City Council Committees

Council Work Sessions

Council Work Sessions are generally held on the Tuesday of the week prior to the Regular City Council Meetings unless the day falls on a City holiday. If such a conflict occurs, the meeting schedule will be adjusted to address the holiday. Council Work Sessions generally begin at 6:00 p.m. and will be held in the Council Chambers at the City Hall Building. Council Work Sessions may also be called for any purpose at other dates and times by the Mayor or any five (5) Councilmembers upon at least twenty-four (24) hour notice to the Mayor and each Councilmember.

Council Work Sessions are working committee meetings of Council and are not utilized for legislative action or other formal Council actions appropriate to Regular or Special City Council Meetings. The Council Work Sessions shall consist of the Mayor and all of the Councilmembers. Council Work Sessions will be supported by the Clerk of Council, the City Manager, the Law Director, and City Staff as directed by the City Manager.

Assignments & Exceptions

Proposed legislation/motions and/or other matters of significance will generally be reviewed initially through assignment to a Council Work Session. Exceptions to the review of proposed legislation/motions and/or other matters of significance through assignment to a Council Work Session can be made by Council for routine matters, including amnesty legislation and end of the year legislation. Council may also opt to review proposed legislation/motions and/or other matters of significance that arise in emergency situations at Regular or Special City Council Meetings without assignment to a Council Work Session.

All Council Work Sessions will comply with the requirements of Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22 under Ohio’s Open Meetings Act.

Committee of the Whole

Council may schedule committee meetings of the entire Council as a Committee of the Whole meeting. Committee of the Whole meetings may be called for any purpose by the Mayor or any five (5) Councilmembers upon at least twenty-four (24) hours’ notice to the Mayor and each Councilmember.

The working business of the Council may also be conducted through Committee of the Whole meetings. The Committee of the Whole shall consist of the Mayor and all of the Councilmembers. The Committee of the Whole meetings will be supported by the Clerk of Council, the City Manager, the Law Director, and City Staff as directed by the City Manager.

Special Committees

The Mayor may appoint temporary special committees, with the approval of Council, as may be appropriate to gather information, conduct surveys, make findings and recommendations on proposed legislation, or perform other specified tasks. The work of the special committees is confined to specific assignments and these committees have only the authority granted to them by the City Council. These special committees are temporary and terminate upon presentation of final reports to the City Council. All special committees appointed by the Mayor are advisory in nature only. The Mayor is also a non-voting ex-officio member of all special committees.

Outside Committees

Some Councilmembers are also selected to serve as individual representatives of the City Council on outside committees or organizations.

All Council Work Sessions, Committee of the Whole meetings, and meetings of special committees or outside committees will comply with the requirements of Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22 under Ohio’s Open Meetings Act.