To adopt the 2020 City Council Norms of Behavior

Review and adoption.

The following are the City Council Norms of Behavior for the operation of the City Council and its members for 2020:

• Speak only for yourself, not on behalf of another councilmember unless specifically tasked by your colleagues to speak for the group.

• Don’t question motives. Assume others have positive intentions even if you disagree.

• Always be respectful of one another, the public process and of staff. Do not criticize staff or others in public.

• Aim for consensus but accept the decision of the majority once it has been made.

• Stay focused on the role of an elected official – policy, prioritization and citizen representation.

• Work through the city administrator and never through line staff. Do not attend staff meetings, trainings, or group staff functions unless specifically invited or scheduled thorough Administration. Do not loiter in work areas.

• Respect staff and the fact that they work for the Council as a whole – not for you as an individual. Do not expect them to engage in the fray (secrets, gossip, or triangulation), make your individual case (take sides), or be your “insider” (informant). Such activity by individual councilmembers undermines the leadership of the Council, individual departments and the organization as a whole.

• Members should come to meetings prepared and willing to take part in discussions with their ideas and viewpoints as part of the process to make the best decisions. This also helps to build consensus and strengthens the Council’s actions as a body.