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Question: When are the City Council meetings?
Answer: The City Council meets in regular session on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month at 7 p.m. in the Milwaukie City Hall Council Chambers, 10722 SE Main Street. Work sessions are on the same Tuesday evening prior to the regular session and begin at 5:30 p.m. in the 2nd floor City Hall Conference Room.
Question: Are work sessions open to the public?
Answer: Yes.
Question: Can the public attend executive sessions?
Answer: These sessions are closed to the public. They can be held for only limited purposes pursuant to state statutes such as consulting with legal counsel on current and pending litigation and real property transactions. All discussions are confidential. Although the media is allowed to attend, they cannot report on it. Executive sessions are for discussion only – no final action is taken. Any final action is taken during regular sessions open to the public.
Question: If I can't attend the meeting, how do I find out what's going on?
Answer: Council work sessions and regular sessions are broadcast live on Channel 30 and replayed at various times over the next 2 weeks. Please refer to Channel 30 or the City’s Pilot newsletter for replay times.
In November 2008 the City began streaming video broadcasts to the Internet where they will are archived for future viewing and reference. Meetings may also be viewed while in progress.
The Ledding Library also gets a video of the meeting, so it’s available for check out a couple of days after the session. To get a video copy for yourself, please call 503.786.7502 or e-mail ocr@ci.milwaukie.or.us to make arrangements and get the current fee.
Meeting minutes and adopted ordinances and resolutions are posted on our website.
Question: Can a member of the public video tape the Council meeting?
Answer: Yes, and the public may also make an audio recording of the meeting.
Question: How do I find out what's on the agenda?
Answer: Agendas are available the Tuesday prior to the meeting in several formats. You can access all related staff reports including proposed legislation on the City website; or
Paper copies are available for reading at the following City facilities:
• City Hall, 10722 SE Main Street
• Ledding Library, 10660 SE 21st Avenue
Question: What do I do if I still have questions?
Answer: Contact the city recorder's office at 503.786.7502 or e-mail ocr@ci.milwaukie.or.us.
Question: How can I voice my concerns at a Council meeting?
Answer: First, we ask everyone wishing to speak to fill out a green “registration” card found on the information table near the door to the Council Chambers. We do this so your name is correct in the meeting minutes and in case we need to contact you later about a Council decision or provide additional information. During the meeting, the Mayor uses these cards to call people to the podium to make their comments at the appropriate time.
If you want to comment on something that is not on the agenda, the public is invited to address the Council in the “Audience Participation” portion of the agenda. Speaking time is generally limited to 3 to 5 minutes, but Council may decide to ask additional questions. Comments should be limited items of City business that are properly the object of Council consideration.
If you want to talk about an item in the “Public Hearing” or “Other Business” sections, the Mayor will call the names from the registration cards at the appropriate times. Again, speaking time will probably be limited to 3 to 5 minutes.
Question: What do I do when I get to the podium?
Answer: Speak directly into the microphone so Council and others in the room can hear you. You will be asked to give your name and city of residence for the meeting record. After you are done speaking wait for a moment in case Council has a question.
Question: What if I have written material?
Answer: If you have your material in paper or via email to ocr@ci.milwaukie.or.us to the city recorder’s office the day of the meeting by 4 pm, copies will be made and placed at each Council member’s seat at the dais. If you wish to hand it out yourself at the meeting, please bring a minimum of 6 copies – one for the mayor and each councilor and one for the city recorder to put in the record of that meeting.
