Two bills, three meetings and potentially the fate of the city’s anti-discrimination legislation — the latest push, that is.
City Council President Greg Anderson laid out his plans for three committees-of-the-whole that will listen and decide whether city law should include protections for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.
In one corner is Bill Gulliford’s bill that would shift the decision from council members to voters through a referendum.
In the other is Tommy Hazouri’s measure that would keep the decision with elected officials.
Both will have the opportunity to present their bills and hear questions from other council members during the first meeting scheduled Feb. 4.
General Counsel Jason Gabriel also is expected to provide a presentation on the status of the current law.
Anderson expects that to take a couple of hours, leaving the final hour for public comment.
Two weeks later, on Feb. 18, council will be back to hear from experts in various fields the legislation would impact.
Anderson would like to hear how the issue has impacted economies and courts from other areas. Public comment would also be allowed, making the meeting about three hours.
The final session on March 3 will actually be two meetings. The first will start with a public comment period followed by each council member having an opportunity to share their stance on the bills.
Once that meeting wraps, another immediately would follow to start the voting process on the two bills — proceeded by a mandatory public hearing on the bills, which will be rolled into one session.
In all, the public will have every chance possible to speak on the issue, Anderson said.
Taking a cue from community conversations late last year, speakers for and against expansion will have their cards separated into two piles then shuffled.
Each side will take turns at the podium, although the time limits will change. Instead of three minutes, that will be shaved to 60-90 seconds.
Speakers voiced their opinions for more than three hours at the Jan. 12 council meeting. They can again Tuesday when council meets.
However, those interested in just the committees will have at least two chances — once during the three meetings and again at the hearing just before votes are taken.
Most details have been filled, but there is one still outstanding.
Mayor Lenny Curry hasn’t made a public announcement on where he stands on the issue. He said he would by the end of the month, but whether that means issuing his own bill or supporting one — or neither — council bills is an option.
Anderson said he doesn’t know what Curry will decide and he hasn’t talked to him about it. But, he said, Curry hasn’t asked for time to be set aside during any of the upcoming meetings.
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