Title
Adopt a Resolution to Approve Amendments to and Adopt the Updated Councilmembers' Handbook
Staffreport
SUMMARY
The City Council is asked to approve the revised 2024 Councilmembers' Handbook. The Handbook was last updated on June 3, 2024. Since that time, based on Council direction, the City Council Rules Committee has reviewed proposed edits in December 2024, February 2025, and June 2025. The proposed resolution formally adopts the revised Handbook, incorporating these changes.
The revisions were reviewed by the City Council Rules Committee in December 2024, February 2025, and June 2025. At each meeting, staff received input and direction, which have been incorporated into the final draft.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends approval of the attached resolution.
BACKGROUND
The Councilmembers' Handbook was first created in 1998 to establish written standards of Council operations, reducing reliance on past practice or institutional memory. The Handbook is a reference document for City Councilmembers, provides orientation information for new members, and compiles the Council's agreed-upon operational practices.
Pursuant to Council direction, staff worked with the City Council Rules Committee to update the Handbook to reflect current practices, policy clarifications, and administrative adjustments.
The following substantive edits and clarifications have been incorporated into the revised 2024 Councilmembers' Handbook based on reviews by the City Council Rules Committee in December 2024, February 2025, and June 2025, and as presented at the September 8, 2025 Special Council Meeting:
* General Clean-Up
o Reorganized sections of the Handbook for better flow.
o Added information about the City Council's Facilities & Transportation Committee, Finance Committee, and Rules Committee.
o Removed outdated reference to the former Human Relations Committee.
o Corrected spacing, spelling, and grammar inconsistencies.
* Nomination and Role of the Vice Mayor
o Draft la...
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