MRSC Insight Blog

Posts for Legislative Body

Legal Publication Requirements and the Decline of the Local Newspaper

October 31, 2022 by Jill Dvorkin
Category: Legislative Body

Cities, towns, and counties must designate an “official newspaper” to meet certain publication requirements. Other statutes require notice or publication in a “newspaper of general circulation.” What happens when there are fewer qualified newspapers to choose from?

Can the Mayor Take Part in Discussion?

September 28, 2022 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Forms of Government-City , Legislative Body

In many cities, the mayor also acts as the meeting chair. While Robert's Rules directs the chair of large groups of 12 or more members to refrain from taking part in a discussion (and focus on facilitating), these rules do not automatically apply to smaller groups.

U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Censuring Members of a Governing Body

September 12, 2022 by Steve Gross
Category: Court Decisions and AGO Opinions , Legislative Body

A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling supports the ability of a governing body to censure one of its members if that person's action obstructs or hinders the body's ability to perform its day-to-day functions.

Budget Hearings: How Many Do You Need?

August 29, 2022 by MRSC Insight
Category: Budgets and Budgeting , Legislative Body

During budget season, many local government staff and elected officials often wonder how many public hearings are required to complete the budget process. The answer generally depends on type of government and the reason for the hearing.

Taking Action Using Ordinances, Resolutions, Motions, and Proclamations

July 13, 2022 by MRSC Insight
Category: Legislative Body

A governing body has several options it can use to take action on an issue. Knowing which type of action to employ and under what circumstance helps to make the process more efficient and effective.

Sanctioning Rogue Board Members

December 2, 2021 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

Sometimes the actions of a member of a governing body cause such disruption that that body will not be able to move forward on important matters. This blog reviews what a council, commission, or board can do when dealing with rogue members.

Streamlining Meetings Through the Consent Agenda

August 2, 2021 by WMCA
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

This blog offers an overview of consent agendas and how some Washington local governments are using this tool.

Looking Ahead: Holding “Hybrid” Public Meetings

April 29, 2021 by Emma Diamond
Category: Legislative Body

This blog provides an overview of the hybrid public meeting model, which combines in-person and online public attendance.

Setting the Agenda: Less Control, More Cooperation

April 26, 2021 by Steve Gross
Category: Legislative Body

This blog looks at best practices on setting public meeting agendas for cities, towns, counties, or special purpose districts.

Changing Course: Using Robert’s Rules to Alter a Prior Action

January 19, 2021 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

Using Robert's Rules of Order, this blog looks at when and how a governing body can change course on a prior action.

The Right to Assemble: Responding to Protests, Spontaneous Gatherings, and Counter-Demonstrations

January 6, 2021 by Oskar Rey
Category: Legislative Body , Public Participation

This blog explores the right to assemble in connection with protests and gatherings in outdoor public places and provides thoughts on how local governments can respond to situations that may arise.

Strategies for Managing Difficult Public Meetings and Hearings

December 3, 2020 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: Legislative Body , Public Participation

This blog offers some steps you can take before, during, and after difficult public meetings and public hearings to make them less stressful and more productive for everyone.

What Does the New Robert’s Rules Mean for You?

October 28, 2020 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

From guest author and Professional Registered Parliamentarian Ann Macfarlane, this blog post looks at the latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised.

When First Amendment Rights and Public Meetings Clash

July 23, 2020 by MRSC Insight
Category: Legislative Body

This blog post looks at the authority a governing body has to establish and carry out procedures that can prevent the interruption or delay of a public meeting due to disruptive or irrelevant comments from the public or from members of the governing body itself.

Engaging in a Pixelated Public Square

April 20, 2020 by Laura Crandall
Category: COVID-19 , Legislative Body

This blog post looks at which video platforms are best for what use, how public comment may be made for remote public meetings, and discusses various electronic public engagement platforms.

Tips for Government Bodies Meeting Remotely

March 26, 2020 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , COVID-19 , Legislative Body

This blog post offers guidelines and tips for conducting successful remote local government meetings.

Working on Council Guidelines? What About Remote Meeting Attendance?

