FAQs

Can I speak at a City Council Meeting?: Anyone can appear before the City Council and express their point of view. You may speak during the general public comment segment toward the beginning of each meeting, on any topic that is not related to legislation being considered that evening. Or you may address a specific legislative item on the agenda, in which case you will be called to speak when the item comes up for discussion. In either case you must sign up to speak with Council Staff by 7:30 to address the Council under General Public Comment, or prior to the start of the item that you want to address and your name will be placed on a speaker list. If you are speaking on a specific item it is helpful to let Council Secretary know the agenda item reference number. The Council Secretary is usually seated at the entrance to the Council Chambers. Speakers are taken in the order they signed up. The Council President determines the length of time allotted to each speaker at the beginning of each meeting, and due to the frequently long agendas, this is typically two minutes. Therefore, it is important to keep your comments short and plan on making your point as quickly as possible.

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City Council

1. Can I speak at a City Council Meeting?: Anyone can appear before the City Council and express their point of view. You may speak during the general public comment segment toward the beginning of each meeting, on any topic that is not related to legislation being considered that evening. Or you may address a specific legislative item on the agenda, in which case you will be called to speak when the item comes up for discussion. In either case you must sign up to speak with Council Staff by 7:30 to address the Council under General Public Comment, or prior to the start of the item that you want to address and your name will be placed on a speaker list. If you are speaking on a specific item it is helpful to let Council Secretary know the agenda item reference number. The Council Secretary is usually seated at the entrance to the Council Chambers. Speakers are taken in the order they signed up. The Council President determines the length of time allotted to each speaker at the beginning of each meeting, and due to the frequently long agendas, this is typically two minutes. Therefore, it is important to keep your comments short and plan on making your point as quickly as possible.

2. How do I find out what items are on the agenda at a regular City Council meeting?: Because the agenda for a Council meeting is ever-changing, the actual agenda for a meeting is not final until 72 hours prior to a meeting, which is typically 5 p.m. on the Friday immediately prior to the Council meeting. At the meeting, copies of the agenda can be found just inside the entrance to the Council Chambers. Also, you can access the City Council agenda from our web site by accessing the Find Legislation, Meetings, Agendas

3. How can I find out what the City Council has voted on?: From the City Council web page select "View most recent Minutes and Agendas"

4. What relationship does the City Council have with the Mayor?: The Council shall have the power to adopt all ordinances, resolutions or other legislation conducive to the welfare of the people of the city and not inconsistent with the City Charter. The Council shall not perform any executive functions except those functions assigned to the Council by the City Charter. The City Charter establishes the executive branch of the city government. The Mayor shall control and direct the executive branch. The Mayor is authorized to delegate executive and administrative power within the executive branch. The Mayor shall be the chief executive officer with all executive and administrative powers of the city and the official head of the city for all ceremonial purposes.