What's Involved in a Fridley City Council Meeting

A typical City Council meeting consists of the following items listed in the following order on the agenda:

• Pledge of Allegiance
• Proclamations/Presentations
• Approval of Minutes from Prior Meeting
• Approval of Proposed Consent Agenda
• 1. Old Business
• 2. New Business
• 3. Claims
• 4. Licenses
• 5. Estimates
• Adoption of Regular Agenda
• Open Forum
• Regular Agenda Items:
• 1. Public Hearing(s)
• 2. Old Business
• 3. New Business
• Informal Status Reports
• Adjourn.

Consent Agenda versus Regular Agenda

Many people wonder what determines what is a consent agenda item and what is a regular agenda item. Matters on the consent agenda are routine and adopted by one motion without separate discussion. However, these items can be removed from the consent agenda and placed on the regular agenda at the request of a citizen or member of the City Council.

Can I speak at a City Council meeting?

Citizens can speak on any topic not on the agenda during the "Open Forum" portion of the meeting. Fridley City Council allows up to 15 minutes for non-agenda items. Citizens may also speak during a public hearing.

If you wish to address the Council on a particular item or during the "Open Forum," please approach the podium and clearly state your name, address and topic you wish to discuss.

Other Items of Interest

Resolutions

Resolutions take effect upon their passage and are not published in the official newspaper.

Ordinances

Ordinances require a first and second reading, which may not be held at the same meeting. Many, but not all, ordinances require a public hearing. All ordinances must be published in the City's official newspaper (Sun-Focus Newspaper) and unless stated, go into effect 15 days after publication.

Public Hearings

A public hearing is an opportunity for members of the public to address the City Council on a particular agenda topic. No action is taken by Council at a public hearing. A public hearing is opened and ultimately closed after staff presentations and/or comments from the public. All public hearing notices are published in the City's official newspaper, the Sun-Focus.

Cable Television

All regularly scheduled City Council meetings are videotaped and shown live on Fridley's Cable Channel 17. Replays of the meeting are shown on Channel 17 at various times.

Meetings

Fridley City Council meetings are typically held on the second and fourth Monday of the month. Meetings begin at 7:30 p.m. and are held in the City Council Chambers at the Fridley Municipal Center. In addition. conference meetings (work sessions) are held throughout the year. No formal action is taken at a conference meeting.

All meetings are open to the public. To view a schedule of meetings on the the City Calendar, click here.

Hearing impaired persons who need an interpreter or other persons with disabilities who require auxiliary aids should call (763) 572-3500 at least one week in advance of the date of the meeting.