Resolution No. 4663 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

EUGENE CITY COUNCIL OPERATING AGREEMENTS As of February 26,2001 Exhibit A to Resolution No. 4663 9. REPRESENTING CITY POSITIONS AND PERSONAL POSITIONS Written Communications from City Councilors In written communication with other officials or groups and in letters for publication, such as "to the editor," 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 affected 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 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 ofthe 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 and 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 Eugene City Council Operating Agreements - February 2001 Page 8 of II Exhibit A to Resolution No. 4663