Title
Discuss Council governance and determine whether additional Charter provisions are warranted, consider preparation of the Charter Review Committee’s final message to the City Council; and take appropriate action.
Body
BACKGROUND:
1. Council Governance / Decorum
During the February 18, 2026, review of Article II, the Committee first discussed Council decorum and related governance matters. A majority of the Committee indicated support for recommending to the City Council that Council decorum, including decorum related to frivolous ethics complaints, be addressed through the City’s Code of Ethics. Related governance continued to arise during subsequent Committee meetings as members considered various Charter provisions and existing governance mechanisms, including the City Council Rules of Procedure. These discussions included matters such as Council communications, agenda-setting, remote attendance, quorum and voting requirements, and abstentions. No separate Charter amendment addressing decorum was advanced during those discussions.
At the September 16, 2026, meeting, a Committee member requested renewed discussion regarding Council governance and whether the Charter is an appropriate vehicle to address them. Following discussion, the Committee agreed to place a formal item on the October 21 agenda to consider whether any additional Charter provisions are warranted. The Committee also requested that the City Council Rules of Procedure be redistributed for use during its final review.
To provide structure for the Committee’s discussion, the Committee may consider the following:
What governance items, if any, require further action?
Should the concern be addressed in the Charter or is it already addressed through an existing mechanism?
2. Final Message to the City Council for Presentation on November 3, 2026
At the September 16, 2026, meeting, Chair Retana invited Committee members interested in assisting with preparation of a final message to accompa...
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