We couldn’t agree more that government can move as slowly as a lumbering elephant. At times, it’s not the best system to respond to change.
But in the case of the Chico City Council meeting from July 2, perhaps the elephant should lumber even more slowly.
We applauded the moving of “business from the floor” from late on the council agenda to earlier, which gives the public a better opportunity to speak. Previously, people usually had a several-hour wait before addressing the council on something not on the agenda.
July 2 was the first meeting with the change, but then something peculiar happened.
Among those making public comments were two individuals suggesting the city stop using the herbicide Roundup. Mayor Randall Stone obviously agreed and was ready to toss city procedure out the window to do it.
These kinds of decisions are usually put on the agenda to give everyone — decision-makers and the public — an idea of what is coming, and consequently time to prepare, understand or respond. It can be a lengthy process but it allows the full community to be part of the discussion.
Stone may have figured he had the necessary votes to get the Roundup issue put on a future agenda, which probably was the case. He seemed to want to jump to the chase and vote on the ban.
We have to credit Councilor Ann Schwab for bringing attention to what happened. She wanted to stick to the rules by having the council agree to set aside normal procedure. That is within the council’s right, under certain conditions.
Schwab put the motion out there to suspend the rules and got a second, but when the vote came around, she voted no. So did other councilors, and her motion lost, indicating other council members also saw a problem.
Stone realized the misstep and then asked for the regular process to be followed.
No matter who you are, it’s good to read the introduction to “business from the floor,” which says: “Members of the public may address the Council at this time on any matter not already listed on the agenda, with comments being limited to three minutes or as determined by the Mayor based on the number of speakers. The Council cannot take any action at this meeting on requests made under this section of the agenda.”
Those who should read that introduction are not just speakers, but the council as well.
