← Legal & Legislative Committee · 2025-01-27 · Legal & Legislative Committee Meeting
ORDER-2025-9 : Proposed Revision of Rule 38A of the Rules of Order for City Council All appointments ( new appointments and reappointments) made by the Mayor and subject to the confirmation of the Council shall include a written statement of interest and/or resume from the candidate.
Agenda original PDF
Minutes original PDF
ORDER-2025-9 Amending Rules of Order of the City Council Proposed Revision of Rule 38A of the Rules of Order for City Council All appointments ( new appointments and reappointments) made by the Mayor and subject to the confirmation of the Council shall include a written statement of interest and/or resume from the candidate. Recommend as Amended City Council
Transcript
▶ 1:23:16 Maya Jamaleddine: And we are back, um, with the Legal and Legislative Committee.
▶ 1:23:24 Maya Jamaleddine: Um, on our agenda for tonight, we have ID 12 4 0 4 proposed revision of Rule 38 A of the rules of order for city council. All appointments, new appointments, and reappointments made by the mayor. And subject to the confirmation of the council, shall, shall include a written, uh, statement of interest and or resume from the candidate. And this is sponsored by, uh, councilor Vandiver.
▶ 1:23:56 Kimberly Vandiver: Uh, thank you, chair Jamine. Um, so the goal with the, the, um, updates to Rule 38. So, um, there are two items, 38 A and 38 B. And I'll, if it's okay, I'll just mention both of them right now. Um, so the, the goal here would be to improve, um, the city council's ability to, to provide oversight, which is one of our functions. Um, and to provide more context for us about the function of the committees and, and transparency for the public. Um, so the goal of the amendment to a, um, that's an existing clause and the only amendment there is to specify that it applies to both, um, appointments and reappointments. Um, to make sure that we do have, um, something written, whether that's a statement and or a resume, um, from Reappointments as well as appointments. Uh, I think that would be valuable to, to have that. Um, and then the on 38 B, um, that change would, um, would cause the reapp appointees to come before the council. Uh, and I, I believe that would be valuable because reapp appointees really have a wealth of knowledge and, and information about these, um, about these commissions that they're a part of. Um, they, they've already served in that role, and I, I think that, um, they would, it would be helpful for the council to be able to ask them questions. Um, as a part of the, the renewal, I don't think it would be very burdensome. It, you know, most of these appointments are for two or three years, so it would entail coming before the council once every two or three years. Um, and, uh, and I, I, I think the value would out outweigh the, the additional work there. So that's the goal with these.
▶ 1:25:47 Maya Jamaleddine: Thank you Councilor Vandiver. I do appreciate this initiative and this, um, proposed, um, revision. Um, any question from my colleagues? Um, president Ali. Thank You, Madam Chair. Um,
▶ 1:26:03 Leila Migliorelli: I am supportive of the, um, first one, the id, 1, 2, 4, the, just making it so new appointments and reappointments are, um, subject to including the written statement of interest and or resume. Um, that was my, I recollection and memory from when this amendment, I believe was added back in 2021. Um, I think having reappointments, um, and new appointments, you know, provide that information, uh, you know, interest in serving makes a lot of sense. Um, and for Reappointments just to, you know, validate that they want to continue to serve and, um, are are interested in it and are are, um, just doing it of their own volition and, um, and not out of, you know, obligation. Um, I think, I think that's, that makes sense. So I'm supportive of the first one.
▶ 1:27:06 Maya Jamaleddine: Thank you. Any other question or comments? Uh, counselor? Um, vice chair, uh, Romanul.
▶ 1:27:14 Devin Romanul: Thank you so much. Um, and thank you for noticing the virtual hand. Um, I, uh, I really deeply appreciate my colleague for filing this. Um, one of my first observations was, was, uh, when I joined the council last year, was what a missed opportunity it is for, to at least gather either, either in person or through some sort of written statement. Um, the all that they have accomplished, all that they've learned, uh, where they see the trajectory of their respective, uh, committees going. So I I, in the instances where I've spoken with, uh, Reapp appointees, uh, I have learned so much about what is happening in these committees. I think it's a real missed opportunity for us to learn about what they're up to. So any, any way, um, that we can gather that I'm, I'm supportive of.
▶ 1:27:59 Maya Jamaleddine: Perfect. Thank you. Um, any question or additional comments from my colleagues?
▶ 1:28:09 Speaker 4: I'll make a motion to, um, recommend
▶ 1:28:14 Speaker 4: item 1, 2, 4 0 4
▶ 1:28:17 Speaker 3: Second.
