City Council Work Session-Communication, Advise & Consent

Tuesday morning’s City Council Work Session got underway with the anticipated discussion about the City Charter, and what, if any elements may need to be amended if not, removed.

The charter was first enacted in 1913. 

The focus appeared to be a clear understanding of how the charter defines Advise & Consent in relation to the most recent Governance and Ends Policies created in 2019. Communication is another issue.

Mayor Cole Stanley offered something of a revised communication flow chart to help improve communication, which now basically consists of the mayor, council and City Manager. Mayor Stanley’s suggestion would include the Deputy City Manager, Assistant City Managers and Directors. Councilman Les Simpson countered that such communication does not need to reach below the City Manager.

Mayor Stanley also posed the scenario in which department heads and others circumvent their direct chain of command and go directly to him or a council member, Tipps replied the correct course of action would be to let the reporting person know this matter needs to be communicated to the City Manager.

Following a brief break, the meeting focused on each council member’s desired changes to the charter and the Governance and Ends Policies.