HERMISTON — The Hermiston City Council‘s agenda for its meeting Monday, Oct. 11, had three updates to local laws. The council, though, voted to table all three to a future meeting.

The action drew a rebuke from Mayor Dave Drotzmann.

The council was going to consider updating following local laws:

• The code enforcement provision to give the code enforcement officer the authority to enforce parking violations, establish the option to cite violations to a hearing officer, establish a parade permit process and simplify the regulation of bicycles.

• The nuisances ordinance to clarify and add a number of definitions and update language to current best practices.

• And structural maintenance regulations to clarify and update definitions, remove redundant material and establish the path of appeals.

But in each case, councilors raised concerns, particularly about appeals processes for possible violations, and one by one, the council voted to table the updates.

City Manager Byron Smith suggested that in the future, the council review proposals and send their questions in advance of the meeting so staff can be ready with information.

Drotzmann was more direct. He told the council it had asked staff to provide these proposals earlier in the week so there was time to review language before the meeting.

“So please review the stuff ahead of time,” he told the councilors and get questions to staff before the meeting instead of “putting them on the spot.”

The council did not set a time for when it would consider the updates.