February 6, 2020 by Laura Crandall
Category: Legislative Body

This blog post addresses remote meeting attendance, including what is possible and permissible under the Open Public Meetings Act.

Don’t Get into Back-and-Forth Exchanges During Public Comment

August 29, 2019 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

The public comment period of a public meeting can be a great time to hear from constituents and to be heard. However, these meetings should not devolve into back-and-forth exchanges between elected officials and their constituents.

Successful Staff Interaction in Local Government Meetings

April 29, 2019 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

This MRSC Insight blog offers a few suggestions on how to structure successful staff participation in a council meeting.

Roundtable Public Hearings

March 25, 2019 by Bob Jean
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

This blog post provides an overview of the Roundtable Public Hearing process, a tool local governments can use to move the public hearing process from a divisive “win/lose” result to a much preferable “consensus/compromise” result.

Point of Order and Appeal Are the Heart of Democracy

February 11, 2019 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

This blog post answers the question: What is a Point of Order and how do I use it?

Meeting Discussion: When Should You Interrupt a Speaker?

December 27, 2018 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

Under Robert's Rules, there are significant instances in which a board member or councilmember should be interrupted during a meeting in order to preserve preserve politeness and fairness for all.

Do We Have to Obey the Mayor?

July 23, 2018 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

Under Robert's Rules of Order and common parliamentary law the presiding officer of a governing body has certain rights — but so too do councilmembers, county commissioners, and directors of special districts — and no one has the authority to dominate the group.

A Grab Bag of Ask MRSC Questions

May 10, 2018 by Paul Sullivan
Category: Legislative Body

This blog post offers several examples of questions MRSC's legal and policy experts get from local government staff and elected officials.

Four Bad Habits to Avoid at Council Meetings

February 9, 2018 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

There are a number of “urban myths” about Robert’s Rules of Order that can get in the way of democratic process for your council. If these errors happen at your meetings, address them and improve your processes.

Prayer & Pledges—Should You or Shouldn’t You?

February 5, 2018 by Jim Doherty
Category: Legislative Body

Whether to have an invocation (prayer) or a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of a local government meeting is a matter of discretion to be decided by the local government legislative body. Legal Consultant Jim Doherty looks at these issues and provide some background on each.

Ten Traits of an Effective Councilmember

January 2, 2018 by Jon Mutchler
Category: Guest Author , Administrative and Elected Officials , Legislative Body

In this guest-authored blog post, Ferndale Mayor Jon Mulcher reflects on the traits he has witnessed in his career as a public servant that define truly effective councilmembers.

Time for a Change in Your Local Government Organization?

March 29, 2016 by Bob Jean
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

Changes to the form or organization of a city presents both a leadership challenge and opportunity for the city council. Make sure to handle the transition properly.

How Well Do You Walk this Meeting Tightrope?

February 25, 2016 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

Chairing a meeting requires two skills that are not easy to combine. The presider has to control the meeting, which requires strength. At the same time, he or she has to remain emotionally connected to the members, which requires warmth.

New Legislation Provides Some Flexibility for County Legislative Bodies as to Meeting Locations

May 7, 2015 by Bob Meinig
Category: Legislative Body

In one bill, the 2015 Legislature addressed the issue considered in a 2014 attorney general opinion that was discussed in a December 2014 MRSC blog post, May a County Legislative Body Meet Outside its County to Hold a Joint Meeting with the Legislative Body of Another County? That attorney general opinion, AGO 2014 No. 7, concluded that, absent specific statutory authority, the legislative authority of one county may not meet outside its borders with the legislative authority of another county. HB 1145 (Ch. 74, Laws of 2015) amends state law to provide that specific statutory authority when the legislative bodies want to address matters of mutual interest.

May a City Council Meet Outside the Corporate Limits of the City?

January 13, 2015 by Pat Mason
Category: Legislative Body

The statutes that apply to cities and towns do not limit where the city or town council can meet, although (except for first class cities) they do contain a limitation on what types of action may be taken at a meeting being held outside the corporate limits.

May a County Legislative Body Meet Outside its County to Hold a Joint Meeting with the Legislative Body of Another County?

