Title
First Reading to Adopt an Ordinance Amending the San Leandro Municipal Code §1-1-200; and
Adopt a Resolution to Amend the San Leandro Administrative Code §1.1.105 and the City Council Handbook to Change the Council Meeting Start Time
Staffreport
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Pursuant to the City Council’s discussion and adoption of the City Council handbook at its July 17, 2023 Regular City Council meeting, staff recommends that the City Council review and approve the following:
1. Approve for first reading an ordinance to amend San Leandro Municipal Code §1-1-200 to start regular City Council meetings at 7:00 p.m.
2. Approve a resolution to amend the San Leandro Administrative Code and the City Council Handbook as follows:
a. Administrative Code §1-1-105 Remove language referencing work session location.
b. Update language to amend the start time to 7 pm for regular meetings and 6 pm for closed sessions.
ANALYSIS
1. Amendments to the San Leandro Municipal Code
City of San Leandro Charter Section 315 provides that the Council shall hold regular meetings at least twice each month at such times as it shall fix by ordinance or resolution. San Leandro Municipal Code §1-1-200 currently provides that regular meetings of the Council shall be held on the first and third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. If any such day is a City holiday, the meeting shall be held on the next business day at 6:30 p.m.
In order to promote robust discussion, thoughtfulness, and respect for community members’ and allow consideration for City Council schedules, staff proposes to amend Municipal Code §1-1-200 to change the start time for regular City Council meetings from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. This and other changes described below, are intended to provide enough time for the City Council to complete all of its business and to allow for robust public comment and City Council deliberation.
2. Amendments to the San Leandro Administrative Code
By resolution, the City Council proposes to amend the San Leandro Administrative Code as follows:
a. Work Sessions
San Leandro Administrative Code §1.1.105 provides as follows:
“A work session ordinarily will be held in the Helen Lawrence South Offices Conference Room at 7:00 p.m. on the second Monday of each month, with an additional work session scheduled on the fourth Monday, if needed.”
Staff proposes an amendment to this Administrative Code section to establish consistency with the adopted City Council Handbook to remove mention of the meeting location at the Helen Lawrence South Offices, and replace with the following language: “Those meetings shall take place at a location to be designated by the Council.”
“A work session ordinarily will be held at 7:00 p.m. on the second Monday of each month, with an additional work session scheduled on the fourth Monday, if needed. Those meetings shall take place at a location to be designated by the Council.”
3. Amendments to the City Council Handbook
In response to the City Council’s adoption of the Council Handbook and the discussion of the July 17, 2023 City Council meeting, staff recommends the following amendments to the City Council Handbook:
Chapter 2 - Meetings page 17
Update the following language to the beginning of the section, Regular Meetings:
Regular meetings of the City Council are held on the first and third Mondays of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 835 East 14th Street. If any scheduled meeting falls on a City holiday, the meeting shall be held on the next business day at 7:00 p.m.
Update the following language to the beginning of the section, Work Sessions:
Work Sessions of the City Council are usually held at 7:00 p.m. on the second Monday of each month; an additional Work Session may be scheduled on the 4th Monday.
Update the following language to the beginning of the section, Closed Sessions:
Closed session will ordinarily be held at 6:00 p.m. unless otherwise arranged.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no anticipated direct fiscal impact on the General Fund associated with adopting these suggested amendments.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Adoption of this ordinance is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act: Section 15378 (not a project); and Section 15061(b)(3) (no significant environmental impact).
LEGAL ANALYSIS
The City Attorney reviewed the ordinance and resolution to make the amendments to the municipal code, the administrative code and the City Council handbook.
PREPARED BY:
Kelly B. Clancy, CMC
City Clerk, City Manager’s Office