RESO 24-037 - Adopting Golden Valley City Council GuideRESOLUTION NO. 24-037
RESOLUTION ADOPTING GOLDEN VALLEY CITY COUNCIL GUIDE
WHEREAS, the City of Golden Valley is committed to good governance and clarity for all; and
WHEREAS, the City Council’s guiding principles, meeting rules, and procedures were last
reviewed and approved in 2019; and
WHEREAS, the City Council is taking a proactive step toward providing clear expectations for
current and future Council Members; and
WHEREAS, the Golden Valley City Council Guide (the “Guide”) is a collection of the policies,
procedures, and rules applicable to the Council; and
WHEREAS, regular review of the Guide is important for consistency and common
understanding of Council roles and responsibilities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Golden Valley adopts the
Golden Valley City Council Guide attached hereto as Exhibit A, and the revised policies, procedures,
and rules contained in the Guide supersede all previously related adopted policies and procedures.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Guide will be reviewed and approved by the Council the
January following each City election to coincide with the beginning of each new Council term.
Adopted by the City Council of Golden Valley, Minnesota this 21st day of May 2024.
_____________________________
Roslyn Harmon, Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
Theresa J. Schyma, City Clerk
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Golden Valley City Council Guide
This City Council Guide is a collection of the policies, procedures, and rules applicable to the
Golden Valley City Council and Mayor (collectively, the “Council”). This Guide will be reviewed by
the Council the January following each City election.
Table of Contents
Guiding Principles ..........................................................................................................................2
General Policy Statement & Objective.................................................................................................. 2
Values .................................................................................................................................................... 2
Standards of Conduct ............................................................................................................................ 2
Communications ................................................................................................................................... 3
Identifying and Addressing Conflicts of Interest ................................................................................... 5
Hearing .................................................................................................................................................. 8
Meeting Rules ................................................................................................................................9
Agenda and Order of Business .............................................................................................................. 9
Rules of Order (Parliamentary Procedure) ........................................................................................... 9
Public Comment .................................................................................................................................. 11
Robert’s Rules Cheat Sheet ................................................................................................................. 13
Other Council Rules ...................................................................................................................... 14
Council Policy on the Role of Council Liaison and Other Appointments ............................................ 14
Elected Official Out of State Travel Policy........................................................................................... 15
Virtual Meeting Policy ......................................................................................................................... 17
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Guiding Principles
General Policy Statement & Objective
The purpose of this document is to establish guiding principles for the Golden Valley City Council
(the “Council”). These principles apply to the members of the Council and the Mayor as well as
the appointed members of the City’s Boards and Commissions (collectively “Members”,
individually a “Member”).
Values
The City of Golden Valley has adopted the following core values:
• Communication
• Community
• Inclusion
• Integrity
• Respect
• Innovation
• Courage
• Accountability
Standards of Conduct
1. A Member must not use their official position to secure special privileges or exemptions for
the Member or others.
2. A Member must not act as an agent or attorney for another before the Council or a board or
commission in a matter where a conflict of interest exists or may exist.
3. A Member must not knowingly accept or solicit, directly or indirectly, a gift or loan for
themself or another if this is prohibited by law.
4. A Member must not solicit or accept compensation or expense reimbursement for the
performance of the Member’s public duties from any sources other than:
a. the City;
b. other employment, but only if the person conducts public business incidental to other
employment, and the other employment does not interfere with, influence, or
compromise the person’s public position; or
c. another governmental agency or municipal association to a Member who serves as a
City representative for that agency, but only if the City does not also pay the Member
for the same activity.
5. A Member must not use public money, time, personnel, facilities, or equipment for private
gain or political campaign activities except when:
a. the use is required or authorized by law; or
b. the use is not greater than that allowed for members of the general public.
This paragraph does not prohibit correspondence at any time to individual community
members in response to the community member’s specific inquiries related to City business.
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6. A Member must not disclose to the public, or use for the private gain of self or others,
information that was gained by reason of the official’s public position and that is not public
data, or that was discussed at a closed session of the Council. Further, a Member must not
disclose information received, discussed, or decided in conference with the City Attorney that
is protected by the attorney client privilege, unless a majority of the Council has authorized
that disclosure.
7. A Member must not enter into a contract with the City, unless in accordance with law. A
Member who has a proprietary interest in an agency or company doing business with the City
must make known that interest in writing to the Council and the City Clerk.
