On Tuesday, Antioch Councilmembers Mike Barbanica and Tamisha Torres-Walker called for a special meeting to discuss and revamp how city council agendas are set.
The move came during future agenda items after Mike Barbanica explained at the last council meeting he called for the tobacco policy to come back at the next meeting, it did not for this meeting. He said he an Mayor Pro Tem Tamisha Torres-Walker had two meetings and put together a seven point plan.
“I am calling for a special meeting to be called May 30 at 7:00 pm to revamp how the agenda is handled for council to give all councilmembers much more say in what is placed on the final agenda,” said Barbanica who said they can go over a seven point plan. “If there are two other councilmembers who support a special meeting to specifically talk about the agenda and how things are placed on the agenda and what input councilmembers have and what timelines.”
Torres-Walker agreed with the special meeting.
“Since I have been on the council, I’ve had an issue with the six-month timeline on things coming back. I’ve always complained about that,” said Torres-Walker. “I also think we need to address the timeline on when and how things come back to the council on the agenda. I support the request.”
Councilwoman Ogorchock said she would support the request.
Thorpe responded while admitting he has withheld items.
“In terms of the agenda, I have been pretty transparent in delaying things because of the staffing issues. I have said I have deliberately left things off. One of the biggest challenges I wanted to particularly get through was the budget. It was very important and we are at the end,” said Thorpe. “What I was planning on doing was calling a special meeting to do the 6-month review.”
Thorpe continued stating he was talking to the city manager and city attorney was a timeline for staff to get certain ordinances and agenda items brought back.
“So I have been deliberate on keeping things off the agenda. I have been transparent. The interviews for parks and recreation, that has all been deliberate and that has been my choice because I’ve heard some of the concerns that staff,” said Thorpe. “I get it from staff and hear what they say when they have concerns of how we are front loading so much stuff on them. I’ve been very clear I have slowed things done. Its not to take away from your concerns, but allow me to have the next meeting so we can go through your six month stuff, then I can work with staff to get a real timeline.”
City Clerk Ellie Householder attempted to call point of order citing this item was not on the agenda.
Thorpe stated it was his comments and continued speaking stating they now contract out a lot of the ordinances and they have more than 80 positions open.
Barbanica said he understood Thorpe’s comments but said he made a simple request.
“We have merchants in this town who are at a disadvantage with the tabbaco policy,” said Barbanica.
Thorpe said it was coming.
“It is, but it should have been on the agenda tonight. I requested it last week, this council majority supported it. On a technicality it got killed last week and it shouldn’t have been, this council majority supported it,” said Barbanica. “So my request for a special meeting stands and we are going to totally revamp the way this agenda is done and give a power to the majority of the people sitting up here.”
Thorpe responded, “thank you for your thoughts. I am going to say again the ordinance is coming back, I got to work with staff.”
To watch the meeting, click here.
Note – in April 2022, the Antioch City Council held a special meeting to go over items that were more than 6-months old after councilmembers requested they be pleased on the agenda.
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