03-11-1996 CC - Laserfiche WebLink

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II. Policy defining council direction to staff 1. Council direction is defined as the consensus or majority vote of the council to take an action. Council direction occurs at council meetings and is communicated to the clerk-administrator. When time is of the essence, because of an emergency or unforeseen circumstance,the clerk-administrator may informally poll councilmembers to determine council direction. In all cases,the requirements of the Open Meeting Law shall be met. 2. Council direction to staff occurs only at council meetings. Directing staff is defined as requiring staff to take a specific action. The clerk-administrator receives council direction at meetings and then becomes responsible for making staff assignments and managing staff so that the council's directions are carried out. Individual councilmembers will refrain from specifically directing staff. If a councilmember directs a staff member to take an action, the staff member should consult the clerk-administrator to determine if the requested action has been authorized by the council or is consistent with council policy. Under our Charter, department heads and the clerk-administrator are accountable to the council as a whole, not to individual councilmembers. A councilmember may bring a concern about an employee or management issue to the clerk-administrator or to the council. This policy does not prevent staff members from accepting or acting on the advice of a councilmember or considering a councilmember's suggestions or viewpoints. 3. Councilmembers act together as a council to determine city policy and council directives. • Individual councilmembers represent only themselves, unless authorized to represent the entire council by a resolution, motion or council consensus. The mayor is a councilmember. Councilmembers seeking changes in city policy or direction should bring the issue to the entire council for discussion and possible action. Individually, councilmembers represent only their own positions and opinions unless specifically authorized to represent the council as a whole. 4. Staff should assist councilmembers seeking information for use in decision-making. Councilmembers may consult with staff in order to collect information and seek advice about pending decisions or city business. Staff should assist councilmembers in their reasonable requests for information. 5. Staff should assist councilmembers in providing constituent services. Councilmembers may contact staff requesting assistance in responding to a resident complaint or issue such as a code violation or problem with a city service. Any staff person uncertain of the action they should take should review the request with their department head. When a department head is uncertain about handling such a request, the clerk-administrator should be consulted for direction. 111 -2;