8. A Member must not intentionally violate a provision of the City Code or the City ordinances.
9. Members are expected to be prepared for meetings by reading agenda packets and
requesting further information or research from staff in advance of the meetings.
10. Members direct City staff, contract employees, and consultants only through the City
Manager, as established by the requisite majority vote. At Council meetings, the Council may
express concerns and may provide staff specific direction, provided that the direction is the
consensus of the Council. The City Manager may request further clarification if they need
understanding of the Council’s expectations of staff.
11. Members shall conduct themselves in a manner that is consistent with Minnesota Statutes
Chapter 13D, the Open Meeting Law.
12. Members’ shall perform their duties in accordance with the process and rules of order
established by the Council and the City Code.
13. Members shall not use public resources that are not available to the general public (e.g., City
staff time, equipment, supplies, facilities, etc.) for private, personal, or political purposes.
14. It is the responsibility of Members to publicly share, with all other Members, information they
have received from sources outside of the public decision- making processthat pertains to a
topic under consideration. Whenever possible, new information or data obtained by
Members, pertinent to a topic being discussed, will be distributed through the City Manager
to other Council Members.
Communications
As elected and appointed officials, Members have a responsibility to communicate information
to the public and to manage records of their communications responsibly and in accordance
with applicable law. Communicating accurate, timely, and professional information is important
to ensuring the quality and credibility of information being provided to the public.
Public Record
Communications (electronic or written) between Members and City staff are public records
(with a few exceptions as stated by the Minnesota Data Practices Act). When Members receive
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requests for private data or information outside of the scope of a Member’s role, they should
route the request to the City Manager.
Align With Minnesota Open Meeting Law
Members should only share information and communicate with each other in alignment with
the Open Meeting Law. Members should generally act with caution when using electronic
means to communicate with one another to avoid serial conversations and inadvertent
violations of the Open Meeting Law. Members who wish to share information with other
Members related to City business should do so through the City Manager or their staff liaison.
To ensure an accurate and complete record, Members should always disclose information and
communications received outside of the meeting that inform their decisions. When three or
more Members receive a communication about an agenda item, it must be disclosed at the
meeting.
Community Member Questions, Comments, and Concerns
Members are expected to direct community member questions, comments, and concerns to
staff through the City Manager or applicable department head. Doing so ensures requests are
routed to the appropriate staff and allows managers to ensure proper follow-up and
coordination among departments.
Social Media
Since social media is an effective and frequently chosen communication tool among the public,
the City of Golden Valley has its own official social media pages, which post only the official
communications of the City and City Council consensus. Elected officials should take care not to
speak on behalf of the City on social media and should understand that speaking on social media
about City business related to their role can present legal risks, such as Open Meeting Law or due
process violations. Members with questions about appropriate use of social media should
contact the City Manager or City Attorney.
Email
Generally, email is removed from the system every five years. Email is sometimes public data and
usually discoverable in litigation, making it important to use it cautiously. Communications with
the City Attorney may be protected from disclosure by the attorney-client privilege so long as
they are kept confidential. When seeking legal advice or to discuss matters of pending litigation
or other “confidential” City business, contact the City Manager or City Attorney. Members should
never forward or disclose the contents of emails from the City Attorney – doing so has the effect
of waiving the attorney-client privilege and making the information discoverable.
Media Relations /Media Inquiries: City Manager’s Role
The City Manager communicates on the City’s behalf in interviews, publications, news releases,
on social media sites, and related communications. The City Manager is in the best position to
provide a response to media requests because many issues involve multiple departments or work
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may already be in progress. Many times, the City Manager will direct a department director will
handle interviews and communications on behalf of the City.
Media Relations/Media Inquiries: Council’s Role
Members should follow the guidelines below when contacted by the media.
1. When the media contacts Members about upcoming agenda items, issues, or discussion
topics, Members should wait to provide information until the topic is voted on. This
communicates that a decision has not been made and allows the public process to work
by keeping the topic open for community member input. If a Member discusses the issue
with media before a decision is made, there is potential that the public may be confused
about the Council’s direction. This may create a public perception that a vote or decision
has been made on a topic, discourage the public from engaging in the democratic process,
and create legal risk.
