METROPOLITAN GOVERNME! LE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY ‘One Publo Square, Suite 204 PO. Box 196300 Nashvil, Tennessee 37219 Home: (615) 238-6300 Office: (615) 880-3357 mal: david biley@nashvile.gov DAVID BRILEY VICE MAYOR February 22, 2017 Dear Council Members Weiner and Shulman — Lam writing t follow up on our discussions over the last few months regarding inclusion ‘and transparency in the Couneil legislative process. Last night's events indicate to me that we should proceed more formally with a process to insure transparency and inclusion. So, T am asking you to lead the Council in taking inthe following steps: 1) Update on Steps In Process Initially, please meet with Mr. Mike Jameson and Mr. Keith Durbin to get updated on the steps that are already underway. Specifically 8) we have begun the appropriation process to add cameras tothe ‘committee rooms so that those meetings ean be recorded; b) we have begun the process of re-organizing and streamlining the Couneil ‘website to make information more accessible, including the posting of the Council office budget onto the webpage; ©) the Budget & Finance Committee the budget process; hold additional public hearings on 4) the Council's Capital Improvement Budgeting process is being transformed as part of the City’s government wide effort; and ©) we continue to implement the new document management system, overseen by Ms, Shannon Hal, the Metro Clerk 2) Specific lems To Be Considered ‘There are several items which I would like you to consider implementing for the Council in addition to those steps outlined above: 18) apublic comment period scheduled on a routine basis where the public can speak to the Council regarding items which normally do not have & public hearing or where no legislation at all is currently pending;') an online petition system which allows the Couneil to addess the Paition afte a certain number of signatures are obtained; ©) creation ofthe capacity for members ofthe public to comment on pending legislation in an online format. ‘Obviously, this not an all-inclusive list and some of these may not be possible given our budgetary and logistical constants but 1 would like your feedback on the potential for taking these steps. 3) Your Thinking/Public Outreach on Inclusion and Transparency Finally, Iam asking you two to put your heads together and think about what would be the most important steps we could take to improve inclusion and transparency in our process. 'd suggest to you that meeting withthe public both formally and informally should inform your jing. So, one public hearing would be advisable. ‘To complete and memorialize this process, I would ask that you provide the Council a brief written report on your endeavors by the end of May, 2017. That report should include ‘proposed next steps the need for legislation, if any, and any anticipated costs. Iwill ask Mr. Jameson to assign a member ofthe staff to support you in this work. If you do not wish to ‘undertake this tsk let me know and I will ask another member but yout interest in this area is clear to me and I am confident in your abilities. “Thanks in advance for your work. Sincerely, Chow drity C. David Briley Vice Mayor cpBih