation:
Many provisions redundant with Brown Act
Document should be updated to reflect current practices
Sections are misplaced and re-organization will produce a more
useful document
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Final Recommendations
The City Council adopt revisions to the City of Grand Terrace
Council Procedures as attached
Authorize the City Attorney to update, re-organize, and provide a
restated version of the Council Procedures for consideration at a
future meeting
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