Current Decatur City Council policy creates barrier to progress
Under current city council policy, for an item to be placed on the agenda, it requires the consent of the mayor, city manager, or 4 of the 6 remaining council members. In other words, even to formally discuss a city issue at a council meeting, you need to have the majority of the council agree to have it on the agenda. The effect of this policy has been to reduce conversation, limit citizen engagement, and repress new ideas and initiatives from being discussed. This includes initiatives for which the majority of residents are supportive, but the majority of council members are not. For example, this policy is the reason the city council has not formally discussed whether a cannabis dispensary should be allowed in Decatur since voting to prohibit them over 5 years ago. This policy is the reason there will be no agenda item on how the city council can more formally collaborate with the school board to enhance student success. There will be no agenda item to hear from residents about the city’s healthcare system because of this policy. There are not even four city council members who want to have a discussion about how we can improve the city’s garbage and recycling ordinance, something for which the city council is directly responsible for legislating.
Simply put, the current policy is a barrier to important issues being discussed, to residents having a stronger voice, and to novel solutions being implemented. At its meeting on Monday, July 21, the city council will be considering whether to change its policy. If approved, for an item to be placed on the agenda, it will require the consent of the Mayor, City Manager, or 3 of the 6 remaining council members. This change has been proposed previously, but been voted down by the majority. With a new member on the Decatur City Council, perhaps we will be able to change what has been a poor policy.
COUNCIL TO VOTE ON MAKING IT MORE DIFFICULT TO REVIEW CITY COUNCIL POLICY
Sadly, on the agenda is a proposal to make it harder for the city council to make changes to its policies such as the one described above. As it currently stands, it requires two members of the city council to request a review of a specific item or items of city council policy. Under the proposed change, it would now require four or more members. If approved, this change would make it harder for council members to discuss and make changes to city policies including financial policies, human resource policies, property policies, and infrastructure. In other words, the change makes it harder for city council members to meet their legislative responsibilities.
NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEETING IS JULY 21
The Decatur City Council will meet on July 21 at 5:30 PM in the council chambers located on the third floor of the Decatur Civic Center (1 Gary K. Anderson Place). Free parking is available in the lot immediately south of the entrance. Citizens are encouraged to attend meetings and express their views. Citizens are allotted 3 minutes per person near the beginning of each city council meeting. In addition, citizens can provide comments regarding one regular agenda item per meeting for up to three minutes provided they notify the city in advance (and prior to the start of the meeting). You can request to speak on a particular agenda item at a council meeting by filling out an on-line form at: https://www.decaturil.gov/FormCenter/Mayor-Council-11/Advance-Request-to-Speak-at-Council-Meet-60.
AGENDAS FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE
An agenda and information about each agenda item for each city council meeting can be found at: https://www.decaturil.gov/mayor-and-council/council-meetings/.
CITIZENS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
If you would like to discuss city issues with a council member, phone numbers and email addresses for each council member can be found at the following link: https://www.decaturil.gov/300/Mayor-Council.