HomeMy WebLinkAboutLETTER TO COUNCIL CITY OF WATERL • 3 OWA
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, , CITY HALL • 715 MULBERRY ST. • WATERLOO, IA 50703 • (319) 291-4301 FAX(319)291 428fi
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Manor. March 20, 2008
TIMOTHY J.
HURLEY
COUNCIL City Council Members
MEMBERS Planning and Zoning Commission Members
City of Waterloo
REGINALD A.
SCHMITT
Ward 1
Re: Ex Parte Communications
CAROLYN
COLE
Ward
The attached letter from Jim Walsh,Waterloo City Attorney offers some counsel
HAROLD on how to handle ex parte communications and contacts. I asked Mr. Walsh to
GEITY provide this summary simply because we have some new council members and
Ward 3 some new PP&Z commission members. We also have a number of contestable
QUENTIN M. matters coming before us in the coming months, so it seemed timely to educate
HART you on how to properly deal with contacts from citizens or any interested party
Ward 4 outside of commission and council meetings.
RON
WEEPER Ex parte is a Latin legal term meaning"from (by or for) one party."Another
Ward.5 translation is "out of faction". Jim's letter explains some of the legal issues and
BOB rulings,but the shortcut is this: you can't discuss contestable issues outside the
GREENWOOD public hearing. You can listen,but not discuss. It's to protect fairness. You can't
At-Large discuss an issue with a proponent without the opponent being able to see/hear the
discussion, and vice versa. You will be asked to divulge any ex parte contacts on
sTEt'E an issue at thepublic hearingdealingwith that issue—emails, letters, phone
SCHMITT calls,
At-Large personal contacts. Best idea is to keep records and copies.
If you have any questions feel free to contact Mr. Walsh or me.
Sincerely,
Mayor Tim Hurley
CITY WEBSITE:www.ci.waterloo.ia.us
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