Resolution 11-16

This resolution is co-sponsored by Councilmembers Piedmont-Smith, Rollo, Volan and Wisler. It proposes a slate of standing committees for the management of the Council’s legislative workload, as a regular replacement for exclusive reliance on committees of the whole. In addition to providing practical time-management benefits, the naming of the standing committees gives the Council better tools for overseeing the functioning of the City, and clearer reporting lines for various departments. Standing committees make the development of legislation more predictable, as an official or petitioner will know who will be likely to hear the legislation in committee. These committees will also be able to hold hearings on issues that are not the subject of pending legislation, but may need to be; such hearings allow the Council to gather information and input without having to develop ordinances or wait for events to overtake the issue. Standing committees can subsume nominations to boards and commissions, eliminating the need for nominating committees. The Sidewalk and Jack Hopkins Social Services Fund