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At Council meetings,
what are
resolutions, ordinances and consent agendas?
These terms refer to the
various ways the City Council makes decisions.
A resolution
indicates the Council’s approval of policies,
contracts, agreements or other documents.
Resolutions are used to declare the City’s official
opinion and do not create laws.
An ordinance is
how the Council approves a law, approves most plans,
spends money or sets tax rates. Ordinances are
proposed at two Council meetings, first with a
read-through and second with a vote. For minor
ordinances, Council may waive the first reading.
A consent agenda
allows the Council to approve a number of routine
items with a single vote. If a Council member needs
to discuss an item in more detail, he or she can ask
that it be removed and voted upon separately.
Some other terms you
may hear at a meeting:
Agenda bills are
the actions that the Council is asked to consider.
Some agenda bills require a vote (called a motion)
while others require a resolution or an ordinance.
Executive Session
is called when the Council must discuss an issue not
appropriate for full public discussion. State law
allows the Council to meet in private only to
discuss items related to land purchase, personnel,
pending litigation, labor negotiations or similar
issues.
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