2. When the media contacts Members about routine or public information (i.e., a meeting
time or agenda), Members may provide the media with the information and notify City
Manager.
3. When the media contacts Members about controversial or legal information (i.e.,
potential litigation, controversial issues, an opinion about a City policy or employee, or an
unfamiliar topic), Members should contact the City Manager so that they can work with
staff to provide a response or coordinate further discussion with the Council as
appropriate.
Identifying and Addressing Conflicts of Interest
So that community members may have the utmost confidence and trust in the integrity of their
City government, and to protect the City’s interest and its community member’s interests,
Members must disclose and avoid conflicts of interest that arise in performing their official
duties. To this end, the below principles provide Members guidance for identifying, addressing,
and disclosing conflicts of interest. This guidance supplements, not supplants, the responsibilities
Members have under law with regard to conflicts of interest. Members should consult with the
City Manager and/or City Attorney with questions or concerns they may have regarding conflicts
of interest (whether the conflicts are real or perceived, potential or in existence), and not
participate in or take any official action on a matter until such questions or concerns are resolved
with the City Manager or City Attorney.
Identifying Legal Conflicts of Interest
A “legal conflict of interest” exists when, in the discharge of official duties, a Member participates
in a governmental decision, action or transaction that:
1. affects the person’s financial interests or those of a business with which the person is
associated, unless the effect on the person or business is no greater than on other
members of the same business classification, profession, or occupation; or
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2. affects the financial interests of an organization in which the person participates as a
member of the governing body, unless the person serves in that capacity as the City’s
representative.
Identifying Financial Interests
A financial interest is any interest, including loans, which may yield, directly or indirectly, a
monetary or other material benefit to the Member (other than monetary or material benefits
authorized by the City in accordance with law). A financial interest of a Member or Member’s
employer (other than the City), his or her associated business, or his or her spouse, domestic
partner, parent, sibling or child, and their employers or associated businesses shall also be
considered a financial interest of the Member. The following assets shall not be considered a
financial interest for purposes of this section:
1. ownership of shares in a diversified mutual fund;
2. membership in a pension plan or employee benefit plan;
3. ownership of bonds or publicly traded securities; and
4. ownership of a whole life insurance policy.
Addressing Legal Conflicts of Interest
1. When a legal conflict of interest exists, except as permitted by law, a Member must
disclose the potential conflict of interest for the public record, in the manner described in
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest section below, and refrain from participating in the
discussion and from voting on the matter. To participate or participation, for the purposes
of this document, means making the decision, taking action, entering into a transaction,
providing advice or a recommendation, introducing, sponsoring, debating, voting on,
approving, and investigating the decision, action, or transaction.
2. A Member shall not participate in making, or attempt to use their position to influence,
any City governmental decision, action, or transaction in which the Member knows or has
reason to know that they have a legal conflict of interest.
Non-Legal Conflicts of Interest
1. Members may face situations in performing their official duties that raise, or are
perceived to raise, a conflict of interest but which do not fall within the above description
of a legal conflict of interest and are otherwise not a conflict of interest regulated by law.
These types of conflicts are referred to, for purposes of this document, as “non-legal
conflicts of interest.”
2. While non-legal conflicts of interest may be different in nature or degree from a legal
conflict of interest and other conflicts of interest regulated by law, they can nevertheless
impair, or give the appearance of impairing, a Member’s independence of judgement or
harm the City’s interests and the interests of community members.
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3. The significance of non-legal conflicts of interest often depends on the facts and
circumstances involved in each situation, and thus it is difficult to establish bright-line
rules regarding when such conflicts must be disclosed and necessitate a Member to
refrain from participating in a matter. Therefore, Members are entrusted to use their best
judgement regarding such situations with the aim of upholding the principles established
under this document and the highest possible standards of ethical conduct, and with the
understanding that public disclosure of non-legal conflicts of interest, by itself, helps
maintain trust and confidence in the integrity of City government with community
members.
4. To this end, if a Member recognizes that their participation may create a non-legal conflict
of interest, they should (i) discuss the matter in advance (to the extent possible) and in
confidence with the City Manager and/or City Attorney regarding the appropriate action
to take; and/or (ii) disclose the conflict in accordance with the Disclosure of Conflicts of
Interest section below and, if necessary, refrain from participating in the matter.
