On Tuesday, Dec. 8, new members of the Irvine City Council voted 4-1 to approve a city policy regarding the way in which new items are placed on the agenda for City Council meetings. 

Agenda item 4.2 was placed on the agenda as a City Council Business item on Nov. 24. During the Dec. 8 meeting, the item received dozens of comments from the public, many asking the council not to adopt the item. The policy requires new City Council agenda items to have the support of at least two City Council members, or support from the mayor, in order to be placed on the agenda. 

According to a Nov. 12 memo, the policy was introduced in July 2019 and is an action that allows “the City Council to focus its efforts on core items of city business.”

“ln July, 2019, the City Council approved a policy stating that items would not be placed on future City Council agendas unless requested in a written memorandum and signed by either (i) at least two members of the City Council, or (ii) the Mayor. This policy ensures that at least two members of the City Council have an interest in agendizing an item, and allows the City Council to to focus its efforts on core items of city business.”

Councilmember Larry Agran opposed the policy, saying that it takes away the opportunity for debate and discussion for matters that pertain to Irvine.

“I don’t understand what problem it is trying to solve,” Agran said in an interview with Irvine Weekly. “There shouldn’t be any barriers to a council member putting an item on the agenda.”

Agran added he was surprised at the policy’s unpopularity with Irvine residents, given the amount of negative comments from the public during the meeting.

“This policy is extremely unpopular, and it’s undemocratic,” Agran said.

The policy was brought to the council by Mayor Farrah Khan and Councilmember Anthony Kuo.  

“I really feel like this council does better when it is able to work together. It does better when it’s able to understand what our preferences are,” Khan said during the meeting.

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting Irvine Weekly and our advertisers.