Item B: City Council Process Session

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If a member of the Council intends to make a motion at a meeting which is not reflected in the agenda item summary, every effort should be madeto contact other members of the Council to inform them of the intent and the text of the motion. City Council support staff should be provided with the same information and may be asked to assist in the notification process. Comment times for the Mayor and councilors at CityCouncil meetings or work sessions shall be generally limited to no more than three minutes. At the discretion of the Mayor or presiding officer, second and subsequent rounds may be limited further to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to be heard in the time allotted for the item. 7.03 Public Conduct The rules of conduct for members of the public shall generally be the same as for the Council. The Code prohibits any person from bringing flags, signs, posters, and placards to a City Council meeting unless authorized by the presiding officer. The Eugene Code specifically permits arm bands, emblems, badges, and other articles worn on personal clothing, so long as such items do not extend from the body in such a way as to cause injury to another. COUNCILOR REQUEST FOR STAFF ASSISTANCE 8. 8.01 Two-Hour Rule Initiatives requiring 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 City 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. 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 Eugene City Council Operating Agreements – October 2011 Page 7 of 19