HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/20/1993City Council Meeting Page 2
Wednesday, January 20, 1993 - 12:00 PM
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
There were no public comments.
STUDY SESSION
1. COUNCIL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES HANDBOOK (File No. 113)
Council considered Council Policies and Procedures Handbook.
Council discussed the moment of inspiration or invocation. Concerns were expressed about the
separation of government and church. Discussion by various Council Members clarified the intent
as not just focused on religion, but a moment to start out the meeting with unity; any religion or
cultural group was acceptable. It was more of a time of asking for assistance and a time for
reflection. Council was concerned about making it a formal part of the meeting and the administrative
burden of supporting the moment of inspiration or invocation. It was agreed that it would be used
on occasional basis as the opportunity arose and that Council Members would make their request for
speakers and coordinate those requests with the City Clerk's Office to ensure no more than one
speaker at any one particular Council meeting; there would be no thank you letters or other systems
to support the item. Council reached consensus utilizing the title °Moment of Inspiration°.
Miscellaneous items which needed to be cleaned up included 1) Public Comment Period statement
1 which stated it was immediately prior to Public Hearings; and 2) Item 1 -3 which stated that continued
items would be placed on the next regular meeting; it was agreed to change it to a specified future
meeting.
Staff gave direction to reorganize the document, but not to give it top priority.
Council requested a list be generated of continued items so that Council could review it and remove
unnecessary items, track issues, and have a better idea of forthcoming agenda items. John Dunn,
City Administrative Officer, requested that the City Clerk's Office maintain this list; Council requested
that it be kept very simple.
Council requested that the flexible benefit plan be available for Council as it is made available for
employees.
Council discussed spousal reimbursement policies and supported the deletion of those provisions.
Council then discussed issues relating to rephrasing the document to include all league activities,
various accounting methods for professional development, expenses and compensation.
Council requested that when the Council Compensation Committee convened that they survey the
availability and expense of travel from San Luis Obispo in comparison to the other survey cities.
Ann Slate. Personnel Director, requested that Council give direction to the Council Compensation
Committee prior to convening.
Council discussed the frequency of staff meetings and the difficulties of speaking with staff. It was
agreed that they should try and contact staff prior to the Council meetings to have their questions
answered.
City Council Meeting Page 3
Wednesday, January 20, 1993 - 1200 PM
Council discussed encouraging spousal participation, directed the City dinner at the League
Conference be charged to separate accounts, and the past reduction of staff participation in the
League Conference.
Council discussed issues relating to the Charter including the Mayor being designated as the official
head of the City during an emergency and the Mayors annual work program.
Jeff Jorgensen, City Attorney, stated that a Charter revision would be a major work project; the last
one took more than one year.
It was proposed that the Mayors work program be left up to the individual Mayor to utilize if they
chose.
Council requested that a policy statement supporting team building efforts be drafted.
Council gave direction to staff to reorganize the policy and procedure manual as recommended in the
staff report, and to have the mission statement graphically represented in order to place it in the lobby
and various public places throughout the organization.
2. COUNCIL PROJECTS
Council considered minor projects submitted by Council Members for follow -up.
A request by Alan Friedman to bring the leaf blower issue before Council was discussed. Council 1
reached agreement that this issue should come back to Council.
Council discussed how to resolve small problems that were brought to Council attention.
John Dunn. City Administrative Officer, requested that those items be brought to him for a follow -up
in an informal matter.
A request was made that a list for minor projects be submitted for Council Goal Setting.
1:58 PM Mayor Pinard adjourned the meeting to January 26, 1993 at 7:00 PM.
APPROVED BY COUNCIL 2/16/93
� ne R. Gladwell, Clerk
DRG:cm
F-