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ITEM #: 15.
DATE: 01/27/2025
AI #:2425

CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT

SUBJECT:

RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE 2025 UPDATE TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS RULES OF PROCEDURE

STAFF PRESENTER(S):

Jasmine Pernicano, Acting City Clerk

SUMMARY

The City Council Meetings Rules of Procedure provides a framework for conducting efficient, transparent, and organized Council meetings. These proposed updates allow for meeting flexibility and address changes to enhance accessibility, clarity, and alignment with current procedures, City Code and the City Charter.

STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT

RECOMMENDATION

ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2025-2441, AMENDING AND ADOPTING THE CITY OF GOODYEAR, ARIZONA, CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS RULES OF PROCEDURE. (Jasmine Pernicano, Acting City Clerk)

FISCAL IMPACT

The adoption of the amended City Council Meetings Rules of Procedure does not have any fiscal impact.

BACKGROUND AND PREVIOUS ACTIONS

Article II, Section 19 of the City Charter states that the Council shall by ordinance determine its own rules and order of business and agenda requirements subject to the provision of the Charter. The Mayor and Council previously adopted ordinances governing the procedures of Council meetings, which are codified in Chapter 2 of the City Code (Article 2-4). The City Council Meetings Rules of Procedure were first adopted by Resolution No. 00-740 on August 14, 2000. A minor revision was made on February 27, 2006, followed by an amendment by Resolution No. 16-1763 on July 11, 2016. The last comprehensive update was adopted by Resolution No. 2018-1879 on July 9, 2018, with a minor revision on October 7, 2024.

The proposed changes to the City Council Meetings Rules of Procedure were presented to City Council at its Work Session on January 13, 2025.

STAFF ANALYSIS

Several updates have been made to the City Council Meetings Rules of Procedure. The proposed changes reflect a comprehensive update aimed at enhancing meeting flexibility and ensuring alignment with current practices, the requirements set forth in City Code and City Charter, and compliance with Arizona Open Meeting Law.

Notable changes to the Rules of Procedure include:

Reorganization of the agenda order to be consistent with current practice.
Updates to the purpose and statement of policy to remove outdated references.
Changes to the language to be more permissive regarding the use of Robert's Rules of Order.
Updates to meeting dates, locations, and times to align with City Charter requirements.
Language revisions to allow for accommodations and to allow for items to be heard out of order.
Provides the Presiding Officer with the authority to reduce or limit speaker time to manage large numbers of speakers.
Clarifies that speakers are not required to provide their home address and renamed "Citizen Comments" to "Public Comments."
Formalizes a 10-minute time limit for applicant presentations.
Introduces virtual participation in meetings, excluding Executive Sessions unless permitted by the City Attorney.
Simplifies language throughout the document to enhance clarity and consistency.

Staff recommends that the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2025-xxxx, included as Attachment A, amending the City Council Meetings Rules of Procedure. A red-lined version of the changes is included as Attachment B.

Attachments

Attachment A - Resolution with Exhibit A

Attachment B - Redlined version