HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/15/2021 03C Discussion of amendment to the City Council Rules of Procedures for consideration of letters requesting letters of support ti i..asxntntj kd
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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. 3.C.
For Meeting of: June 15, 2021
ITEM TITLE: Discussion of amendment to the City Council Rules of Procedures
for consideration of letters requesting letters of support
SUBMITTED BY: Robert Harrison, City Manager
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
At the J une 1, 2021 City Council meeting, staff was directed to add this issue to the June 15,
2021 Council agenda.
ITEM BUDGETED:
STRATEGIC PRIORITY:
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER
RECOMMENDATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
Funk proposal 0141 0 1 r Me
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"Letters of Support" - Yakima City Council procedure
This is an amendment to Yakima City Council procedures, intended to create an orderly process
by which local groups can request that the City Council provide a "letter of support"for a project
or action. Such letters are usually requested to document Council support of an "ask" to an
outside agency, often an application for project funding.
City Councilmembers and the City Manager may request to have the subject placed on the
agenda of the next business meeting for discussion. If addition to the agenda is approved, the
full letter and all supporting documents must be given to the City Clerk before the Thursday prior
to the next business meeting. This allows inclusion of the letter and documents in the agenda
packet for the next business meeting.
If the city staff anticipates that the requested support will be controversial or otherwise
problematic, staff documents should also be prepared and in the agenda packet.
This procedure makes it impossible to approve an item in less than two weeks. If there is an
urgent need for expedited approval, it is the responsibility of the local group to provide
justification for urgent action which includes:
• Documentation of the deadline, and when that deadline was announced
• A full "Letter of Support", or a draft with a request for editing from City staff
• A specific reference to how the project furthers established City priorities
• This list is not exhaustive and more details may be requested
Letters of Support approved by vote of the Council are to be signed, "on behalf(or on
the authority of) the Yakima City Council, and can be signed by any or all Council
Members.
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I envision staff creating a "Google Form" or similar-format application which can be
typed and submitted online. I don't think that there is a need for a "secure"/"wet"
signature, as that can be done later.
I would like to see requests for Letters of Support and Proclamations and their
supporting documents kept together in an electronic file, and open for review, during the
entire process from start to finish.
I'm open to editing.
Kay Funk, MD
5/27/2021