What Happens at a Council Meeting?
Policy Sessions are study sessions
in which council members listen to informative presentations about important
city issues then make decisions about those issues. For example, in policy
sessions, the council makes decisions about public transportation, budget,
water rates, public safety and capital improvements. These meetings take place
at 2 p.m. on Tuesdays.
Formal City Council meetings are
a time to vote on ordinances and resolutions and approve all other business
of the city. Ordinances are like laws; they say what people can and cannot
do in the city. Resolutions are statements of policy; they say what the city
plans to do about something. The City Council conducts formal meetings at
3 p.m. on Wednesdays. Both policy sessions and formal meetings take place
in the City Council chambers at 200 W. Jefferson St.
City Council meetings are open to the public - that means anyone can go. If you want to attend
a council meeting, it might help to know before you go what the council will be voting on that
day. The schedule of topics to be discussed and voted on is called the agenda; the agenda is
public information and you can get a copy of it ahead of time from the City Clerk Department
or on the Internet. Council members receive the agenda the Friday
before the meeting, so they have time to review the items on the agenda before they need to
vote. The council meeting may appear to move very quickly, but that’s because the council
members know what is coming next by following the agenda.
City Council meetings are conducted according to an official set of rules designed to
encourage courtesy and fairness. The mayor presides over the meeting, and council
members request permission from the mayor before they speak. No council member ever
interrupts another council member, and council members speak only about the topic
under discussion. Sometimes discussion on a topic will be limited, and council members
will need to make their points quickly.
Citizens are invited to give their opinions about any item on the agenda, or to stay
and talk to members of the Council about other issues after the formal meeting.
The mayor and council members want citizens to participate in council meetings;
Spanish translations and even sign language are provided for people who need them.
For citizens who are at home or at school, City Council meetings appear live on
Phoenix 11, the city’s government access station.
