Unusual but not against Open Meetings Law
Gives public more time on issue
Council still must have public comment on night of vote
MANDEVILLE – The Mandeville City Council has scheduled the “introduction and discussion” of the upcoming property tax Ordinance 23-22 for the June 22nd regular meeting, an unusual move considering that agenda items — including resolutions and ordinances — are typically introduced under “new business” but not discussed until they come up for a vote under “old business” at the following or a future meeting.
This has been done in the past for complex issues, such as tax millages, so that the public has extra time to hear from the council and administration and ask questions.
The Louisiana Open Meetings Law still requires the council to allow public comment before a vote at the meeting where adoption is to be considered. This means that Ordinance 23-22 will get two public comment sessions at two different meetings.
Ordinance 23-22 sets the property tax millages for the fiscal year.
-30-
Related Links:
Mandeville City Council Agenda for June 22, 2023 Regular Meeting
Ordinance 23-22
Mandeville Daily 
I highly recommend that this become the norm, not the exception. It used to be that way. An ordinance was introduced, there was discussion about what it does and initial public comment allowed at introduction — primarily to ask questions and an understanding of what it is about. I’m not sure when or why public discussion was eliminated except for the night of the vote. By restricting discussion to one meeting, the public is usually totally in the dark about what the ordinance does or what it means unless they take a lot of time to dig and do research. The Council makes the rules. The Council could reinstate the opportunity for more public comment to better deliver on the promise and commitment to transparency.
LikeLike