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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution - 2012-R0109 - Amend City Council Rules, Order Of Business And Procedure Manual - 03/06/2012Resolution No. 2012-RO109 March 6, 2012 Item No. 6.4 RESOLUTION WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Lubbock, Texas values the knowledge and participation of the citizenry in matters of public importance, and further desires to ensure the maximum possible degree of transparency as to City Council activity; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Lubbock desires to place before itself the question of whether certain activities of the City Council should be conducted at a time when more citizens can attend and participate in discussions of public importance; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Lubbock finds that activities involving final votes on annexation of real property, the adoption of the City of Lubbock budget, and consideration of the City of Lubbock tax rate rise to the level of encouraging the maximum degree of transparency and public participation, and finds further that routine meetings of the City Council scheduled during evening hours would likewise promote transparency and public participation in city government; and WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes the importance of accessibility as well as transparency, and wishes to accommodate the vast majority of citizens who are not able to otherwise attend morning meetings due to work; and WHEREAS, the City Council respects the working citizens of Lubbock, and wishes to make local government, such as public comments before the City Council, as well as other public business, accessible to the citizens, taxpayers, and voters to whom the City Council is elected to serve; and WHEREAS, the City Council has heretofore by Resolution established policies and procedures pertaining to the City Council and of the City of Lubbock in a Policies and Procedures Manual; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that it would be in the public interest to amend certain policies and procedures as set forth in the City of Lubbock Council Rules, Order of Business and Procedure Manual; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Section II(B) of said Rules, this proposed amendment has been introduced into the record at a prior regular meeting of the City Council; NOW THEREFORE: BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LUBBOCK: THAT Section III(A)(1) of the City of Lubbock Council Rules, Order of Business and Procedure Manual is amended by adding a new subsection III(A)(1)(c) to read as follows: C. Evening Meetings. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the City Council of the City of Lubbock shall schedule meetings where the following matters are held, discussed, or upon which final action is taken, during the evening after 5:30P.M.; provided, however, that for any topic where more than one such meeting is required, one meeting may be reserved for an otherwise scheduled morning meeting: (1) Involuntary annexation of real property; (2) Adoption of the City of Lubbock's budget; and (3) Public hearings or other consideration of the City of Lubbock tax rate. In addition to the foregoing, the City Council of the City of Lubbock shall schedule at least four (4) regular meetings of the City Council per year, at least one (1) of said meetings being held per quarter, to be held during the evening, after 5:30P.M. Passed by the City Council this 6th day of march 2012. TTEST: CONTENT: Klein, TOM MARTIN. MAYOR