▶ 1:28:20 Maya Jamaleddine: Okay. Um, we have a motion to recommend made by, um, president Elli, seconded by Vice Chair, uh, Romanul. And on discussion, I actually would like to, um, add a comment about, um, um, I do feel that, um, resumes are a way of making those, uh, candidacy and applications, um, in equitable. And I do feel that, um, it's important to, in order for us to have a, um, more equitable
▶ 1:28:57 Maya Jamaleddine: and diverse, um, and equal, uh, opportunity to make it, uh, limited to a letter of interest rather than, uh, putting the option of resumes. Um, I also, uh, was hoping to see, uh, in the reappointments in the, uh, interest of understanding what were the achievements during their, uh, previous term, uh, to get some kind of written statements of any kind of achievement achievements or any kind of, uh, work that was done during their, uh, previous term.
▶ 1:29:42 Maya Jamaleddine: So, um, I guess with that,
▶ 1:29:50 Maya Jamaleddine: um, I would like to, is it postpone, um, or amend, uh,
▶ 1:29:59 Kimberly Vandiver: Point, I believe you can motion to postpone,
▶ 1:30:03 Speaker 7: so we could work on wording if that's something you wanted to do, or to amend to something specific if you had specific
▶ 1:30:10 Maya Jamaleddine: Wording. Okay. So I would, uh, propose to amend, I would make motion to amend the proposed, um, uh, legislative item to make a proposed revision of Rule 38 a of the rules of order for city council. All appointments, new appointments, and reapp appointments made by the mayor. And subject to the confirmation of the council shall include a written statement of interest, uh, for the new appointments and a, uh, statement of, uh, accomplishments, uh, for the reappointments from the candidates.
▶ 1:31:01 Maya Jamaleddine: Uh, cons. Uh, councilor Van Devin.
▶ 1:31:04 Kimberly Vandiver: Uh, thank you for, um, thank you. Um, chair Jamal, I, um, commenting on the, um, amendment. I think that's, I I think that's a point well taken that, you know, some people may feel that a resume is burdensome or, or makes them feel they don't have something to share in that way, and also that there would be a benefit to, um, having Reappointments tell us a little bit about what they've been working on. Um, my one concern, I'm kind of torn about that, um, whether or not the resume, the, and or resume, it's, it's not a requirement there. And I understand that it might concern some people that they feel they need one. On the other hand, I do think it's sometimes really valuable what we see on the resumes if we see a list of relevant past experiences. So I'm kind of torn on that one. Well,
▶ 1:31:53 Maya Jamaleddine: That's the exact reason. And, um, appreciate your, uh, comments because, uh, the people that will be choosing that candidate will be biased through the applicants that has the highest, um, uh, degrees or the very impressive, uh, resume or, uh, places that they worked where they may have some biases towards. Um,
▶ 1:32:21 Leila Migliorelli: Point of order. I, I'm sorry to interrupt. I'm, I don't know that as a chair you can make a motion to amend. Um, I think if you're reading Rule 49, it's presiding officers shall consider a motion. And, um, Madam Clerk, I don't know if you have any, um, Robert's rules references in front of you, um, because I'm just listening to the back and forth, and I'm not sure that that that's allowable under Robert's rules. Madam Clerk, do you have a, I don't
▶ 1:32:51 Speaker 1: Have it on me, but I just asked. Okay. And I should be able to get an answer like, bill
▶ 1:32:55 Speaker 4: Soon. Okay. Yeah. Thank you. Um, just, yeah, so I think
▶ 1:33:02 Leila Migliorelli: based on my knowledge of Robert Seles, which are, you know, is, is what it is, I would, there's a motion on the table for the order. I think the presiding officer could ask to entertain for state the reasons for why you would want to amend and may invite a member of the, the committee to make a motion to amend. But I'm not sure that the presiding officer can make that motion. I just want to, I know this is the first time I think we have gotten into this for the point of the public, this is the first time that we've started to consider Rule 49 as like a subsidiary and secondary motion.
▶ 1:33:45 Speaker 4: Um, and I'm not sure that, and I don't have my little handy guide of Robert's rules in front of me. I
▶ 1:33:51 Speaker 1: Can go to my office, Uh,
▶ 1:33:53 Kimberly Vandiver: I'd be happy to, for the pur for the purpose of this specific discussion, I'd be happy to make the motion that Chair delaine stated, um, so that we don't need to make a ruling on that. I'd be happy to make the specific motion that she read in this case.
