City staff has completed a comprehensive review of the rules of procedure for surrounding municipalities, including Kansas City, Blue Springs, Lee's Summit, Raytown and Grandview. City staff have researched best practices regarding procedures for the conduct of business and have consolidated these into a comprehensive revision of the Council Rules of Procedure. Proposed changes were shared with the City Council at the December 12th Study Session.

Key changes proposed are as follows:

1. Rescinding the resolution adopting the current Council Rules of Procedure and adopting the new Council Rules of Procedure into Section 1.01 of the Independence City Code for greater transparency and improved customer service.
2. Amending the recent update requiring the rescheduling of Regular Meetings of the City Council to state that only municipal elections for the office of Mayor or City Councilmember will require the Regular Meeting to be moved from Monday to Wednesday of that same week.
3. Changes the order of business for the Regular Meeting agenda: Removes invocation from Regular Meeting agenda; Provides for Councilmember Comments immediately after Citizen Comments to address issues raised by speakers; Defines Consent Agenda items, Non-Ordinance Action items, and Ordinances; Provides for Councilmember Roundtable and Staff Roundtable at the conclusion of each meeting. 
4. Allows general business items (contracts, purchase orders, planning applications, and licenses) to be added to the agenda by City staff. Requires that all other agenda items be approved by the Mayor or at the request of three (3) Councilmembers.
5. Requires all Council-requested items to be submitted on or before 9:00 a.m. two Thursdays prior to the City Council meeting for which the agenda is being published.
6. Allows items not submitted on time as required by the Council Rules of Procedure to be considered and acted upon by the City Council if a two-thirds majority of the City Councilmembers present vote to allow consideration of the matter.
7. Accommodates videoconferencing for public meetings. 
8. Establishes standards and rules of decorum for conduct during Council meetings, to include avoiding the use of cell phones or computers to text or use social media and to require Councilmembers to remain in their designated places during the meetings unless a recess is called, or the member is excused. A vote shall not be taken during a member's absence from the chair.
9. Adds certain rules of order, including requiring a majority vote of the Council to direct the City Manager and requiring such direction to be made in the form of a motion.
10. Affirms the City Council Audit and Finance Committee. Adds other standing committees: Legislative/Intergovernmental Relations; Rules; and Employee Advisory Committee.
11. Creates City Council Code of Conduct to guide interactions with City staff, members of the public, other public agencies, fellow Council colleagues, and the media.
12. Adds provisions to define the relationship between City Council and Council employees, including recruitment, appointment, performance reviews, and termination. Clarifies that all matters of personnel shall be addressed in Executive Session.