5. Without limiting the foregoing, a Member may participate in a City governmental
decision, action, or transaction involving an organization or entity that the Member, or
his or her partner, spouse, partner, domestic partner, sibling, or child is an officer,
director, board member, or trustee of, if the Member does not have a legal conflict of
interest in the governmental decision, action, or transaction. However, the Member must
disclose his or her affiliation with the organization or entity as though it were a legal
conflict of interest, in the manner described in the Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
section below.
6. Similarly, a Member may participate in a City governmental decision involving a person
related by family to the Member, other than his or her parent, spouse, domestic partner,
sibling, or child, if the Member does not have a legal conflict of interest in the
governmental decision, action, or transaction. However, the Member must disclose his or
her relationship with the related person as though it were a legal conflict of interest, in
the manner described in Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest section below.
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
If a Member, in the discharge of their official duties, recognizes that their participation in a matter
would create a legal conflict of interest, or a non-legal conflict of interest that should or must be
disclosed, the Member shall disclose the conflict of interest as follows:
1. The Member shall disclose the conflict of interest to the City Manager and their fellow
Members as soon as they become aware of the conflict. If a Member becomes aware of
a conflict during a meeting of the Council or a committee or board, the Member shall
immediately disclose the conflict of interest orally.
2. In the case of a legal conflict of interest, a Member must also prepare, on a form
prescribed by the City Clerk, a written statement describing the matter requiring action
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or decision and the nature of his or her conflict of interest, or as otherwise required by
law. In the case of a Council Member, the written statement shall be distributed to the
other Council Members and Mayor and filed with the City Clerk. Likewise, in the case of a
Member of a board or commission, the written statement shall be distributed to the other
Members of the board or commission and filed with the City Clerk. After the first time the
Member has orally disclosed a conflict of interest and filed the disclosure form, the
Member may subsequently orally disclose a conflict by referring to the filed form. Because
Members may not attend all meetings, oral disclosure may consist of the written
statement being read into the record by the presiding Member at the first regular meeting
after the form has been filed. All written statements shall be filed and distributed within
one week after the Member becomes aware of the legal conflict of interest. In the case
of non-legal conflicts of interest that a Member discloses, the Member may file a written
statement regarding the conflict.
3. If a Member does not participate in any discussion or vote on a matter due to a conflict
of interest, he or she shall be counted present for the purposes of establishing a quorum
to carry on the business of the Council, board, or commission, but shall be considered
disqualified for the purpose of establishing the number of votes necessary to pass
motions or resolutions.
Hearing
Any person may file a written complaint with the City Clerk questioning a Member’s adherence
to the principles stated in Section III through VI above. After reviewing the complaint, the Council
may hold a public hearing only if: (1) a neutral third-party designated by the City Attorney, advises
the Council that the allegations state a legally-recognized violation of the law or a legally-
recognized conflict of interest; or (2) a neutral third-party designated by the City Attorney,
advises the Council that the complaint has been lodged in good faith and that the alleged
violation is related to the accused Member’s role as a Member.
Prior to the hearing, a letter will be sent to the accused Member stating the alleged complaint.
At the hearing, the accused Member shall have the opportunity to be heard.
If, after the hearing, the Council finds a violation of the principles stated in these Guiding
Principles, the Council may, by a majority vote, censure the accused Member. The accused
Member shall not participate in the Council’s decision to censure.
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Meeting Rules
Agenda and Order of Business
The order of City Council meeting agendas is set by resolution of the Council. The current order
of business is:
•Call to Order
•Additions and Corrections to Agenda
•Consent Agenda
•Public Hearings
•Old Business
•New Business
•Adjournment
The presiding officer may modify the order of business to accommodate people present or to
expedite the business of the council. No item of business shall be considered unless it appears
on the agenda for the meeting or is approved for addition to the agenda by a unanimous vote
of the Council Members present. Members wishing to add items to the upcoming agenda list
should contact the City Manager.
Rules of Order (Parliamentary Procedure)
The following discussion introduces a few rules of parliamentary procedure that can simplify the
work of the council. The rules are contained in The New Roberts Rules of Order,
Revised. Additional motions are included in the Roberts Rules “Cheat Sheet” on page 13.