▶ 1:34:08 Maya Jamaleddine: I, I would thank you. I would withdraw my, the amendment motion. Motion and I would make it as a suggestion and hoping that my colleagues would take into consideration.
▶ 1:34:19 Speaker 6: So I, I, I, uh, can I say so moved or shall I repeat?
▶ 1:34:24 Kimberly Vandiver: Okay. Repeat it or
▶ 1:34:25 Speaker 4: Please repeat. So please repeat it. Yeah. Yeah.
▶ 1:34:28 Speaker 8: If you could repeat the motion just so we, yeah.
▶ 1:34:29 Kimberly Vandiver: Okay. Uh, so, uh, at this time, um, I motion to amend the, um, ID number 1 2 4 0 4 to read proposed revision of Rule 38 A of the rules of order for city council, all appointments, new appointments, and reappointments made by the mayor. And subject to the confirmation of the council shall include a written statement of interest, and for reappointments a, um, statement of accomplishments. Statement of
▶ 1:35:04 Speaker 10: Accomplishments, accomplishments. Accomplishments
▶ 1:35:07 Kimberly Vandiver: Of of accomplishments.
▶ 1:35:11 Kimberly Vandiver: Thank you. A sum, excuse me. A summary of accomplishments.
▶ 1:35:15 Speaker 10: Thank you.
▶ 1:35:22 Maya Jamaleddine: So we have a motion made by counselor
▶ 1:35:34 Mark Garipay: Just, uh, through the chair. So we we're scratching Resume.
▶ 1:35:40 Kimberly Vandiver: Yes. So, uh, through the chair, the, the amended version would remove the resume language and would add a summary of prior accomplishments for reapp appointees
▶ 1:35:53 Mark Garipay: Prior accomplishments on the committee. On On the committee,
▶ 1:35:57 Speaker 6: Yes. Yes.
▶ 1:35:59 Kimberly Vandiver: So, point of order if we wanted to add on the committee, would that be an additional, can we make that as Okay on the committee? Add on the committee accomplishments?
▶ 1:36:09 Speaker 8: I'll, I'll, I'll, I'll second. I'll second that.
▶ 1:36:13 Maya Jamaleddine: So we have a motion, uh, made by Councilor Vandiver, seconded by Councillor Garipay on discussion.
▶ 1:36:23 Maya Jamaleddine: And, Um, Councillor Vandiver,
▶ 1:36:25 Kimberly Vandiver: Sorry. It, and I dunno if I need to re motion, but rather than on the committee, I think we should probably say on the Border Commission,
▶ 1:36:32 Speaker 7: given that that is what type of body we're pointing these people
▶ 1:36:36 Speaker 10: To. Thank you.
▶ 1:36:39 Maya Jamaleddine: Okay. Um, Madam Clerk, if you can call the rule. Yeah.
▶ 1:36:47 Speaker 1: Counselor Romanul? Yes. Counselor Garipay? Yes. President Meli? Yes. Counselor Vandiver? Yes. Chair Jamal Ledine? Yes. Motion passes.
▶ 1:37:05 Maya Jamaleddine: Thank you. Um, and next we have ID 12 4 0 5 proposed rules of order amendments for Rule 38 B.
▶ 1:37:15 Kimberly Vandiver: Sorry, point of order. I think what we passed was the amendment, and now we need to vote on the order. On the motion. As, as amended, we, we made the adjustment to 1 2 4 0 4, what it reads. Okay. And now we Need to hold on. Correct? Correct.
▶ 1:37:30 Maya Jamaleddine: Thank you. Uh, councilor Van Devin. So we, um,
▶ 1:37:36 Speaker 10: um, Madam Sure. Can you please?
▶ 1:37:39 Speaker 1: So it was a motion to amend, to propose the summary of accomplishments, I mean, to change the wording from resumes to a summary of accomplishments on the boards or commissions. And now you want a, now you want to take the motion for ID 1 2, 4 0 4
▶ 1:37:56 Speaker 10: As amended. As
▶ 1:37:58 Kimberly Vandiver: amended. Okay. So at this time, may I, um, so I motion to, to that we recommend ID number 1 2 4 0 4 as amended.
▶ 1:38:05 Maya Jamaleddine: Second, We have a motion, um, made by Councillor Van Devin to, uh, recommend ID number 1 2 4 0 4 as amended, seconded by Councillor Garipay On discussion. Seeing none, Madam Clerk
▶ 1:38:29 Speaker 1: Councillor Romanul? Yes. Councillor Oppe. Yes. President Elli? Yes. Councillor Vandiver. Yes. Chair Jamine? Yes. Motion passes.