Closed-door meeting to discuss new council rules

Eight members of the next City Council are meeting behind these closed doors this afternoon, barring reporters from their pre-swearing in session.

Members of the 40th City Council are meeting behind closed doors this afternoon to discuss what Mayor-elect Mark Mallory calls "internal process issues."

On the agenda is a memo by Councilman-elect Jeff Berding, who wants to make broad changes to the council rules. The following is the text of the Berding memo:

Cincinnati City Council
Proposed Rules Committee Action Items

Standing Committees

Finance
Law and Public Safety
Economic Development
Vibrant Neighborhoods, Environment and Public Services
Arts, Culture, Tourism and Marketing
Education, Health and Recreation

Rules Committee should be merged in with Committee on Committees. We do not need 2 "housekeeping" procedural committees. Rules Committee will be responsible for membership of committees and jurisdiction of committees.

Council Sunset Rule

Have solicitor draft a sunset provision into Council Rules -- so that all matters pending in committee shall NOT be turned over to successive committees. Each new Council starts anew with council business and thus must give affirmative vote of Council majority or new committee majority to take up old items as new items of business on calendar.

Conduct of Business

Council will end the practice of by-leaves or emergency by-leaves. Have time on agenda for announcements only. This would be for largely informational and ceremonial matters. No legislative issues may be taken up that are not on the calendar. Motions, communications, resolutions and ordinances should go to Committee for consideration through the legislative process after being assigned to committee by the Mayor.

Motion becomes an ordinance

Motion drafted by a Council member should NOT be referred to appropriate department in administration for analysis and preparation of report UNLESS motion is signed by 4 Council members or the Chair of Committee with jurisdiction on topic and 1 other Council member.

5.3 & 5.4 Preservation of order and Appeals from Decision of Chair -- we should have a trained parliamentarian at every meeting.

6.3 Limitation of Debate -- No member shall be allowed to speak more than once on any one subject. (delete until every other member choosing to speak thereon shall have spoken). Limit member comments to 3 minutes.

Without Recommendation

Report that was reviewed in committee and not approved should NOT be placed on calendar.

Council Calendar -- Items must be on agenda, and Council members should be required to file proposed amendments to Mayor/Manager by 10 AM morning of Committee/Council session.

Committee Meetings -- Committee chairs should have the authority to schedule meetings and set agenda for Committee hearings.

7.12 -- Referrals to City Manager -- Constituent matters must be directed to city manager for follow-up. Similar to motions, requests for information should go to manager instead of department heads. These requests for reports or information need to be signed by Committee chairs with jurisdiction on that matter or a majority of Council members, with a "1-hour rule exception" so that basic informational items that require less than 1 hour of staff time can be requested directly by any Council member to the Manager.

2.6 Citizens' Forum

Give the chair the ability to limit public appearances to one per month. If a person has spoken in that month, then speaking card can be passed over if other members of public seeking to speak.

3.6 Allocation of Office Space -- Council rules on this subject do not cover new members. Council should establish that offices for new members will be based on order of finish in the citywide race.