This guide is designed to help you understand how City Council operates, how you can participate in meetings, and how to access important information. Your involvement is essential to fostering a transparent and collaborative local government.
A CITIZEN’S GUIDE TO CITY COUNCIL How to Get Involved and Stay Informed
Contents
City Council Meeting Schedule Legislation Get Involved FAQs Glossary of Terms
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City Council Welcome to the Citizen’s Guide to City Council ! This guide is designed to help you understand how City Council operates, how you can participate in meetings, and how to access important information. Your involvement is essential to fostering a transparent and collaborative local government.
Purpose of Council Meetings City Council meetings provide a forum for elected officials to discuss and make decisions on matters that impact our community. These meetings are open to the public, ensuring transparency and accountability in local government. Council meetings serve to: • Discuss and vote on proposed ordinances, resolutions, and motions. • Hear public input on community issues and proposed legislation. • Provide updates on city projects, budgets, and initiatives.
City Council (left to right): Ali B. Stern, Pete Smith, June E. Taylor, Council President Alec Isaacson, Mayor Justin Berns, Council V.P. Danielle Shoykhet, Joshua Mintz, and Jillian DeLong
Citizen’s Guide to City Council
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Meeting Schedule First and third Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers located at City Hall, 25325 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood, Ohio 44122. If the first or third Monday falls on a nationally recognized holiday, the meeting is generally moved to the following Tuesday. Council may have an abbreviated schedule during the months of June, July and August based upon the needs of the Administration and City Council. Types of Meetings: • Regular Meetings: Scheduled sessions where the council conducts routine business, votes on legislation, and hears public comments. • Special Meetings: Called as needed to address specific issues or emergencies. • Committee Meetings: These are smaller sessions focused on particular areas of council business and are typically less formal than regular meetings. All meeting dates, times, and locations are announced in advance and published on the city’s website: beachwoodohio.com/meetings.
Meeting Recordings Both council and committee meeting recordings are available under the Live Stream/Recorded Meetings section of the city website at beachwoodohio.com/ watchmeetings. Residents can view these recordings at their convenience to stay updated on council discussions and decisions. Understanding Agenda Structure Council meetings follow a structured agenda, which typically includes: • Roll call and opening remarks. • Approval of previous meeting minutes. • Reports from the Mayor, City Council, Department Directors. • Public comments. • Discussion and voting on agenda items.
How To Email A Council Member: FirstName.LastName@BeachwoodOhio.com
City of Beachwood, Ohio
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Legislation City Council considers two main types of legislation: Ordinances: Laws that govern the city. Resolutions: Formal statements expressing the council’s position on specific issues.
How Legislation Is Passed:
01
Introduction of legislation or motion.
02
Discussion and potential amendments during meetings.
03
Public hearings if required.
Council votes to approve or reject the legislation and motions.
04
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How Residents Can Get Involved
Attend Council Meetings Why attend? Attending council meetings is one of the easiest ways to stay informed and see how decisions are made. It also gives you the opportunity to observe council members in action and understand the issues they are discussing. • Check the city’s website for the meeting schedule and agenda. • Attend in person or watch the meetings online (if available). • Note the times for public comment and bring any concerns you want to share. Speaking During Citizen’s Remarks Why speak? Public comment is your opportunity to directly address the community and council and have your voice heard on matters that are important to you. • Review the agenda before the meeting to see if the issues you care about are being discussed. • Sign up to speak ahead of time (usually before the meeting begins) or during a designated public comment section. • Be prepared to keep your comments brief and focused—most councils have a time limit. Stay Informed Through City Communications Why stay informed? Knowledge is power. The more you know about what’s going on in your city, the better equipped you will be to engage effectively. • Sign up for newsletters: Many cities offer email updates or newsletters that provide information about upcoming council meetings, city projects, and other key developments. • Follow the city’s social media pages: Most cities have a Facebook, X, or Instagram page where they post news and updates about city council decisions. • Read meeting minutes: Council meeting minutes are often posted online, providing detailed information on what was discussed and actions taken. • Attending meetings in person or watching live broadcasts online or on local public access TV.
City of Beachwood, Ohio
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How Residents Can Get Involved
Contact Your Council Member Directly Why contact? Your council members are elected to represent you. Reaching out to them is a direct way to voice your concerns, ask questions, and suggest improvements in your community. • Find the contact information for your specific council member on the city’s website or through social media. • Send an email or call them with your questions, feedback, or concerns. Be clear about the issue and any specific action you’d like them to take. • Schedule a meeting: If your issue requires more detailed discussion, request a one-on-one meeting with your council member. Advocate for Changes Why advocate? If you see an area where the city could improve, advocating for change can help drive positive shifts in local policies and services. • Petitions: Start or sign petitions to express support for specific issues. Present them to the city council or submit them for review. • Organize a Campaign: If you feel strongly about an issue, consider organizing a campaign to raise awareness and garner support from other residents. This can include social media campaigns, hosting informational events, or encouraging other residents to speak at council meetings. Vote in Local Elections Why Vote? Voting in city elections ensures that your voice is heard in the selection of council members and other local officials. • Register to vote if you haven’t already. • Attend candidate forums and read up on candidates’ platforms. • Vote in local elections to elect leaders who align with your values and priorities for the community. Join Committees or Boards Look for open positions on city boards and committees—they are often posted on the city’s website or social media. Attend a committee meeting to see how it operates before applying, if you’re unsure.
