Title
Discussion to Consider Facilitated Discussion Mechanisms to Help Resolve Disagreements for the City Council
StaffReport
SUMMARY
Consistent with direction at the September 8, 2026 City Council meeting, this agenda item is scheduled to hold a discussion to consider facilitated discussion mechanisms for the City Council.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommend the City Council Rules Committee discuss the item and provide further direction to Staff.
BACKGROUND
On January 5, 2026, the City Council considered an item concerning the public release of an independent investigation report prepared in response to a complaint submitted by Councilmember Xouhoa Bowen to the Human Resources Department. As part of the Council’s action, the City Council directed staff to schedule a future agenda item to discuss restorative justice mediation for the City Council.
The discussion occurred on April 6, 2026. Following Council deliberations, the City Council voted to refer the topic to the City Council Rules Committee for further examination, specifically to consider how restorative justice mediation could potentially be incorporated into the City Council Internal Discipline Policy, found in Title A1, Chapter 13 of the Administrative Code.
The Rules Committee reviewed the item on April 22, 2026 and continued it to allow additional time for research, including defining restorative justice mediation and considering the implications of integrating such processes into the City Council’s discipline framework. Councilmember Fred Simon submitted proposed amendments to the Internal Discipline Policy, which were provided to the Committee for discussion.
On June 24, 2026, the Rules Committee reviewed the item again. After discussion, the Committee determined that the full City Council should decide whether to authorize revised direction before the Committee continues its work.
The City Council considered the matter again on September 8, 2026. At that meeting, the Council directed the Rules Committ...
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