During this campaign season, there's been some talk about going back to "the way things were" with the City Council's Standing Committees. I believe this is a matter best resolved by whoever is going to be sitting on the City Council starting in January, so I'll be looking for consensus starting in December on the way forward, so that any new approach can be implemented early next year.
My own thoughts on this? I believe we should seriously consider re-enabling our four standing committees (one committee for each city department). You can see the full PDF diagram here. This structure already exists in the City Code, so no ordinance change is required. All we'd need to change is Rule 70 in Admin Policy #7, which currently states, "..it is the desire and intent of the council that all matters with are referred, or are to be referred, to a committee of the council, shall be referred to the council's Committee of the Whole."
I believe that using Committee of the Whole for all committee work prevents council members from developing focus on any particular topic. Because the Committee of the Whole meets in the Council Chambers, and is recorded and broadcast by Channel 15, I don't think that council members have the space to really discuss issues in depth. I'd love to see Public Works committee members doing ridalongs with the refuse trucks and snow plows, the Public Safety Committee building a broad, general knowledge of policing, and the Community Development committee having an excellent handle on zoning laws.
The downside of the new approach would be that, likely, additional staff time would be required if there's more discussion and the committee meetings last longer. Also, if multiple committee meetings are held in City Hall at the same time (say, 6pm), it would not be possible for a person to observe both committee meetings simultaneously. As a mitigating factor, though, the committees would be a recommending body only. They would NOT have the power to direct staff to take any specific executive action (only the full City Council can order that). All matters for action would be sent by the standing committee to the full City Council for additional review and vote (similar to how the Planning and Zoning Commission is only a recommending body). So a member of the public could still read the minutes of the standing committee meeting, and bring up any points of contention in the Regular Council Meeting.
Another advantage of the new structure is it would potentially give four council members the opportunity to develop their "presiding officer" skills as chair of their committees. Additionally, I propose that the Mayor Pro Tem serve as the chair of Committee of the Whole, in keeping with parliamentary practice, "Also, a chairman of the committee of the whole is appointed and the regular presiding officer leaves the chair, so that, being disengaged from any difficulties that may arise in the committee, he may be in a better position to preside effectively during the final consideration by the assembly." (Roberts Rules 12th Edition, part 52.2a).
I also believe that the City Code should make clear that the mayor is an ex-officio member of all standing committees and the Committee of the Whole -- able to participate in the discussion, if desired, but not to vote.
Yes, I admit this all complicated parliamentary stuff, and not exactly exciting. But it's so important that these processes meet the purpose of why the committees exist -- so that proposals can be as fully vetted as possible, and sticky questions answered, prior to the item reaching the full council for a "Yes/No" vote. This approach works very well with the Planning & Zoning Commission, and I believe it would benefit the council as well.
All this is certainly up for discussion. It's election season, so this is a campaign item for me; if you like the idea, ask the other candidates for all races their thoughts about going back to the traditional standing committees. They might not know yet, but the question will ensure they're thinking about it when it comes up for council / newly elected discussion.
Thanks for reading to the end, and for doing the work to be an informed and engaged resident.