For more information, visit BeachwoodOhio.com. Questions? Please contact Whitney M. Crook, Clerk of Council, via email at whitney.crook@beachwoodohio.com.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When does City Council meet? City Council meets regularly on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month. Special meetings may be scheduled as needed. Please check the city’s website for specific dates and times. Where do City Council meetings take place? City Council meetings are held at Beachwood City Hall, Council Chambers, located at 25325 Fairmount Boulevard, Beachwood, Ohio 44122. Meetings are open to the public. Can I attend a City Council meeting? Yes! City Council meetings are open to the public, and residents are encouraged to attend. You can participate during Citizen’s Remarks or simply observe. How can I participate in a City Council meeting? Residents can participate by attending in person and speaking during the public comment period, which Yes, you will need to sign up in advance to speak. Sign-up sheets are provided at the beginning of the meeting, and Citizen’s Remarks are addressed in the order they are received. Each speaker is allotted three minutes to share their remarks. What if I cannot attend or miss a City Council meeting? If you cannot attend a meeting, you can follow along via the livestream or watch the recording, which is typically available on the city’s website. If you miss a meeting, you can review the minutes and recording to stay informed about the outcomes. What is the process for voting at City Council meetings? At each meeting, Council Members vote on various items presented. Typically, two votes are taken: one to suspend the three-reading rule and pass the item on the first reading, and a second vote for the adoption of the item. Votes are conducted by roll call, called by the Clerk in alphabetical order. The outcomes of the votes are recorded in the meeting minutes and made available to the public. How is a quorum determined for City Council meetings? City Council has seven (7) elected members. To conduct official business, at least four members need to be present. If fewer members are there, they can still meet and may decide to excuse absent members. But without at least four members, no official decisions can be made. What is an Executive Session, and when does City Council hold one? typically occurs following the Pledge of Allegiance and Roll Call. Do I need to register to speak at a City Council meeting? An Executive Session is a closed portion of a City Council meeting or Committee Meeting that is not open to the public. It is held to discuss specific confidential matters as permitted by law, such as personnel issues, pending litigation, real estate transactions, or collective bargaining. Council must first vote in an open meeting to enter Executive Session, and no formal decisions or votes can be made during the session. Any official action resulting from these discussions must be taken in a public meeting.
City of Beachwood, Ohio
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the procedure for calling a special meeting of the City Council? Special meetings can be called by the Mayor, Council President, or by the request of a majority of Council Members. Public notice will be provided at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. Can I contact Council Members directly about issues? Yes! You are welcome to contact individual Council Members directly via email or phone to express concerns or ask questions. Contact details for each Council Member are available on the city website. Does City Council have a summer session? Yes, during the summer months, City Council typically operates on a reduced schedule. Meetings may be held less frequently. Please refer to the city’s website or contact the Clerk’s office for specific dates during the summer session. What is a committee meeting? A committee meeting is a gathering of a smaller group of Council Members assigned to review and discuss specific issues in greater detail before presenting recommendations to the full City Council. These committees focus on areas such as finance, public safety, or public works. Members of Council chair these committees, leading discussions and guiding the review process. Committee meetings are open to the public unless otherwise specified and provide an opportunity for in-depth discussion before formal decisions are made at a regular Council meeting. What is the three-reading rule? A requirement that ordinances and resolutions be read on three separate days before final passage, unless suspended by a two-thirds Council vote. Certain measures, such as appropriations, tax levies, and petitioned improvements, take immediate effect. Emergency or urgent measures also bypass this rule but require justification and a two-thirds vote. Zoning changes, city boundary modifications, and elected officials’ compensation cannot be passed as emergency or urgent measures.
Citizen’s Guide to City Council
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Glossary of City Council Terminology Please reference this comprehensive guide to help understand frequently used terms.
Abstain
Choosing not to vote on a matter due to a conflict of interest or other reason.
Adjournment
The formal conclusion of a Council meeting.
A list of items to be discussed or acted upon during a Council or Committee meeting.
Agenda
The foundational document that outlines the structure, powers, and functions of the municipal government. A meeting where the entire Council discusses an issue informally before taking formal action.
Charter
Committee of the Whole
A situation where a Council member’s personal interests could improperly influence their decisions.
Conflict of Interest
A group of routine items approved collectively without discussion unless a Council member requests separate consideration.
Consent Agenda
Codified Ordinances
A collection of the city’s enacted ordinances organized by subject matter.
A closed meeting session that is not open to the public, usually for discussing confidential or legal matters.
Executive Session
First Reading
The initial presentation of an ordinance to the Council for consideration.
Minutes
The official written record of what occurred during a Council meeting.
Motion
A formal proposal put forward for debate or decision in a Council meeting.
Ordinance
A law or regulation enacted by the City Council.
A scheduled opportunity for residents to express opinions on a particular issue before the Council makes a decision. The minimum number of members required to be present for the Council to conduct official business. A formal statement or decision adopted by the City Council that does not have the force of law.
Public Hearing
Quorum
Resolution
Robert’s Rules of Order
A widely used set of procedural rules that guide the conduct of Council meetings.
A voting method where each Council member’s vote is recorded individually. In Beachwood, roll call votes are conducted in alphabetical order.
Roll Call Vote
Second
A statement of support for a motion, allowing it to proceed to discussion or a vote.
Second Reading
A subsequent presentation of an ordinance, often requiring a vote for adoption.
A requirement that ordinances and resolutions be read on three separate days before final passage, unless suspended by a two-thirds Council vote. (See FAQ) An ordinance or resolution that is declared necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health, safety, or welfare, allowing it to take effect immediately.
*Three-Reading Rule
Urgent Measure
City of Beachwood, Ohio
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For more information, visit BeachwoodOhio.com. Questions? Please contact Whitney M. Crook, Clerk of Council, via email at whitney.crook@beachwoodohio.com.
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