Current City Council Minutes

STUDY SESSION
CITY COUNCIL
7:00 P.M.
SPECIAL MEETING
November 9, 1998

CALL TO ORDER- 7:08 p.m., Mayor Howard presiding

ROLL CALL

Council Members Present: Claire, Hartnett, Ira, Leipzig, Ruskin and Mayor Howard

Council Members Absent: Bain

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Led by Vice Mayor Ruskin

Staff Members present: City Manager Everett, Interim City Clerk McKay, City Attorney Schricker, Facilitator Dr. Reeves and Council Volunteer Balsamo.

1.PUBLIC COMMENT

John Murphy, 421 Luff Lane, Redwood City, expressed his disdain upon reading the local newspaper quotes of some of our Council Members following the recent election outcome and urged Council efforts be directed to teamwork and suggested operating as a Board of Directors for a 3 billion dollar corporation which is similar to the General Improvement District 1-64 and cited Redwood Shores statistics and history .

Mike Spence, 307 Oakwood, presented Council with a letter of concern regarding the area outlined for predator management in Redwood Shores; copy of a San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory letter outlining resources and studies on predation effects on birds of the South Bay; his March 26, 1998 memo to the Redwood City Subcommittee evaluation recommendation for potential uses for Lot 6 A & B and Area H; his May 11, 1998 memo to the RC Land Use Subcommittee stating his minority concern for development protection in Redwood Shores; and his June 9, 1998 memo to the Redwood City Land Use Subcommittee stating his concerns regarding conditional/commercial uses for Area H.

Mike Harris, 196 Wellesley Crescent, Redwood City, stated his disapproval of newspaper quotes from Council member Bain and Claire after the recent election and requested an apology from them to the voters of Redwood City.

Nita Spangler, 970 Edgewood Road, Redwood City, stated she has nothing further to add as Mr. Spence stated her concerns adequately

Council Member Claire stated he will not apologize for his disapproval of the first occurrence of partisan politics entering a Council election in the history of Redwood City; or the use of Redwood City' logo in a political endorsement letter; and the second occasion where a campaign document looking similar to an absentee ballot was used; all of which he considers unethical.

2.SUBJECT

A. COUNCIL MEETING EFFECTIVENESS facilitated by Dr. Reeves

Vice Mayor Ruskin submitted Council Member elect, Colleen Jordan's letter of Council meeting effectiveness suggestions, for the record.

Dr. Reeves provided an outline and discussion ensued regarding Council's role and responsibilities prior to a Council meeting, role of Mayor and Chair, Council's view of the purpose for a Council meeting, role of the public, role of the Mayor, role of the members, agenda format, Council protocol, public comment from the floor, Consent Calendar, matters of Council interest, time management, conflict management and Council evaluation of their effectiveness in their meetings.

It was the consensus of Council to not address speakers during audience oral communications and develop protocol for personal matters and referrals to staff; use a visual 3 minute clock run by the City Clerk and develop a system to assist the Mayor in managing public's oral communication 15 minute period in a consistent manner of protocol; directed staff to research meeting rules and protocol procedures; move Council announcement/reports to end of agenda with a total time limit of 10 minutes; requested Council mail to contain a note as to who in what department the referral is forwarded to for resolution of problems or concerns; conflict resolution is to be resolved directly one on one and not via the press or meetings for better teamwork; and requested Dr. Reeves to provide meeting evaluation sheets for Council.

3.ADJOURNMENT

M/S Leipzig/Hartnett to adjourn the meeting at 9:17 p.m., as there is no further business. The motion was approved by unanimous voice vote.

Respectfully Submitted,

Cathleen A. McKay CMC/AAE

Interim City Clerk

Copyright © 1998. The City of Redwood City. All rights reserved.