Taking care on motions

Something that drove me crazy with the last council seems to be creeping into this one.

For the most part, the actions of the City Council are expressed in the resolutions and ordinances they pass.  These are usually presented to them in the form of documents submitted by the city staff and are summarized as agenda items.  Typically a council member will say something like "I move approval of item PH-X", and the council will signify its pleasure.

To make my concern concrete, consider a request to rezone the lot at the corner of Stillforest Drive and Business 190 to B-5.  This request will be reviewed by the city staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission, and their recommendation (or recommendations) will be presented to the City Council for approval.  This might be a controversial request.  It might be in conflict with surrounding land use.  Let's say for argument that city staff recommends B-1 zoning and that P&Z supports the staff recommendation.

The agenda item (call it PH-X) before the Council will probably reflect the original request: B-5 zoning.  Staff will brief the council on their recommendation that B-1 zoning be granted.  Some council member will say "I move approval of PH-X"; and everyone will vote in favor.

What are they approving?  The item as written and read, which grants B-5 zoning and allows a hide-tanning factory in the mayor's back yard?  Or the staff recommendation?  Or something else that might have been discussed during the briefing?

Motions before the City Council must be concise.  I don't think we yet have agreed-upon language that allows council members to be precise about what they are moving, and that worries me.