Almost every week this is the "What's on the city council's plate this week" review. I don't cover everything, so if you want the full rundown, read the packet and agenda yourself.

1. Craig Ottaveli wants to change the Rules of Procedure, the ominously named rules by which the Olympia City Council lives by. I'm assuming from the minutes of the council retreat that the one he really wants to change is the "No Surprises" rule. That rule means that a councilmember has to give fellow members 48 hours warning before broaching a new topic.

An infringement on conversation with the public? A violation of the open meetings act? I don't know, but the General Government committee will take it up on Tuesday at 5 p.m.

2. The city is also considering spending $50k on more thought about tall buildings near water. From the staff report:

On January 15, 2008, the City Council reviewed preliminary applications for Comprehensive Plan amendment proposals and, with the exception of this item, approved the 2008 Comprehensive Plan Amendment docket. The Council referred this item to the Land Use and Environment Committee so that the staff request for additional resources could be discussed.

...

The Land Use and Environment Committee have recommended contracting with an outside consultant because this is a complex proposal with the potential for extensive public involvement. In addition to the amending the Olympia Municipal Code and Comprehensive Plan, the proposal involves amending the Regional Shoreline Master Program to accommodate increased building height limits. Changing maximum building heights from 35 feet to between 65 and 90 feet along a prominent section of City shoreline represents change from a height limitation that has been in place since about 1982. In 2002, the isthmus properties were subject to a similar proposal; and, at that time, City Council decided to retain Urban Waterfront zoning and the 35-foot height limit.