Role of the Presiding Officer
The presiding officer is the Mayor or, if the Mayor is absent, the Mayor pro tempore. The
presiding officer has an extra measure of power. As the chair of the meeting, the presiding officer
is responsible for guiding the group toward the conclusion of pending business in good time,
while also giving major issues enough consideration. To accomplish this, the presiding officer has
two special powers: (1) Interpreting and applying the rules of procedure; and (2) recognizing
speakers.
The presiding officer decides questions of procedure, public participation, and order subject to
the right of any councilmember to appeal. The City Attorney provides guidance, when
appropriate, to ensure the meeting is conducted according to the requirements of law and the
adopted rules of procedure.
Motions
The council transacts business through motions made by councilmembers. These motions are
usually seconded and subsequently passed or rejected by council vote. Each motion has different
rules. For example, councils can debate some motions while they must vote on others
immediately. Some motions require a simple majority for passage; others need a two-thirds or
four-fifths majority. These are the typical steps to make and act on a motion:
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• A Member addresses the presiding officer.
• The presiding officer recognizes the Member.
• The Member states their motion. (Usually in the following form: “I move . . . text of the
motion.”)
• If necessary, another councilmember then seconds the motion by saying: “I second the
motion.”
• The presiding officer puts the question before the council by announcing there is a motion
and a second. A discussion follows, if the motion can be debatable.
• A councilmember may make subsidiary motions in the same form as the original motion.
• The council votes on the original motion or on any of the subsidiary motions.
• The presiding officer announces the result of the vote on each motion immediately after
the vote count is complete.
Special Motions
Several motions deserve special consideration. They include the following:
a. The Motion to Reconsider
This motion enables a council to set aside a vote it previously took, and to reconsider the
matter as though it had not voted on the issue. Only a person who originally voted on the
prevailing side may move to reconsider. Otherwise, any member may make the motion
by saying, “I move to reconsider . . . stating the motion to be reconsidered . . .” The council
may debate the motion. If the council passes the motion to reconsider, it must then
reconsider the original motion and take another vote. If the council defeats a motion to
reconsider, no further action is necessary.
b. The motion to postpone indefinitely
There is an important difference between the motion to postpone indefinitely and the
motion to postpone temporarily. The motion to postpone temporarily is more commonly
called a motion to “lay on the table” or “to table.” The motion to postpone temporarily
postpones consideration of the motion until some undetermined, future time. The council
may consider a tabled motion whenever a majority of the members decide to do so. A
motion to postpone indefinitely, however, is the equivalent to a negative vote on the
main motion. An affirmative vote on it may be reconsidered, but not a negative vote. A
motion to permanently suppress any future consideration of an issue is not binding on a
future council.
c. The Motion to Limit Debate
A council may limit debate by placing a reasonable time limit on it, such as a limit of 15
minutes to consider a particular motion; or limiting the number of people who may speak
for and against a certain motion, such as a limit of three speakers in favor and three
speakers opposed.
d. The Motion to Amend
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Members may offer amendments to a main motion at any time. In addition, it is possible
to amend an amendment currently under consideration. Beyond this, councilmembers
can offer no further amendments. When a member has made a motion to amend, the
vote on the amendment must precede the vote on the original motion. After the body
has accepted or rejected the amendment, another vote on the original motion is
necessary.
e. The Motion to Substitute
This is a motion to replace one motion with another on the same subject. A Member may
move to substitute a main motion or an amendment to a main motion. One form for
making a substitute motion is to say, “I wish to introduce the following substitute motion
. . . present the substitute motion . . .” When a substitute motion is before the body, the
body must decide which of the two motions, the original motion or the substitute motion,
to consider. The body must vote on the question. A “yes” vote favors considering the
substitute motion. A “no” vote favors considering the original motion. The body must
then discuss and vote on the selected motion.
Public Comment
Open Forum
Open Forum is conducted prior to the Call of Order and is not televised. In an effort to provide
full and open communication with the public, the City Council uses Open Forum to gather
information via public input. The following procedures apply to Open Forum:
• Open Forum will begin promptly at 6:20 pm and last for a maximum of 10 minutes.
• The Mayor opens the Open Forum.
• Those wishing to speak should raise their hands and approach the podium when
recognized by the Mayor, then clearly state their name and the topic they wish to discuss.
• Each person will be allowed three minutes to speak. The City Clerk, or the staff meeting
support person, will activate a timer that will show on screens in the Council Chambers
to ensure that the Mayor is able to apply the time limit to all speakers fairly.
