Addressing Longview City Council

Agenda Items

You may comment on individual agenda items during any regularly scheduled City Council meeting prior to Council discussion. These comments are in addition to the Constituents’ Comments portion of each regularly scheduled meeting. All remarks should be addressed to the Council as a whole. Comments should be limited to three minutes or less.

Constituent’s Comments

Time is set aside at the beginning of the meeting for Constituent’s Comments. You may use this time to express an opinion on subjects not already on the agenda. Comments should be limited to three minutes or less. Groups with several members or individuals communicating the same message should designate a spokesperson (five minute limit). All remarks should be addressed to the Council as a whole.

Addressing the Council

When presenting testimony, step up to the podium and introduce yourself to the Council. State your name and address, then whether you support or oppose the issue. Summarize your information and give reasons why you support or oppose the issue. Speak loudly and clearly. Please limit your comments to three minutes or less. You may summarize any written information at the podium, then give copies to the City Clerk. Copies will be distributed to the Council. If someone has already covered points you intended to make, state that you agree with previous testimony.

General Rules of Conduct

The Mayor has the authority to preserve order at all meetings of the Council and cause the removal of any person from any meeting for disorderly conduct. Any person making personal, impertinent, or slanderous remarks, or who becomes boisterous, threatening, or personally abusive while addressing the Council, may be requested to leave the meeting. The Mayor may command assistance of any peace officer of the City to enforce all lawful orders of the Mayor to restore order at any meeting.

Order of regular Council meeting:

• Call to Order
• Invocation/Pledge of Allegiance
• Roll Call
• Consideration of Minutes
• Changes/Revisions to the Agenda
• Presentations and Awards (including Proclamations)
• Constituents’ Comments
• Public Hearings
• Board and Commission Recommendations
• Ordinances and Resolutions
• Mayor’s Report and Council Members’ Reports
• Consent Calendar
• City Manager’s Report
• Miscellaneous Information Only
• Adjournment

Sharing Information and Concerns with the Council

The Longview City Council invites citizens to share information or concerns with them at a Council meeting. You may also call a Council member at home. Their phone numbers are listed in the local phone books. And, you may directly email a Council member by logging onto the City Council web page.

Certain issues, however, should be directed to City staff instead of the Council, outside City Council meetings:

• Complaints about staff members - Responsibility for dealing with staff issues should be directed to a specific department head first, then to the Executive Office.
• Requests for information or services - If you don’t know which department to call, contact the Executive Office at 360.442.5004.
• Complaints about services - If you don’t know which department to call, contact the Executive Office at 360.442.5004.
• Letters - Letters may be sent to Council members by hand-delivering or mailing them to City Hall, PO Box 128, Longview, WA 98632. Rarely is any action taken until after the issue has been researched and reviewed by both Council and staff.
• Policy issues - Policy or legislative issues may be brought before the Council at a regular Council meeting. If a law or policy change is needed, it will be placed on a future agenda for full discussion and consideration.

City of Longview Organizational Chart