Council president implements new legislation policy

Hillsboro City Council President Lee Koogler has implemented a new policy regarding the submission of legislation to be heard before council, saying that the new policy will give council members the adequate time needed to review pending legislation, and address any issues or questions.

On Thursday, Koogler submitted a letter to the members of council, Safety Service Director Richard D. Giroux, Mayor Drew Hastings, Auditor Gary Lewis, Law Director Fred Beery.

"During my time as a member of Hillsboro City Council and President of Hillsboro City Council, it has become evident to me for the need to implement a policy regarding the submission of proposed legislation within the City of Hillsboro," Koogler said in the letter. "I am of the opinion that such a policy will not only benefit Hillsboro City Council, but all departments within the City of Hillsboro. Therefore, effective immediately, any legislation which is to be introduced to Hillsboro City Council will not be placed upon the agenda of Hillsboro City Council by the Clerk of Council, unless the following requirements are met:

1. Any and all legislation which is intended to be introduced at any Council Meeting must be presented to the Clerk of Council no later than three (3) business days prior to the Council Meeting at which the legislation is intended to be introduced;

2. Any legislation which is intended to be introduced at any Council Meeting, and which is not prepared by the Law Director of the City of Hillsboro, must be presented to the Office of the Law Director for the City of Hillsboro and the Law Director must approve as to form and legality of the proposed legislation prior to the Clerk of Council's acceptance of the proposed legislation;

3. Copies of all proposed legislation meeting these requirements shall be immediately presented to the Members of Hillsboro City Council by the Clerk of Council via internal city mailbox procedure for each Council Member, who in turn are expected to check their city mailbox no later than Friday, close of business, to retrieve and inspect their legislative packets for the next regular council meeting and if a special council meeting is called, than no later than the end of the business day prior to the special council meeting if time allows;

4. The President of Council may permit proposed legislation otherwise presented in contradiction to these rules at his or her sole discretion if emergency in nature or if it would otherwise be imprudent to delay the introduction thereof;

5. Any legislation that is otherwise not determined to be emergency or necessary in nature by the President of Council and that does not prescribe to these rules shall either be rejected by the Clerk of Council as out of order or otherwise held and placed on the legislative agenda of Hillsboro City Council at the next regular Council Meeting.

"These time frames are hereby established to permit Hillsboro City Council ample time in reviewing and digesting proposed legislation and to bring parties together well in advance to better understand and resolve any issues pertaining to proposed legislation and the legislative process," Koogler said. "Protecting the integrity of Hillsboro City Council and Council's proceedings is of paramount concern to me as President of Hillsboro City Council and strict adherence to these rules not only benefits Council but all those involved in the legislative process."

Koogler clarified some of the ways that council is able to enact legislation and permit action.

"Council can act in several ways," Koogler said. "Council can act merely by a vote, for instance to close a street or permitting the Festival of the Bells to utilize the streets, or to temporarily close Gov. Trimble Place for Anna's Army without legislation, and just by a call of votes."

Koogler said, "The other way council addresses things is by legislation that comes before council in the form of ordinances and resolutions. Those are official acts of council, and ordinances get codified into our ordinance book. Resolutions are usually a singular item, such as a line item transfer, and those do not get put into our ordinance book. Legislation can involve a lot of things. It can be budgetary in nature, or it can be for the common good, such as restricting abilities to have a pet running freely on the streets or it can be legislation aimed at maintaining grass that is not mowed. It isn't just financial in nature."