MAYOR   John Marchione COUNCILMEMBERS   Nancy McCormick, President   Pat Vache, Vice President    Kimberly Allen   David Carson   Richard Cole   Hank Margeson   Hank Myers

ITEMS FROM THE AUDIENCE provides an opportunity for citizens to address the Council regarding any issue. Speakers must sign their intention to speak on a sheet in the back of the Council Chamber, and limit comments to four minutes.

The CONSENT AGENDA consists of routine items for which a staff recommendation has been prepared, and which do not require further Council discussion. A council member may ask questions about an item before the vote is taken, or request that an item be removed from the Consent Agenda and placed on the regular agenda for more detailed discussion. A single vote is taken to approve all items remaining on the Consent Agenda.

PUBLIC HEARINGS are held to receive public comment on important issues and/or issues requiring a public hearing by State statute. Citizens wishing to comment will follow the same procedure as for Items From The Audience, and may speak after being recognized by the Mayor. After all persons have spoken, the hearing is closed to public comment. The Council then proceeds with its deliberation and decision making.

STAFF REPORTS are made to the Council by the department directors on issues of interest to the Council which do not require Council action.

The OMBUDSMAN REPORT is made by the Councilmember who is serving as ombudsman. The ombudsman designation rotates among Council members on a monthly basis. She/he is charged with assisting citizens to resolve problems with City services. Citizens may reach the ombudsman by calling the Mayor's office at 556-2101. Community Cable TV Channel 21 lists the name of the Council ombudsman each month.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS consists of business or subjects returning to the Council for additional discussion or resolution.

NEW BUSINESS consists of subjects which have not previously been considered by Council and which may require discussion and action.

QUASI-JUDICIAL proceedings are those in which the City Council determines the rights or privileges of specific parties, in a public hearing, in a matter which directly impacts individual or group property rights as opposed to a whole community's rights.

ORDINANCES are legislative acts or local laws. They are the most permanent and binding form of Council action and may be changed or repealed only by a subsequent ordinance. Ordinances normally become effective five days after they are published in the City's official newspaper.

RESOLUTIONS are adopted to express Council policy or to direct certain types of administrative action. A resolution may be changed by adoption of a subsequent resolution.

The COUNCIL COMMITTEES are created to advise the Council as a whole. They consider, review, and make recommendations to the Council on policy matters in their work programs, as well as issues referred to them by the Council.

EXECUTIVE SESSIONS - all regular and special meetings of the City Council are open to the public except for executive sessions at which subjects such as national security, property acquisition, contract bid negotiations, personnel issues and litigation are discussed.