Section 2.16 of the Charter of the City of Independence provides that the Council
may determine its own rules of procedure for meetings. These rules shall be
in effect upon their adoption by the Council and until such time as they are amended or new rules adopted in the manner provided by these rules.
If approved, this item would amend the Council Rules of Procedure in the following manner:
1. Require the City Clerk to make public all items requiring Council action through publication of the item on the Council agenda no later than noon on the Tuesday before the next Regular Meeting of the City Council. The current Rules of Procedure require publication at least twenty-four hours (excluding weekends) before the meeting in which the desired action is to be taken.
2. Clarify that the City Council shall meet at least once per month in Study Sessions and may convene for additional meetings at the call of the Mayor or of any four members of the Council.
3. Establish that the Council shall meet in the City Council Chambers in the City Council Independence City Hall for Regular Council Meetings, to commence at 6:00 specified at least two (2) weeks in advance, and that the City Council shall move the Regular Meeting to the Wednesday following the Tuesday when there is a municipal election.
4. Move Citizen Request to Speak after the conclusion of the ordinances for first reading and before Councilmember Comments.
5. Adjust the deadline for Council sponsored items to reflective of the changes to the agenda deadlines, which includes having Council sponsored items to staff the Thursday prior to the the Tuesday publication date.