11-13-12 Public Safety and Personnel CommitteeMinutes
Public Safety and Personnel Committee Meeting
November 13, 2012
Elected Officials Present:
Staff Present:
Public Present:
Council President Strom Peterson
Councilmember Joan Bloom
Councilmember Kristiana Johnson
Mayor Dave Earling
Assistant Police Chief Jim Lawless
City Attorney Jeff Taraday
Don Hall
Bruce Witenberg
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.
A. Renewal of Interlocal Agreement with Okanogan County for Jail
Services.
The meeting began with ACOP Lawless providing background on the renewal of the
agreement with Okanogan County Jail for long-term jail commitments. It was explained
that it was a three year renewal of an agreement already in place.
Councilmember Bloom recommended that the agreement be placed on the consent
agenda for full Council approval. Councilmember Johnson agreed.
Action: Forward to City Council Consent Agenda with a recommendation to approve.
B. Renewal of Contract for Services with S. Morris Company
Assistant Chief Lawless explained that the contract with S. Morris Company was for the
disposal of dead animals. Again, it is a three year renewal for an agreement already in
place.
Councilmember Bloom recommended that the agreement be placed on the consent
agenda for full Council approval. Councilmember Johnson agreed.
Action: Forward to City Council Consent Agenda with a recommendation to approve.
C. Review of Nonrepresented Job Descriptions
Carrie Hite, Interim HR Reporting Director, summarized the process and changes that
were a compilation of Councilmembers Bloom and Johnson, with input from the Mayor.
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Ms. Hite will rework two items and send them to Councilmembers Bloom and Johnson
for approval. Once approved, the Committee will forward these to full Council for
discussion and adoption.
D. Discussion on Process of Personnel Policy Adoption
Ms. Hite requested direction from the Committee and Council President Peterson of
how they would like to handle the review and adoption of the Personnel Policy update.
It was decided that after the Mayor's review, Ms. Hite would send the Personnel Policy
draft to each Councilmember in preparation for a full Council discussion. Ms. Hite will
send this draft as soon as possible, and will then schedule the discussion on a full
Council agenda.
E. Discussion on Council Meeting Procedures
Councilmembers Bloom and Johnson discussed the following procedures:
Council president responsibilities
• Add sentence to existing procedures to clarify that Council President sets agenda in
committees in consultation with the committee chair.
Current meeting procedure (with input from City Attorney Jeff Taraday)
• Do not adopt Roberts' Rules/stay with Resolution 292
• Adopt Roberts' Rules - downside is Council not likely to become familiar with them;
enough to adopt.
• Create own Resolution 292, or amend Resolution 292 - adopt procedures that
Council is likely to understand.
• Create own Resolution 292, adopt abridged version of Roberts' Rules with flash card
for easy reference.
• Mr. Taraday suggested taking a hard look at Resolution 292; what Council likes,
dislikes, indicate clear purpose for process adopted.
Council member participating long distance
• 24 hour notice re: use of speaker phone
• When is it allowed?
• Calling in re: public hearing/vote on issue when haven't heard all the comments
• Mr. Taraday suggested making sure that you can articulate the reason why you want
to do something.
Citizen comment
Don Hall needed to leave the meeting at this time and expressed concern regarding a
council member voting on an issue long distance without hearing comments by citizens
in a scheduled public hearing.
Excusing absences
• State - 3 unexcused absences in a row grounds for immediate dismissal.
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• Define excused absences
• When is it appropriate to make a motion to excuse.
Appointments to committees, boards, commissions
• More information is needed; Councilmembers Bloom and Johnson will research
current policies
• What constitutes an interview?
• Currently put on consent that night/possibility of putting on the following week in
case it is a controversial appointment.
• Membership of boards; what are the requirements related to being residents of
Edmonds.
Reading of citizen emails:
• Clarify to allow fairness to all citizens
Work sessions
• Clarify what a work session means
• Exceptions to the rule
• Consider work session prior to regular council meeting
Executive session procedure
• Council President Peterson and Mr. Taraday will work on documentation for Council
reference manual.
• Who gets to speak and for how long
• Who gets invited by whom and why
• How is consensus reached and how is president informed of consensus
Committee meeting
• Definition of the purpose for the committee meeting
• Opportunity for citizens to comment - last year was first year this was done
Clarity re: resolutions and ordinances
• Who brings forward and why
• How brought forward
• Clarification of differences
Clarity re: how to/or if Council addresses citizen questions
• Refer to Citizen Liaison
• Answer by chair, if easy
• Legal questions — Mr. Taraday indicated he would respond if the Mayor or one of
directors asked him to answer.
Define how public hearings are held:
• Staff introduction of issue
• Clarifying when council member can introduce an item
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Communicating via email
• Guidelines to be written by City Attorney and put in council manual
Responsibility for preparing an agenda item
• Council responsibility
• Staff responsibility
• Procedure for work that Council Assistant does- Council President Peterson
recommended copying the Council President on requests.
• Copy Mayor, in what circumstances, if asking staff to look into issues.
The Committee Members will request that Council Procedures be placed on the Council
Retreat agenda in February for full council discussion.
F. Public Comments
Bruce Witenberg inquired about the open public meetings act presentation at the
Planning Board and asked if a subcommittee invites the public, does it have to be
noticed as a public meeting.
Mr. Taraday pointed out the distinction in law between an actual public hearing and less
formal input from citizens.
Mr. Witenberg also cautioned the committee not to have lots of policies and procedures.
The meeting adjourned at 8:12 p.m.
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