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Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Council Monday,.January 23, 2017 Page 2 ' mails today and I ain going to read you the response. I am not going to change it so it addresses the crowd, but it: is to all of you. To tlus: gentleman, I wrote; I appreciate your, concerns and understand your positiori. He was `questioning like many of you here, what's gone on; how is this happening and how does this work? I am going to take a step back.' When anything comes before Council pri or to coming to us, it goes through a vetting process. That vetting process goes through Comrriittees: If it is . sponsored through Administration, they have their own internal process before it comes to us. It goes through Committees. If it is through Council, we put it through Committees. This healthcare ordinance, when it started, came about because it has been on the agenda and in discussion for Council for a number of years but nothing has been done with it. It has just sat there. It goes away. It doesn't come back and then it comes back and then we don't deal with it. It's time to deal with it. 1VIy thought was to put it out for discussion, put it through the process and whatever it is, the decision gets made one way or.. tlie other. I wrote, I too want to do everything in accordance with our Charter and Ordinances and Council is not trying to do anything but have an open discussion on the issue. As such, we consulted with the Law Deparhnent for an opinion on this matter and it was this opinion that was used to commence the diseussion. Had the Law Department instructed that a Charter Amendment was required, then so be it. I have had and will continue to have discussions, with the Law Director and Law Department regarding various issues and concerns raised, not only by you all, but internally here, the Administration and so forth and will follow the rule of law and the will of the people. In my opinion, a proposed Charter Amendment is the best course of action to accomplish that goal regardless of how it turns out. As a point of clarification, the proposed healthcare ordinance was introduced as a discussion item only on January 9th. It will not be on Finance or Council - agenda until it has been properly vetted through our Cominittee process. We have to put it through every Committee just like we would anything else. As such, the item.has been placed on the agenda for Ordinance Review. After Council receives the Ordinance Review Minutes, it will then be vetted through Citizen's Advisory. It will then be the appropriate time for this to be discussed in Finance or any other Committee tliat is appropriate. Finally, our fellow residents need an opportunity to be heard on the subject and we need to make sure that Council has considered their input in any decision that Council makes. That's regardless of this or anything else. Your voice is welcome. The only thing we ask is that it is respectful. As long as things are done where we treat each other with kindness and respect, anything can be accomplished. Throughout the process, Council will continue to receive the opinion and guidance of the Law Department as well. There are a lot of things to discuss and consider before this should be put in front of Council in any official capacity; if at all.