Discussion regarding the policy for Councilmembers contacting staff on agenda items prior to a City Council meeting. City of Culver City California City Council Agenda Item Report Item Number: A 2 Meeting Date: 08/8/05 AGENDA ITEM: Consideration of a Policy to Guide the Interaction Between Councilmembers and Staff on Agenda Items. Contact Person/Dept.: Nick Kimball Management Analyst Fiscal Impact: Yes X No Public Hearing: Public Notification: Master Notification List on 8/03/05 Phone Number: (310) 253 5682 General Fund: Yes No X Attachments: X Action Item: X Department Approval: Jerry Fulwood 7/28/05 City Controller Approval: Marlee Chang 8/1/05 CAO Approval: Jerry Fulwood 8/1/05 RECOMMENDATION: Staff is seeking Council direction regarding the policy for Councilmembers contacting City staff on agenda items prior to a City Council meeting. BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION: At the December 15 2004 City Council meeting current Mayor Vera requested that the issue of Councilmembers contacting staff prior to Council meetings to obtain information be agendized for discussion. Currently if a Councilmember has a question regarding an agenda item staff is either contacted prior to the meeting or asked the question during the meeting. Council Policy Statement No. 3203 (Attachment 1) passed on January 23 1995 by Resolution Number 95 R005 establishes a policy regarding the relationship between individual members of the City Council and appointed employees of the City. This policy is not specific to agenda item inquiries; however it does address the flow of information including routine requests of facts and figures between Councilmembers and staff. The policy states that individual Councilmembers should feel free to give staff information and to request routine facts and figures which currently exist from a City employee at any time. Therefore Councilmembers may directly contact staff with inquiries regarding information that is routine and readily available. Inquiries for information whi...
Click here for full text