How to Understand City Agendas

 

Lingo and Terms on Agendas:

• Call to Order: The Mayor will officially call the meeting to order by announcing the date and time.

• Pledge of Allegiance

• Roll Call: The Deputy City Clerk will read the roll for members present.

• Public Comment: The council will welcome comments and questions from the public regarding items on the agenda and not on the agenda. The public can send in comments prior to the meeting as well. Check out the website for your specific city for more information on how to send in public comments.  

• Council Comment: The council will make statements and comments regarding the agenda or other issues of relevance. 

• City Administration Comment: The administration will make statements and comments regarding the agenda or other issues of relevance. 

• Mayor Comment: The major will have time to make statements or comments regarding items on the agenda or other issues of relevance. 

• Action/Discussion/Presentations/Appointments: The council will listen to presentations, discuss, and vote on the item listed in the agenda. 

• Consent Agenda: The routine, informational, procedural, self-explanatory, and non-controversial items on the agenda will be grouped together and discussed/passed in a single vote. 

• New Business: New items on the agenda that need discussion, motion and a vote for passage. 

• Old Business: Items that have previously been discussed that need further attention and discussion. 

• Executive Session: A private meeting within an open public meeting where council or board members will discuss private or sensitive issues. 

• Adjournment: The Mayor will officially call for a motion to adjourn the meeting.  A vote is taken and the meeting concludes.