Report to Mayor and City Council
Thursday, February 06, 2020
Discussion
SUBJECT:
Title
DISCUSS COUNCIL SEATING ARRANGEMENTS VIA THE DAIS; UPDATE AND RESCIND ANY AND ALL PREVIOUS RULES ON COUNCIL ASSIGNED SEATING ON THE DAIS; ADOPT A RESOLUTION AND/OR FORMAL COUNCIL POLICY REGARDING COUNCIL ASSIGNED SEATING ON THE DAIS (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
This item was requested by Mayor Pro Tem Jim Dear and Councilmembers Lula Davis-Holmes and Cedric Hicks to discuss and provide direction on City Council seating arrangements on the Dais; to update and rescind any and all previous rules on Council assigned seating on the Dais, and to adopt a resolution and/or formal Council Policy regarding Council assigned seating on the Dais.
On March 27, 2019, it was moved that the minute order in effect at the time be amended to read that the Mayor Pro Tem can sit either to the right or to the left of the Mayor and to provide this policy in the form of Standard Management Procedures (SMP). The motion passed unanimously (4-0, with City Councilmember Hilton absent.)
Prior to March 2019, this policy had been discussed during the January 28, 2019 Special Council meeting and, by minute order, the Council decided to designate numbering the seats on the dais. When looking at the dais from the public podium, the Council seats will be numbered from left to right, numbers one through five. Designated seats were determined for the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem. The Mayor will always sit in seat number three and the Mayor Pro Tem will always sit in seat number four. CPP 01.02.03, attached as Exhibit No. 1, is consistent with the Council’s motion.
Following that, at the City Council meeting of February 5, 2019, it was requested that the minute order from January 28, 2019 be reconsidered during a Special Council meeting of February 7, 2019. During the February 7, 2019 meeting, the motion to reconsider the January 28, 2019 minute order failed due to lack of majority.
Subsequently, on March 27, 2019, as mentioned above, the minute order from January 28, 2019 was amended to read that the Mayor Pro Tem can sit either to the right or to the left of the Mayor and that this policy be provided in the form of Standard Management Procedures (SMP). However, this motion did not amend the CPP 01.02.03 that states that the Mayor will always sit in seat three and the Mayor Pro Tem will sit in seat four when looking at the dais from the public podium with the Council seats counted from left to right.
Pursuant to Section 302(C) of the City Charter, seat numbers one, two and five will be decided on by the City Council every two years, in the month of January, every time the City Council selects the Mayor Pro Tem by a majority vote of the Council.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
DISCUSS and PROVIDE direction
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III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE another action the Council deems appropriate.
IV. BACKGROUND
Prior to the January 28, motion, the Mayor determined the seating assignments of individual Councilmembers on the dais. Council Policy & Procedure 1.02.03 determined that the Mayor will always sit in seat number three and the Mayor Pro Tem will always sit in seat number four.
On March 27, 2019, it was moved that the minute order be amended to read that the Mayor Pro Tem can sit either to the right or to the left of the Mayor and that a policy be drafted in the form of an SMP. The motion passed unanimously. The CPP was, however, not amended (Exhibit 1).
V. FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact for assigned seating.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. Revised Council Policy & Procedure No. 1.02.03 (pg. 3-4)
Prepared by: City Manager's Office