This ordinance changes a single word of Bloomington municipal code. It changes from a requirement to an option ("shall" to “may”) that legislation before the City Council be referred to a committee of the whole, encouraging the Council to refer legislation to one or more of a slate of standing committees. Making this change will help Council manage its growing workload more effectively, while in a manner more time-efficient for individual Council members, City employees, petitioners, and members of the public. The use of standing committees, as defined by long-extant code, will lengthen the default legislative cycle without compromising efficiency when desired, will shorten meetings, will not reduce Council member privilege, and will allow Council members to focus on their areas of expertise and interest to their constituents.

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