Spokespersons may be given more time to speak on behalf of a group of people.
• Only one person may speak at a time.
• Speakers are encouraged to direct comments to the City Council as a whole and not to
one particular member.
• Open Forum is intended for topics not on the City Council agenda that same day.
• Speakers are encouraged to comment on any aspect of City business, but direct or
inferred comments on personality conflicts with City Council, Commission, or staff
members, including but not limited to personal attacks, hate speech, or threats of
violence, will not be allowed.
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• The City Council will not take official action on items discussed during Open Forum, except
to refer items to staff for future discussion. Council members may ask questions for
clarification purposes, but they may wish to investigate or research issues before
responding.
• The City Clerk will keep a record of speakers and comments.
Public Hearings
The following procedures apply to Public Hearings:
• The Mayor opens the public hearing.
• Those wishing to speak should raise their hands and approach the podium when
recognized by the Mayor, then clearly state their name for the record.
• Each person will be allowed three minutes to speak. The City Clerk, or the staff meeting
support person, will activate a timer that will show on screens in the Council Chambers
to ensure that the Mayor is able to apply the time limit to all speakers fairly.
Spokespersons may be given more time to speak on a behalf of a group of people.
• Only one person may speak at a time. Everyone who wishes will have a chance to address
the Council. The Mayor may ask staff to answer questions after all persons have had a
chance to speak.
• No one will be given an opportunity to speak a second time until everyone has had an
opportunity to speak initially. Please limit second comment to new information and not
rebuttals.
• Speakers are encouraged to direct comments to the City Council as a whole and not to
one particular member.
• Direct or inferred comments on personality conflicts with City Council, Commission, or
staff members, including but not limited to personal attacks, hate speech, or threats of
violence, will not be allowed.
• The audience is urged to be polite and quiet as comments are made to the Council.
Applauding or other disruptive behavior are inappropriate during City Council
proceedings.
• There will be no straw votes of people present.
• When the public comments are completed, the Mayor closes the public hearing and starts
Council discussion. The audience is welcome to listen quietly to the discussion but may
not make further comments.
• The City Clerk will keep a record of speakers and comments.
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Robert’s Rules Cheat Sheet
Order To do this You say this May you
interrupt speaker?
Must you be
seconded?
Is the motion
debatable?
Is the
motion amendable?
What vote is required?
1 Adjourn the meeting “I move we adjourn” May not interrupt
the speaker
Must be
seconded
Not debatable Not
amendable
Majority vote required
2 Recess the meeting “I move that we
recess until…”
May not interrupt
the speaker
Must be
seconded
Not debatable Amendable Majority vote required
3 Complain about a
noise, room
temperature, etc.
“Point of privilege” May interrupt
speaker
No second
needed
Not debatable
(in this case,
any resulting
motion is
debatable)
Not
amendable
No vote required (chair
decides)
4 Suspend further
consideration of
something
“I move we table it” May not interrupt
speaker
Must be
seconded
Not debatable Not
amendable
Majority vote required
5 End debate “I move the previous
question”
May not interrupt
speaker
Must be
seconded
Not debatable Not
amendable
Two-thirds vote required
6 Postpone
consideration of
something
“I move we
postpone this matter
until…”
May not interrupt
speaker
Must be
seconded
Debatable Amendable Majority vote required
7 Have something
studied further
“I move we refer this
matter to a
committee/attorney”
May not interrupt
speaker
Must be
seconded
Debatable Amendable Majority vote required
8 Amend a motion “I move that this
motion be amended
by…”
May not interrupt
speaker
Must be
seconded
Debatable Amendable Majority vote required
9 Introduce business
(a primary motion)
“I move that…” May not interrupt
speaker
Must be
seconded
Debatable Amendable Majority vote required
no order Object to a
procedure or to a
personal affront
“Point of order” May interrupt
speaker
No second
needed
Not debatable Not
amendable
No vote required, chair
decides
no order Request information “Point of
information”
If urgent may
interrupt speaker
No second
needed
Not debatable Not
amendable
No vote required
no order Ask for a vote by
actual count to
verify a voice vote
“I call for a division
of the house”
May not interrupt
speaker
No second
needed
Not debatable Not
amendable
No vote required unless
someone objects (then
majority vote required)
no order Object to
considering some
undiplomatic or
improper matter
“I object to
consideration of this
question.”
