Resolution No. 4645 - Laserfiche WebLink

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EUGENE CITY COUNCIL OPERATING AGREEMENTS As of September 25, 2000 Exhibit A to Resolution No. 4645 When writing as an individual, a councilor 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 (I or we) shall be left to the discretion of the councilor. The governing principle is to advise the Councilor staff when expressing a City position, and to make differences clear when speaking as an individual. State/Federal Lobbying The effectiveness of City lobbying in Salem or in Washington depends on the clarity of the City's voice. When councilors represent the City in a lobbying situation, it is appropriate that the councilors avoid expressions of personal dissent from an adopted Council policy. This policy is stated in Resolution No. 4139, Council Policy on Testimony and Funding Applications. A councilor in disagreement with an adopted policy should not be deprived of the right to express such views to the appropriate officials at another time ~d another place. However, the councilor should feel bound to advise those to whom such disagreement is expressed that it is an individual view and that the Council has taken a different position. Attending Conferences, Other Meetings Councilors are encouraged to attend conferences and training sessions which would enhance their skills and knowledge. Any councilor may attend any meeting at which the Council is represented, but only the official Council representative, not the attending councilor, has the right to vote. Councilors should not state that they are representing the Council, unless one of them has been asked by the Council to be its representative on an issue. When councilors attend meetings of organizations such as the League of Oregon Cities or the National League of Cities and their boards and committees, they do so as individual elected officials and shall be free to express their individual views. If the City Council has an adopted policy relating to an issue under discussion, the councilor is expected to report that fact. 10. COUNCILOR EXPENSES Under the provisions of the City Charter, the City may pay councilor expenses that are directly related to City business. It is each councilor's responsibility to determine if expenses are actually City-related. If there are questions about the propriety of such expenditures, the Manager shall first review the issue with the councilor. Ifthe Manager and the councilor cannot resolve the issue, the Manager shall discuss the matter with the Mayor. Receipts should be secured for any expenses and should accompany Council expense report forms to record mileage and other expenses. The forms shall be available from the City Manager's Office. Activities that support or oppose a political campaign shall not be reimbursable. Out-of-Town Expenses Eugene City Council Operating Agreements - September 2000 Page 7 of 9 Exhibit A to Resolution No. 4645