Mayor Steve Adler is joined by the rest of City Council to announced the new structure they are proposing to create shorter meeting times and more community engagement.[/caption]
Austin's new City Council laid out details Jan. 8 about a proposed new structure they intend to implement in an effort to shorten meeting times and increase community engagement.
The new structure would require all ordinances and resolutions to go through at least one committee before being heard by the full council, Mayor Steve Adler said. Four council members will join each committee, but there have not yet been any specific assignments.
"The intent is to increase public participation, to make it possible for that public participation and to make it much more effective and much more meaningful in terms of influencing the decisions made by this council," Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo said."The other really specific intent is to make sure our meetings end at a reasonable time."
The tactics council laid out will be consistently re-evaluated, District 8 Councilwoman Ellen Troxclair said. The new structure will be re-evaluated fully after six months, according to a news release issued by the city.
The four-part restructuring plan addresses the format of the City Council's agenda in an effort to shorten meeting lengths. A December recent report issued by the city auditor's office showed an average City Council meeting in Austin is 9 1/2 hours long compared to sister cities that hold similar meetings in less than half the time. The council will also meet more often and will hold executive session and zoning items on separate days from the general agenda items.
Access to records will also be more transparent and publicly accessible, District 10 Councilwoman Sherri Gallo said.
The committee meetings will also be when the majority of public hearings will be held in an effort to enhance public engagement, District 5 Councilwoman Ann Kitchen said. Public hearings could still happen in front of the full council but will be encouraged earlier in the process.
"[The 10-1 council brought change] with the purpose of making sure more people had a seat at the table. ...I am thrilled that we are proposing changes to make sure that no one gets left behind and that we are fully accessible and transparent," District 4 Councilman Gregorio Casar said.
Adler said a public hearing will likely be held January 22 to ensure public feedback is received before finalizing the proposed restructuring. A vote to formally adopt the new structure could take place at the next Austin City Council meeting on January 29.
Mayor Steve Adler is joined by the rest of City Council to announced the new structure they are proposing to create shorter meeting times and more community engagement.[/caption]
Austin's new City Council laid out details Jan. 8 about a proposed new structure they intend to implement in an effort to shorten meeting times and increase community engagement.
The new structure would require all ordinances and resolutions to go through at least one committee before being heard by the full council, Mayor Steve Adler said. Four council members will join each committee, but there have not yet been any specific assignments.
"The intent is to increase public participation, to make it possible for that public participation and to make it much more effective and much more meaningful in terms of influencing the decisions made by this council," Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo said."The other really specific intent is to make sure our meetings end at a reasonable time."
The tactics council laid out will be consistently re-evaluated, District 8 Councilwoman Ellen Troxclair said. The new structure will be re-evaluated fully after six months, according to a news release issued by the city.
The four-part restructuring plan addresses the format of the City Council's agenda in an effort to shorten meeting lengths. A December recent report issued by the city auditor's office showed an average City Council meeting in Austin is 9 1/2 hours long compared to sister cities that hold similar meetings in less than half the time. The council will also meet more often and will hold executive session and zoning items on separate days from the general agenda items.
Access to records will also be more transparent and publicly accessible, District 10 Councilwoman Sherri Gallo said.
The committee meetings will also be when the majority of public hearings will be held in an effort to enhance public engagement, District 5 Councilwoman Ann Kitchen said. Public hearings could still happen in front of the full council but will be encouraged earlier in the process.
"[The 10-1 council brought change] with the purpose of making sure more people had a seat at the table. ...I am thrilled that we are proposing changes to make sure that no one gets left behind and that we are fully accessible and transparent," District 4 Councilman Gregorio Casar said.
Adler said a public hearing will likely be held January 22 to ensure public feedback is received before finalizing the proposed restructuring. A vote to formally adopt the new structure could take place at the next Austin City Council meeting on January 29.