May interrupt
speaker
No second
needed
Not debatable Not
amendable
Two-thirds vote required
no order Take up a matter
previously tabled
“I move we take
from table”
May interrupt
speaker
Must be
seconded
Not debatable Not
amendable
Majority vote required
no order Reconsider
something already
disposed of
“I move we now (or
later) reconsider our
action relative to…”
May interrupt
speaker
Must be
seconded
Debatable if
original motion
is debatable
Not
amendable
Majority vote rquired
no order Consider something
out of its scheduled
order
“I move we suspend
the rules and
consider…”
May interrupt
speaker
Must be
seconded
Not debatable Not
amendable
Two-thirds vote required
no order Vote on a ruling by
the chair
“I appeal the chairs
decision.”
May not interrupt
speaker
Must be
seconded
Debatable Not
amendable
Majority vote required
The motions or points numbered are listed in established order of precedence. When one of them is pending, you may not introduce another that's listed below it,
but you may introduce another that's listed above it. The motion or points that have no established order of precedence may be introduced at any time, except when the meeting is considering 1, 2 or 3.
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Other Council Rules
Council Policy on the Role of Council Liaison and Other Appointments
Council Liaison
Each year the City Council names one or two of its members as liaison to each of its Boards and
Commissions. The intent of the liaison is to improve communications between the Council and
its appointed Boards and Commissions. Liaisons should attend at least one or two meetings of
the designated Board/Commission each year for formal communications, although they may
attend any meeting to observe other agenda items of interest.
If requesting to be on the agenda, the liaison should contact the Chair and staff liaison to
determine an appropriate date and time; however, as a reminder, the liaison is not a participating
member of the board/commission. Liaisons should informally report to the Council on issues
significant to the Boards and Commissions.
Other Appointments
Each year, the Council appoints the Mayor and Council Members to serve as representatives,
delegates, or alternates on various advisory groups or joint powers organizations. Additionally,
the City Council appoints its members and staff to fill several roles required by statute. These
appointments are for one-year terms.
The list of current and recent appointments is distributed to the City Council in December so that
there is adequate time to review and discuss proposed appointments for the upcoming year. The
City Council adopts the annual assignments and appointments by resolution at a meeting each
January.
Reporting to the Council
When serving as either liaison or appointed member, the Mayor/Council Member should
regularly report to the full Council on issues currently under discussion by a particular board or
commission. When representing the City on an affiliated Board or Commission, positions taken
should represent the consensus of the City Council as a whole. Positions under consideration
should be discussed during regular updates to the Council. It may be appropriate to adopt a
resolution outlining specific Council positions for issues of special concern to the Council.
Reimbursement for Meeting Attendance
Under City Code, Section 2-43, the Mayor and Council are paid $50 for each meeting they are
directed or designated to attend, up to a maximum of $150 per month. Where a delegate and
alternate are appointed, the delegate is eligible for payment for all meetings they attend. The
alternate is eligible for payment for all meetings they attend that the delegate does not attend.
The City Council adopts an annual resolution in January that lists the meetings eligible for
reimbursement and method for approval, as required by ordinance.
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Elected Official Out of State Travel Policy
Purpose
The City of Golden Valley recognizes that its elected official may at times receive value from
traveling out of the state for workshops, conferences, events and other assignments. This policy
sets forth the conditions under which out-of-state travel will be reimbursed by the City.
General Guidelines:
1. The event, workshop, conference or assignment must be approved in advance by the City
Council at an open meeting and must include an estimate of the cost of the travel. In
evaluating the out-of-state travel request, the Council will consider the following:
• Whether the elected official will be receiving training on issues relevant to the City or
to his or her role as the Mayor or as a Council Member;
• Whether the elected official will be meeting and networking with other elected
officials from around the country to exchange ideas on topics of relevance to the City
or on the official roles of local elected officials.
• Whether the elected official will be viewing a city facility or function that is similar in
nature to one that is currently operating at, or under consideration by the City where
the purpose for the trip is to study the facility or function to bring back ideas for the
consideration of the full Council.
• Whether the elected official has been specifically assigned by the Council to visit
another city for the purpose of establishing a goodwill relationship such as a "sister-
city" relationship.
• Whether the elected official has been specifically assigned by the Council to testify on
behalf of the City at the United States Congress or to otherwise meet with federal
officials on behalf of the City.
