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' ~ 4 <br />The Consent Agenda <br />The consent agenda is basically an agenda within an agenda. A <br />separate portion of the agenda with consent items would be prepared with <br />each item listed separately as is now the case. Upon the request of <br />any one Council member any item in the consent agenda could be taken out. <br />The remainder of the items in the consent agenda would then be approved <br />as a package. The kinds of items likely to be placed in a consent <br />agenda might include: <br />1. Setting of hearings; <br />2. Routine licenses; <br />3. Vouchers; <br />4. Approving of specifications; <br />5. Reapportionment of assessments. <br />In order to gain the full time savings from such an agenda, debate <br />should not be permitted. Again if any one member has questions or <br />wishes an item out, such member simply so declares and it then is <br />considered on its individual merits. While the time savings at each <br />meeting may not be considerable, there would be a substantial cumulative <br />effect. Some time savings in minute preparation_wouldalso be expected. <br />Consent matters should probably be considered directly after approval of <br />minutes so the Council could better gauge the pace for the remainder of <br />the meeting. <br />Mayor Receive Letters and Reports <br />Clearly it is important that all Council members receive reports <br />and letters for their individual study. In order to make such items <br />matters of record is is necessary that the minutes show they have been <br />formally received. For these reasons it is important that the agenda <br />formally recognize and list these letters and reports. We do not recall <br />any time that the Council has refused to receive materials offered. <br />This being the case it would seem that the rules of order could be <br />changed to permit the Mayor to receive letters and reports and order <br />that they be placed in the record. The agenda might then read "Consider <br />receipt of administrative report regarding stop signs" and the minutes <br />would read "The Mayor directed that the administrative report regarding <br />stop signs be received." Again, while not significant in and of itself, <br />there would be time savings. <br />Change of Agenda Format <br />For the most part we consider the present agenda format a rational <br />one, easy to follow, and easy for the staff to know where to place a <br />given item. It is not, however, responsibe to the public who are present <br />regarding a given agenda item. Frequently members of the public are <br />present who must wait through the debate and discussion on several items <br />who no one from the public present is interested in. Currently, there <br />are procedures to waive council rules of order. These waiver provisions <br />could be strengthened by waiving the rules early in a meeting to consider <br />