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TO: Mayor Irvin and Members of the City Council
FROM: The Law Department
Alexandra Voigt, Deputy Chief of Staff
DATE: October 10, 2018
SUBJECT:
Proposed changes to Article II of Chapter 2 of the City Code pertaining to City Council practices and procedures.
PURPOSE:
To modernize provisions of the City Code, many of which have not been updated since 1969, to reflect current City Council practice and procedures.
BACKGROUND:
The proposed revisions began as a modest proposal to modernize several of the City Code's provisions and/or to reflect current practice. At its meeting of October 9, 2018, the Government Operations Committee made two substantive changes to the initial proposal. The original proposal and table are included as part of the Legistar back-up materials as are the revised versions reflecting GO's changes. When the Committee of the Whole considered this item at its meeting of October 16, Aldermen requested that the proposed changes be pared down further in anticipation of the Council's creation of a committee to study revision of the entire City Code. To that end, the present form of the proposal, labeled "Exhibit A (COW)" includes only those changes impacting the right to speak at public meetings and other matters related to the Open Meetings Act.
DISCUSSION:
As a result of continued deliberation and in anticipation of the Council's potential creation of a special committee to explore comprehensive revisions to the City Code, the version of the proposal before the Council removes dated language that has been preempted by the Open Meetings Act pertaining to public comment and the purposes for which the Council or its committees may meet in closed session. Consistent with the rules the Council adopted by resolution earlier this year, the proposal distinguishes between spontaneous public comment and presentations by staff or those with pending business before the Council or its committees.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
The proposed revisions both modernize the City Code and incorporate existing policy. While these changes are unlikely to have any impact on the day-to-day operation of the Council or its committees. They will however, remove obsolete and unenforceable language from the Code.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the Government Operations Committee recommends that the full Council adopt the proposed ordinance.
cc: Government Operations Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
ORDINANCE NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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An Ordinance amending various provisions of Article II of Chapter 2 of the Code of the City of Aurora.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, Article II of Chapter 2 of the Code of the City of Aurora, generally provides for the administration of the City Council; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that it is appropriate to revise certain provisions of Article II of Chapter 2 to comply with changes to Illinois law and to reflect current practices and procedures; and
WHEREAS, proposed amendments to the City Code are set forth in the attached Exhibit A.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the provisions of Article II of Chapter 2 shall be and hereby are amended as set forth in Exhibit A