Title
Resolution of Intent to Adopt an Ordinance Implementing a Committee System for City Council
Body
Department: Executive
Council District: All
Public Hearing: No
Advertising Date/By: N/A
Contact 1 and Phone: Mary Vigue, Assistant City Manager, 373-2002
Contact 2 and Phone: Tom Carruthers, City Attorney, 373-2320
PURPOSE:
To adopt an ordinance implementing a committee system for City Council for the 2015-2016 fiscal year as noted below.
BACKGROUND:
The Greensboro City Council will implement a committee system to streamline its decision-making process. This change is made in the interest of having a more efficient and effective government because a committee system will allow City Council agenda items to be fully deliberated and vetted in a committee before they are presented to the full city Council for a vote. Winston-Salem uses a committee system and Greensboro will adopt a similar model.
Purpose:
The purpose of the committee system is to have a planned and thorough review of each matter before it is heard at the regular City Council meeting. The committee system will remain separate from the functions of the Zoning Commission and the Planning Board whose duties will remain unchanged. While in committee, the matter will be investigated and evaluated, and the committee will make either a positive recommendation or a negative recommendation to City Council. When the matter is presented to City Council for a vote, the Council will take action on the matter.
Structure:
Greensboro will have four standing committees, and each committee will be tasked with reviewing relevant matters and making recommendations about those matters to the full City Council. The standing committees will be: 1) Community Services; 2) General Government; 3) Infrastructure; and 4) Public Safety. A broad overview of each committee is as follows:
Community Services Committee:
Parks & Recreation, Neighborhood Development, Libraries, Housing Code, Nuisance Ordinance, User Fees, Policy revisions, Contracts, Capital Projects
General Government Committee:
Finance, Budget, IT, Human Resources, Human Relations, M/WBE, Executive Issues, Contracts and Purchase Orders, Annual Operating Budget, Budget Amendments, Annual Financial Reports, Purchase and Sale of Property, Fees Policy Revisions, Grants Requiring Match, Capital Projects
Infrastructure Committee:
Engineering & Inspections, Field Operations, Planning, Transportation, Water Resources, Contracts, Budget and Review, Road and Alley Closures, Utility Easements, Stormwater/Water, Roadway Naming, Annexation Petitions, Ordinance Revisions, Fees, Capital Projects.
Public Safety:
Fire, Greensboro-Metro 911, Police Issues, Contracts, Grant Applications, Budget Review, Ordinance Revisions, Fees, Projects
Timeline:
If approved, the committee system will be implemented according to the following timeline:
June 16, 2015: City Council will consider the ordinance change.
July 21, 2015: The Mayor will consider appointments to the committees.
August 10-11, 2015: Committees will meet for training.
September 8-9, 2015: The first official committee meetings will be held.
October 6, 2015: The first set of committee recommendations will be heard at the regular City Council meeting.
BUDGET IMPACT:
There is no anticipated budget impact. Staff anticipates utilizing current resources.
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
It is recommended that City Council pass the Resolution of Intent to Adopt an Ordinance Implementing the Committee System.