HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 24 - Discuss and Consider Directing Staff to Implement a Process for Council Requested Items
City Council
www.santa-ana.org//city-council/
Item # __
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
August 16, 2022
TOPIC: Councilmember Requested Items Process
AGENDA TITLE:
Amend City Council Policy Relating to Councilmember Requested Items
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Approve an amendment to the City Council policy requiring that:
(1) All Councilmember Requested Items be placed on the agenda via a memorandum
establishing what is being requested, why it is being requested, and a summary of
background information relating to the item;
(2) No specific date be mandated for return of an item without staff input; and
(3) At least one Councilmember supporting a Councilmember Requested Item first confer
with the City Manager and/or City Attorney for input (not approval).
DISCUSSION
The City of Santa Ana policy allows councilmembers to place on the agenda
“Councilmember Requested Items,” also previously known colloquially as “85A items.”
These items allow individual councilmembers, or up to three councilmembers working in
tandem, to request an item be brought before the entire City Council for discussion and
direction. These items may discuss any issue within the City Council’s jurisdiction,
including, but not limited to, policy research, drafting ordinances, creating resolutions, or
providing other direction to staff.
In recent years, these Councilmember Requested Items have proliferated. However, often,
neither the City Manager nor City Attorney will have received notice about these items, only
finding out once an agenda is posted, and therefore are not given the opportunity to provide
input. This sometimes results in items that come forward which are duplicative of existing
policies, items that are already being implemented at the staff level, or otherwise create
logistical issues. Additionally, without such a memorandum, due to Brown Act limitations,
councilmembers are unable to discuss in detail specific issues or concerns regarding a
Councilmember Requested Item.
Implementing this memorandum and conference process will not only allow the City’s
highest executives to provide councilmembers additional information before items are
requested, but it would give other councilmembers an opportunity to research a topic or
issue prior to the meeting and give the public more detailed notice about an item that is
Councilmember Requested Items Process
August 16, 2022
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brought forth.
This policy would increase transparency between the City Council and the public relating
to City business, encourage collaboration with City staff, and ensure timely requests by
policymakers.
Submitted By: Councilmember Thai Viet Phan