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Council Rules Committee January 22,2013 Page 3 developed an approach that it should be pursued and there needs to be consistency. However, if there are differing points of view they should be discussed. Vice-President Davis stated that management style should not be so strict that it stifles discussion; since the sharing of information is important. Council Member White suggested that this be a topic which should be discussed when the Council Officers meet with the Mayor. Council Member Scott noted that when he was running for office it was suggested that the Council consider holding a town hall meeting at the Century Center. Council Members Dieter and Varner both suggested that such a forum be topic specific. It was noted by President Dieter that in the past the Council did have a "State of the Council" portion at Council meetings; however it was curtailed because of the length of time that it took, before the regular agenda with public hearings could be addressed. Council Member White noted that when she last chaired the Health and Public Safety Committee that she held meetings in each of the Council Districts to get feedback from the community. They primarily focused on Code issues and public safety. She suggested that Council Members email her with their suggestions so that they could be discussed. Dr. Varner stated that the Council's role is primarily financial oversight, and not the day to day operational decisions. Council Member White then called upon the Council Attorney who noted that she had five (5) handouts for the Committee and Council to review and discuss at a later date. The first was from last year's power-point presentation given to the Council. It highlighted rules and procedures governing the Common Council. Handout # 1 was a copy of Slide # 13 highlighting the protocols when a Council Member sponsors a proposed text amendment, along with a copy of the "Standing Committee Request Protocol Form". She noted that when this form was developed in late 2011, it was anticipated that it would be placed on line for completion by each Committee Chairperson, and then given to the Office of the City Clerk. The Council Attorney then summarized Handout # 2 "Fiscal Impact Statement" which is an example of what the Legislative Services Agency (LSA) prepares when new state legislation is proposed. Handout # 3 is a "Financial Impact and Public Involvement Statement" from Portland, Oregon . She stressed that a similar form could be developed which meets the City's needs from these examples. She noted that the last two (2) handouts addressed the ever-changing field of social media. Handout# 4 is a summary from the University of Illinois at Chicago entitled "National Study Ranks City Governments' Use of Social Media" and Handout # 5 is the Executive Summary of that study entitled "Civic Engagement and Local E-Government: Social Networking Comes of Age".