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Open Calendars <br />1) Reject Option 2 of the staff recommendation regarding open calendars. Reason: Option 2 does <br />not provide easy public review of the calendars of public officials in order to ensure public <br />confidence and the integrity of local government. <br />2) Adopt a moed version of Option 1 that requires the City Council, the mayor, and the City's <br />executive management team to post their calendar in the City's website for public review- <br />Reason: The public's interest in transparent government is no less great with respect to top City <br />officials than it is with respect to Council members- <br />3) SACRED also recommends that the open calendar exception for "those who may fear <br />retaliation" be narrowed. Reason: the staff report ordinance language related to this important <br />exception is so vague and broad that it may create a massive loophole to the rule. For example, <br />a lobbyist for the developer of a controversial project "may-fear "retaliation" from members of <br />the public who oppose the project for repeatedly meeting with city officials- <br />Lobbyist Registration <br />1) Amend Section 2-156(b) to make it mandatory for lobbyists who are paid at least $250 per <br />month to register on a yearly basis before they conduct lobbying activities. Reason: the staff <br />report ordinance provisions are not sufficient because registration is neither mandatory nor <br />required regularly. This approach will not provide the public with information vital to ensuring <br />confidence in the integrity of local government particularly regarding individuals and entities <br />that are involved with both candidate campaigns and legislative activity. <br />Budget and Strategic Plan Meetings <br />1) Add a provision providing for January and August hearings regarding the budget to educate the <br />community and obtain community input before the budget is approved by City Council and <br />make the budget process more accessible to community members. Provide for meetings with <br />City staff regarding the budget upon written request signed by 30 or more City residents- <br />Reason: This modest request allows the public to provide informed feedback to City officials <br />regarding the budget in an efficient, focused, appropriate manner with minimal impact on staff <br />time and resources- <br />2) Add a provision requiring the City to, each January, adopt three year strategic plans following a <br />public meeting, and followed by subsequent review meetings each August, with meetings <br />noticed conducted according to the rules for community meetings under Section 2-153. Reason: <br />the staff report ordinance language neither actually requires the City to have o strategic p/an nor <br />to conduct a meeting regarding that plan at any particular time. One public meeting during <br />preparation and one annual review of the plan is an exceedingly modest requirement that wil! <br />promote public involvement in and understanding of the plan and the City's efforts to meet its <br />goa/s.