Work Session of the Austin City Council
February 9, 2011

Meeting Agenda

Approved Meeting Minutes

The minutes for the Special Called Meeting of February 9, 2011 were approved on the 17th day of February 2011 on Mayor Pro Tern Martinez' motion, Council Member Cole's second on a 7-0 vote.

Minutes - Work Session, 577kb

Video

Play video - February 9, 2011

Agenda Items

Item A - February 9, 2011

Discussion and possible action on work session procedures.

The Mayor asked for input from Council on how they would like future work sessions to be conducted including: when they should be held (every week, only before a regular Council meeting or as needed), where the meeting should occur (Council Chambers, Town Lake, Boards and Commissions room or other options) and how the agenda should be determined. With this input, the City Manager will meet with staff and outline some proposals that can be discussed further at the next work session to be held on February 16, 2011. While Council wanted an opportunity to discuss items posted on Thursday's regular Council meeting agenda, they also wanted to be able to discuss non posted items during the work session. Concern was expressed about the amount of staff resources required to support two Council meetings in a week when the agendas were identical and that the boards and commissions room was too small to accommodate everyone who needs/wants to be in attendance. Council indicated they would like the flexibility of conducting briefings and executive sessions during the work session and be able to give staff direction on some of the items. They recognized that some changes to the Council Rules would be needed to accommodate the work session format. It was noted that the Question and Answer process used by Council now would still be available for Council to submit written questions and receive staff responses before voting on items.

There are no documents available for this agenda item.

Item B - February 9, 2011

Agenda: The City Council will meet in a work session to discuss items on the Thursday, February 10, 2011 agenda. No action will be taken and there will be no citizen participation during the work session. Citizens will be permitted to address agenda items at the regularly scheduled City Council meeting on Thursday, February 10, 2011.

The Mayor introduced each section of the agenda and allowed Council to give input or ask questions. Staff was available to provide verbal responses to those questions.