Resolution No. 4777 - Laserfiche WebLink

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EUGENE CITY COUNCIL OPERATING AGREEMENTS Exhibit to Resolution Number 4777 Approved on September 22, 2003 8. COUNCILOR REQUEST FOR ST AFF ASSISTANCE 8.01 Two-Hour Rule Initiatives which require more than two hours of staff time must be approved by the Council. Requests that involve less than two hours staff time or resources should be directed to the City Manager. 8.02 Major Request A councilor who desires major policy, ordinance research, or other staff assistance should first raise the issue at a Council work session. The Council should decide whether to proceed with the issue or ordinance before staff time is spent. 8.03 Tracking Council Requests Except for routine inquiries, the City Manager shall respond to councilors' requests for information or assistance. The Manager shall assign these requests to appropriate City staff and track progress on the assignments. This process eliminates the possibilities of staff members duplicating each other's efforts or a request being overlooked In each weekly information packet a list of current requests for assistance will be provided. 9. REPRESENTING CITY POSITIONS AND PERSONAL POSITIONS 9.01 Written Communications from City Councilors and Mayor In written communication with other officials or groups and in letters for publication, such as "to the editor," the mayor and councilors should be careful to decide whether to speak only for themselves or for the Council. In speaking for the Council, when there is a position which the writer wishes to reinforce or explain, it is useful to circulate a copy to the Council for comment before the letter is mailed. Letters to other elected officials or agencies on City issues shall be discussed with the appropriate staff so that the City lobby effort can be coordinated. When writing as an individual, a councilor or the mayor is free to take any position which he or she feels is appropriate. When it is a point of view different from a Council position, this fact should be included in the letter. Use of City stationery and choice of pronouns shall be left to the discretion of the councilor or the mayor. The governing principle is to advise the Councilor staff when expressing a City position, and to make differences clear when speaking as an individual. 9.02 State/Federal Lobbying The effectiveness of City lobbying in Salem or in Washington D.C. depends on the clarity of the City's voice. When councilors or the mayor represent the City in a lobbying situation, it is appropriate that the councilors or the mayor avoid expressions of personal dissent from an Eugene City Council Operating Agreements - September 22, 2003 Page 8 of 12 Exhibit to Resolution Number 4777