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TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Law Department
DATE: July 17, 2020
SUBJECT:
Amendments to various portions of Chapter 2, Article II, Division 4 of the City Code pertaining to City Council business.
PURPOSE:
To modernize and clarify various portions of the City Code pertaining to the conduct of business by the City Council, including a process to handle "routine matters" more efficiently.
BACKGROUND:
Throughout June and July, the Rules, Administration and Procedures Committee and the Committee of the Whole discussed whether and what changes could be made to City Council processes to allow for the more efficient management of business items. While the committees that discussed these topics believe that the existing standing committee -- committee of the whole -- city council process should remain intact for most items of business, they did express willingness to consider modest proposals to allow for more rapid approval of routine matters.
DISCUSSION:
This proposal builds upon the existing authority of the Mayor set forth in the City Code to determine what items may appear on the consent agenda. Currently, Section 2-101 provides that the Mayor may place any item on the consent agenda he considers to be routine. This proposal specifically requires the inclusion of items the committee of the whole deemed appropriate for inclusion on the consent agenda -- a long established practice, but heretofore not part of the City Code. The proposal also allows the Mayor to include categories of items the Council by separate resolution deems to be routine and which do not ordinarily require committee or council deliberation on the consent agenda as well.
The proposal also addresses the question whether an alderman requires a second in order to successfully remove an item from the consent agendas. No second will be necessary unless the item was placed on the consent agenda at the direction of the committee of the whole and the alderman had the chance to request that the item appear as unfinished business during that meeting. In all other cases, no second is necessary. As is the case now, no vote is taken on removal requests. The proposal encourages, but does not require, an alderman to alert staff before making a removal request whenever possible so that they can be better prepared to address concerns at the upcoming council meeting.
Additionally, the proposal makes a myriad of minor changes to portions of Chapter 2 to remove obsolete language and to provide greater flexibility for the Council. Finally, the proposal addresses the selection of a temporary chairman in instances where the Mayor and the Mayor Pro Tem are not able to attend Council or Committee of the Whole meetings. Rather than the Clerk calling the meeting to order, per Robert's Rules of Order, the senior alderman present will convene the meeting and immediately conduct the election of a temporary chairman.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Without further action by the Council, the impact of this Ordinance is negligible, though it does help clarify and modernize older portions of the Code. If, upon adoption, the Council begins to identify routine items suitable for direct placement on its consent agendas, there may be significant savings of staff time and resources and the Council and its committees may be able to focus their attention on significant items.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the Council approve this Ordinance.
cc: Rules, Administration & Procedures Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
ORDINANCE NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
An Ordinance amending various provisions of Chapter 2, Article II, Division 4 of the Code of Ordinances, City of Aurora, pertaining to the transaction of business by the City Council.
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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, Chapter 2, Article II, Division 4 of the Code of Ordinances, City of Aurora ("City Code") sets forth general provisions relating to and rules of procedure of the City Council; and
WHEREAS, the Council finds it convenient and appropriate to from time-to-time amend provisions of the City Code to conform to existing practices or to embrace new procedures; and
WHEREAS, Exhibit A of this Ordinance sets forth various amendments to the City Code; and
WHEREAS, the Council finds that adoption of the amendments to the City Code as set forth in Exhibit A is in the best interest of the City;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that Chapter 2 of the City Code shall be and hereby is amended as set forth in Exhibit A of this Ordinance; and further
BE IT ORDAINED, that the heads of all Departments and Divisions of the City shall be and hereby are directed to provide recommendations to the Rules, Administration, and Procedures Committee from time-to-time as to any categories of business suitable for designation as routine matters as set forth in Sec. 2-101(a) of the City Code as amended by this Ordinance; and further
BE IT ORDAINED, that the chairpersons of the standing committees of the City Council shall be and hereby are requested to provide recommendations to the Rules, Administration, and Procedures Committee from time-to-time as to any categories of business suitable for designation as routine matters as set forth in Sec. 2-101(a) of the City Code as amended by this Ordinance.