Guide to City Council Meetings
Guide to City Council Meetings, including public hearings, public forum, executive session, work session
Work Session
The City Council uses the work session to receive information from city staff members about items on that evening’s agenda. No votes can be taken or decisions made at this time. The work session usually starts at 5:00 p.m.
Regular Session
All decisions made by the City Council must be made by public vote during the regular session. The regular session usually starts at 5:30 p.m. or immediately following the work session. Council usually goes directly into an Executive Session.
Executive Session
State law states that some items are of a sufficiently sensitive nature that the City Council should be able to discuss them in a closed, or executive, session. These items include:
- Consultation with the city attorney on any agenda item, pending or contemplated litigation, settlement offer or other specified topics;
- Deliberation regarding real property;
- Deliberation regarding a prospective gift or donation;
- Deliberation regarding personnel matters;
- Deliberation regarding security devices;
- Deliberation regarding economic development negotiations;
- Local meetings to discuss emergency management plans regarding pipeline safety.
The City Council may not take action during this time. Any votes resulting from Executive Session discussions must be taken during open session.
Reports
The City Council hears reports from the City Manager or from appointed boards and commissions at the start of each meeting.
Consent Agenda
Items listed under the consent agenda are considered routine by the City Council and, in the absence of opposition from a council member or person in the audience, will be approved with a single vote without further discussion.
Public Forum
This is an opportunity for members of the public to speak to the City Council on any item not on the current agenda. The council may not enter into discussion of issues brought up during Public Forum but can provide factual information or direct city staff to place the issue on a future City Council agenda.
Anyone wishing to speak during Public Forum should complete the Public Comment Card provided at each meeting and turn it in to the City Secretary prior to the start of the regular session.
First and Second
Ordinances brought before the City Council must be approved twice. Sometimes there are minor changes made to agenda items between first and second readings, so approval of an item on first reading does not necessarily ensure final approval on second reading.
Two readings are required to pass all ordinances, including zoning cases, city budget, property tax rate, street name changes, City Code amendments, Master Plan amendments, franchise agreements, city department changes, and creation of or changes to ordinances governing city-sponsored boards and commissions.
Public Hearings
Some issues brought before the City Council must be presented in a public hearing before the council may discuss or vote. This gives members of the public a chance to speak to the council about that item.
Anyone wishing to speak about an agenda item should complete the Public Comment Card provided at each meeting and turn it in to the City Secretary prior to the start of the regular session.
Items that require public hearings include ordinances, special use permits, concept plans and site plans.
Resolutions
The City Council sometimes adopts resolutions, which are general policy items and express the council’s opinion or direct administrative action. Resolutions do not require two readings.
Discussion items
Items that are not ready for a City Council decision, but which members of the council want to discuss, can be placed in this section of that agenda. No votes may be taken on discussion items.
If you need further information, please feel free to contact City Secretary LoriPayne at (817) 748-8016.