December 10, 2014 by Pat Mason
Category: Open Public Meetings Act , Legislative Body

Sometimes situations and issues arise affecting more than one county, such that it would be helpful for the legislative bodies of those counties to meet jointly, which would require one of the bodies to meet outside its county. A 2014 Attorney General Opinion addresses this issue.

Resolution or Ordinance?

September 22, 2014 by Paul Sullivan
Category: Legislative Body

It’s a dilemma. Should a council or board action be taken by ordinance? Or by resolution?Sometimes the answer is easy, as a statute or charter may specify which to use. For example, ordinances must be used to adopt a code city budget (RCW 35A.33.075) and to vacate a county road (RCW 36.87.120). And actions taken initially by ordinance can only be amended or repealed by ordinance.
The answer...

Musings on Local Government and Governance

January 31, 2014 by Jim McEntire
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

I've lived in many states and metropolitan areas throughout our country; some small, some large, some rural, some urban ... but nowhere with a system of local governance as fragmented as that of Washington State. Fragmented or integrated really doesn't matter in my view — neither is better or worse — local government remains closest to the people no matter what the structure. But...

Parting Thoughts from Carl Neu - Local Governments: The America that Works

June 29, 2013 by Carl H. Neu
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

Earlier this year, I told Byron Katsuyama, Public Policy and Management Consultant, MRSC, I plan to retire by June 30. He asked if I would write a "parting thoughts" column as an MRSC Council/Commission Advisor. Answer: Yes.

Public Hearings -- How Much Notice Is Required?

May 8, 2013 by Jim Doherty
Category: Legislative Body

MRSC routinely receives calls on this issue, and as with many issues, the answer is: “that depends.” There are many public hearings that cities and counties are required by statute to hold - for instance, when a city...

More Sage Advice for Councils and Commissions

April 22, 2013 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: Legislative Body

MRSC has been fortunate to have so many generous Council/Commission, HR, Finance, Planning, and Open Government Advisors over the years who have been willing to share their time and expertise writing columns filled with insightful analysis and sage advice for Washington local government officials and...

How Are Abstentions Handled When Counting Votes?

April 4, 2013 by Pat Mason
Category: Legislative Body

Sometimes a member of a local governing body (such as a city council, board of county commissioners, planning commission, or special district board) does not, for whatever reason, want to cast a vote on a matter that is being considered by that body, and so that member abstains. Assuming that the governing body allows the member to abstain, how is that abstention treated for vote counting...

A Simple Technique for Improving Council Decision Making

November 5, 2012 by Byron Katsuyama
Category: Legislative Body

One of the things that has always fascinated me as a student and observer of local government has been the process that local legislative bodies use to discuss, debate, and formulate policy decisions. To my mind, much of what constitutes “good government” is a direct consequence of an open, fair, and effective legislative decision-making process. The open and fair parts are regulated by state...

Take it Back, We've Changed Our Mind!

September 30, 2012 by Ann G. Macfarlane
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

In our work with councils, special districts and other public bodies, we often encounter confusion about how a group can change an action that it has taken. For small groups like most councils, it's easy. Here is some information that will simplify the matter, based on Robert's Rules of Order, 11th edition ("Robert"). Bear with me if it seems a bit technical - we predict that understanding...

Local Government: "If You Can Keep It."

June 30, 2012 by Carl H. Neu
Category: Guest Author , Legislative Body

In 1787, Benjamin Franklin responded to a person who asked what sort of government will our nation have, "A Republic, if you can keep it." Franklin's maxim envisioned a wholly new nation imbued with the principles espoused in the Declaration of Independence and the wisdom embedded in the United States Constitution. RE: America Already is Europe, Arthur C. Brooks, Wall Street Journal, July...

Addressing Disruptions at Public Meetings

April 17, 2012 by Ramsey Ramerman
Category: Guest Author , Open Public Meetings Act , Legislative Body

When members of the public disrupt a public meeting, the disruption poses several challenges for the governing body. A recent incident at a local school district highlights the procedural hoops a governing body must go through if they attempt to address the disruption by adjourning the meeting and reconvening it in another location. A recent federal case from California exposes liability risks...

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