City Council Announcements
February 11, 2014
Information Needed by Council Staff
6:54:14 PM
Clarification of Role of Legislative Subcommittee View Attachment
The Council has a new policy on its Legislative Subcommittee (see bottom of this announcement), and there are some loose ends that we need to clarify in order to address confusion.
•Does the Council wish to specify whether the Legislative Subcommittee has a Chairperson? While it isn’t specified in policy, the Council Chair previously acted in this role by virtue of the office of Council Chair. Now that the Subcommittee extends beyond the term of Chair and through the Legislative session, does the Council want to officially designate a Chairperson? Should the person who serves as Chair for most of the term continue for the full duration of Subcommittee service?
A Straw Poll was taken in support of allowing the members of the Legislative Subcommittee to select their own Chairperson, with all members present voted aye, excluding Councilmember Garrott who was not present when the vote was taken.
•The Legislative Subcommittee policy specifies that the Subcommittee serves as a point of contact for the Administration and the City’s Legislative Staff Members.
1. In the past, clarification beyond this internal contact role hasn’t been necessary, because the Council leadership and Subcommittee members were one in the same.
2. In the past, all Council Subcommittees have been largely internal to the Council as a body.
3. Does the Council wish to continue to define the role of this Subcommittee as internal to the Council as a body, or with the recent changes is there a desire to redefine the role further? (see next questions for more context)
•Given that the Legislative Subcommittee no longer includes the Current Council Chair and Vice Chair, the staff is unable to answer the following questions:
1. Who speaks for the Council at the Legislature (The Council Chair or the Legislative Subcommittee or the Chair of the Legislative Subcommittee)?
2. Who speaks for the Council at the Utah League of Cities and Towns Policy Committee meetings (The Council Chair or the Legislative Subcommittee or the Chair of the Legislative Subcommittee)?
Explanation was offered this committee had changed this year in that each City gets a vote from a Mayor, Administrator, and one Council Member and no more; previously, anyone who attended was allowed to vote.
Discussion followed regarding this being an internal process to communicate those issues that need to come before the entire Council as well as the intent to work more closely with the League off-session. It was felt it made sense to continue through the session to offer continuity as well as familiarity with issues.
A Straw Poll was taken in support of the Chair being the public face of the Council and the Legislative Subcommittee being internal with the League as well. All members present voted aye, excluding Councilmember Garrott who was not present when the vote was taken.
3. Who speaks for the Council at City-sponsored functions at which Legislators are present including the Legislative Breakfast and the Salt Lake County Caucus (The Council Chair or the Legislative Subcommittee or the Chair of the Legislative Subcommittee)?
A Straw Poll was taken in support of the Chair speaking for the Council at City-sponsored functions and the Vice Chair in absence of the Chair. All members presented voted aye, excluding Councilmember Garrott who was not present when the vote was taken.
At their December 3, 2013 meeting the Council approved the following new section of the Policy Manual:
C.18 Legislative Subcommittee
A subcommittee of the City Council shall serve as a point of contact for the Administration and City’s Legislative staff members. The subcommittee shall be available for meetings and coordination prior to and during the Utah Legislature’s session. Information and updates will be reported back to the full Council during a briefing during the Work Session, which is normally included throughout the legislative session.
a. The subcommittee shall be made up of the respective City Council and RDA Board chairs, plus a third Council Member elected by the Council.
b. If any of the subcommittee members defer serving, another Council Member will be appointed with the advice and consent of the rest of the Council.
c. The term of the Legislative Subcommittee runs annually from April through the March adjournment of the Utah Legislature.
The Legislative Subcommittee, since it is not a quorum of the City Council, is not entitled to make decisions for the City Council, but is available to work with the Administration to identify options and positions consistent with past Council positions. Recognizing that the State Legislative process shifts rapidly, the Legislative Subcommittee will make every effort to inform the full Council of significant changes that are inconsistent with previous policy direction the Council has given.
Additional Announcements View Attachment
Review of Letter to CCAC Candidates (Attached)
Is the council ok with the chair signing the attached letter to those that the subcommittee interviewed that were not selected for appointment to the CCAC?
The Council felt the letter was appropriate. The suggestion was offered that when these letters are sent, to include information relative to other committees and whether they possibly had interest in serving elsewhere, and simultaneously forward or recommend candidates to Administration.
Fairpark Resolution (Attached)
Review the attached joint resolution to recognize and support the Utah State Fairpark’s contributions to Salt Lake City and the State of Utah.
Ø Does the Council approve of the resolution or have any suggested changes?
Executive Council Director Gust-Jenson requested comments be provided to Constituent Liaison Ben Luedtke. She said Representative Jennifer Seelig had contacted Council Staff to inform them there were several Legislators who wanted to attend and receieve the resolution from the Council, as well as the Fairpark Director and Fairpark Board members.