Title
An Ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances by amending Rule 6. Voting. of Section 2-49. -Rules of Order of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Lee’s Summit, Missouri providing generally for corrections to the rules of order related to the use of the motion for reconsideration and the method of voting for the City Council and City Council Committees.
Body
At the last meeting of the Committee, staff mentioned that consideration should be given to adjusting the rule related to reconsideration. As you know, reconsideration is a mechanism whereby the City Council may undo an action that was previously taken provided that it must be done either at the same meeting or the next meeting. When the rule for reconsideration was drafted there was an attempt to minimize the use of parliamentary rules to "game" the system, so a special provision was added that would allow for reconsideration but would require that the item to be reconsidered be placed on the next meeting agenda. Unfortunately, that doesn't adequately address the needs of the Council. This amendment would allow a reconsideration to occur at the same meeting where the original vote was taken but would still require an additional week when the motion to reconsider was made at the meeting following the original vote. This would allow us to address errors quickly on the same night that the original vote was taken but would prevent, at least to some degree, utilizing the parliamentary rules to determine the outcome of an item. The Council always has the ability to "suspend the rules" if there is an immediate need.
You will note that the ordinance in the packet includes both the "reconsideration" rule addressed above but also the provision removing the in-person requirement for voting that the Committee voted to send to the Council with a recommendation of approval. Upon review, staff noted that both of these provisions reside within the same section of the code and it will be advantageous for the codifier and will cut down on potential error if all of the changes in the code section are made at once instead of having a month in between two changes in the same section of the code.
Recommendation
Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of this item.
Proposed Motion: I move that item number 2022-5085 entitled an Ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances by amending Rule 6. Voting. of Section 2-49. -Rules of Order of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Lee’s Summit, Missouri providing generally for corrections to the rules of order related to the use of the motion for reconsideration and the method of voting for the City Council and City Council Committees. be forwarded to the City Council with a recommendation of approval.
Presenter
Brian W. Head, City Attorney