Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, March 07, 2023
Discussion
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDER APPROVING A REVISED COUNCIL POLICY NO. 1.45, RELATED TO RESTRICTIONS ON DISTRICT COUNCILMEMBER EVENTS INCLUDING TOWN HALL MEETINGS AT PUBLIC EXPENSE (CITY COUNCIL)
Body
I. SUMMARY
This item is being reintroduced from the February 7, 2023, City Council meeting and is on the agenda at the request of Mayor Davis-Holmes. The item was also on the February 21, 2023, City Council meeting agenda and was continued to March 7, 2023. At the February 7 meeting, the City Council discussed and considered allocating a budget for District Town Halls to be held at City properties within each District such as City Parks and directed staff to research how other cities address District Town Halls. Staff inquired with the cities of Long Beach, Compton, Inglewood, and Torrance. As of this writing, staff received feedback from Inglewood, Long Beach, and Torrance but not Compton.
Inglewood indicated that City Councilmembers have a budget but not allocated specifically for District Town Halls. Inglewood District Councilmembers typically have District Town Halls at private residences, churches, and vacant storefronts.
In Long Beach, District Town Halls that have any associated costs are absorbed into the Council Offices' existing operating budget and staff noted there are no caps on the number of District Town Halls that a Councilmember can host. District Town Halls are typically held at City facilities subject to availability.
In Torrance, District Town Halls do not have a budgetary impact as the water and refreshments are provided by volunteers from each District and meetings are held at open City facilities within each District such as libraries and parks.
Staff will provide any further updates as they are received.
The City's current rules surrounding Councilmembers' authority to District Events including Town Hall meetings using City funds are out of date, particularly in light of t...
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