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1. Are council and advisory board and commission meetings open to the public?

Yes, all meetings are open to the public with the exception of executive sessions.

2. Can members of the audience speak at meetings?

Yes, at general meetings, the mayor or commission chairperson will announce that members of the audience may bring up any comments or questions for items not already listed on the agenda. Agendas typically list an "open forum" section for this purpose. It is the policy of the city council to refrain from taking action on items brought up under Open Forum until the matter is thoroughly researched by staff.

For public hearings, the mayor or commission chairperson will announce when it is time for comments and questions from the audience.  

In each case, audience members wishing to address the council or commission are asked to stand at the podium and also state their name and address for the record.

3. What is the difference between an ordinance and a resolution?

Ordinances govern people or property and provide penalties. Ordinances adopted by the City become part of the Code of Ordinances and are available for viewing on the website or at city hall.

Resolutions are for matters of temporary, routine, or administrative nature.

4. What are consensus motions on City Council agendas?

This portion of the agenda typically consists of routine items that require little to no discussion by the members of the city council. All consensus motions are approved with one motion with the exception of any consensus items pulled by the mayor or city council to be discussed.

5. What is Oakdale's governmental structure?

Oakdale is a statutory city and, as such, follows Minnesota Statutes. Oakdale operates under Plan B, which means that the mayor's powers are equal to the other members of the city council, with the exception that the mayor serves as presiding officer at meetings and also executes official documents. Oakdale's mayor and city council members are non-partisan and all serve the entire community. They each serve four-year terms and elections are held in even-numbered years.