• Whether the City has sufficient funding available in the budget to pay the cost of the
trip.
2. No reimbursements will be made for attendance at events sponsored by or affiliated with
political parties.
3. The City may make payments in advance for airfare, lodging and registration if specifically
approved by the council. Otherwise all payments will be made as reimbursements to the
elected official.
4. The City will reimburse for transportation, lodging, meals, registration, and incidental costs
using the same procedures, limitations and guidelines outlined in the City's policy for out-of-
state travel by City employees.
5. Airfare will be reimbursed at the coach rate.
6. Mileage will be reimbursed at the IRS rate. If two or more Council Members travel together
by car, only the driver will receive reimbursement. The City will reimburse for the cost of
renting an automobile if necessary to conduct City business.
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7. Lodging and meal costs are limited to those which are reasonable and necessary.
8. Receipts are required for lodging, airfare, and meals and should accompany an expense
report form. It is not necessary to have receipts for cabs and tips. The expense report form
shall be submitted to the Finance Department for payment.
9. The City will not reimburse for alcoholic beverages, personal telephone calls, costs associated
with the attendance of a family member, rental of luxury vehicles, meal expenses included in
the cost of registration, or recreational expenses such as golf or tennis. Adopted November
15, 2005.
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Virtual Meeting Policy
Purpose
The purpose of this Remote Meeting Attendance Policy (“Policy”) is to establish standards
for remote meeting attendance for City of Golden Valley elected and appointed officials. All
remote attendance must meet the requirements of Minnesota Statutes § 13D.02 and this
Policy.
Policy
A. Applicability
This Policy applies to City of Golden Valley elected and appointed officials (collectively,
“Members”), including but not limited to members of the following public bodies:
1. The City Council
2. All commissions of the City of Golden Valley
3. All boards of the City of Golden Valley
4. All task forces of the City of Golden Valley
5. All other public bodies duly created by the Golden Valley City Council
B. Interactive Technology & Remote Attendance Defined
As used in this Policy, the terms Interactive Technology and Remote Attendance have the
following meanings:
• Interactive Technology means technology that allows all Members to hear and see
one another and all discussion and testimony presented at any location at which at
least one member is present.
• Remote attendance means attending a meeting by Interactive Technology from a
location that is not the regular meeting location.
C. Requirements
Elected and appointed officials may attend City Council, Board, or Commission meetings
by interactive technology so long as:
1. All Members of the body participating in the meeting, wherever their physical
location, can hear and see one another and can hear and see all discussion and
testimony presented at any location at which at least one Member is present;
2. Members of the public present at the regular meeting location of the body can hear
and see all discussion and testimony and all votes of members of the body;
3. At least one Member of the body is physically present at the regular meeting
location;
4. All votes are conducted by roll call so each Member’s vote on each issue can be
identified and recorded; and
5. Each location at which a Member of the body is present is open and accessible to
the public.
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D. Quorum
Each Member participating in a meeting by Interactive Technology is considered present
at the meeting for purposes of determining a quorum and participating in all proceedings.
E. Notice
If a Member attends a meeting by Interactive Technology, the City must provide notice of
the regular meeting location and notice of any site where a Member of the body will be
participating by Interactive Technology.
A Member wishing to attend a meeting remotely must request approval from the public
body’s staff liaison at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the meeting. The Staff Liaison will
review the request to ensure conditions of this policy are met. The Member’s request must
include the reason or reasons for the request and the description and street address of the
proposed remote meeting location.
F. Internet Connection
Members remotely attending a meeting must have a stable, consistent source of internet
access.
G. Associated Costs
Members attending remotely are responsible for any associated costs and will not be
reimbursed by the City for remote meeting related expenses.
H. Public Monitoring of Remote Meetings
If Interactive Technology is used to conduct a meeting, to the extent practical, the City shall
allow members of the public to monitor the meeting electronically from a remote location.
I. Records
The minutes for all meetings conducted using Interactive Technology must reflect the names
of any Members appearing by Interactive Technology and state the reason or reasons for the
appearance by Interactive Technology.
J. Exceptions under State Law
This Policy shall not preclude members from participating remotely where they meet the
requirements of Minn. Stat. § 13.02, subd. 1(b)(1)-(2), or 13D.021.
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