Title
Council/Board Orientation Handbook
Executive Summary: At the request of City Council, City staff created a Council/Board Orientation Handbook to provide to current and future City Council and Board, Commission, and Committee members with information to help acclimate them to the policies, procedures and responsibilities of being an elected or appointed public official. The Handbook is the first step in developing an Orientation Training process for new officials.
Body
Legislative History
None.
Purpose & Explanation
Currently, there is no standardized orientation handbook or process in effect for Council and Board/Commission/Committee members. Orientation is left up to the individual public bodies. As such, staff found that some are not receiving training or guidance on issues such as public records, ethics considerations, procedures and policies. Therefore, staff has created a Council/Board Orientation Handbook that covers general responsibilities for being a public official and would serve as an easy-access guide to documents and resources to help public officials serve the community. The Handbook is intended to be an overview, and additional training and/or materials may be needed for the more quasi-judicial public bodies regarding their proceedings. Following completion of the Handbook, staff will be creating orientation training for all public bodies.
Timing Considerations
Staff would like to finalize the Handbook in August-September 2018 to begin Orientation Training of the Boards/Commissions in late September-October.
Fiscal Impact
Currently Budgeted
Supplemental Appropriation Required
X Appropriation Not Required.
Recommendation
Suggested Action
Staff is seeking direction from City Council regarding finalizing the Council/Board Orientation Handbook.
Submitted by,
Jane Howington, City Manager
Jody Roberts, Communications Manager