Want to advocate for change? Make a motion in the V-MCC.

Revision date: February 5, 2026

See also: Democratic Rules of Order (summary of the rules and flowchart)

who can make a motion?

• Only Council members may move or second motions, propose amendments, and raise points of order (Democratic Rules of Order, ByLaws Article III).

• Guests, if recognized by the chair, may raise an informal “point of information” solely for the purpose of clarification. Guests may participate in the discussion, at the discretion of the chair.

when do I make a motion?

• Motions may be made from the floor during New Business.

how do i make a substantive motion?

• A substantive motion is a formal proposal put before the Council that directly addresses the reasons for which our Council exists, such as taking collective action, lobbying for a certain policy change or governmental action, or amending V-MCC’s Bylaws or Standing Rules.

• At the initial Council meeting, you will “read the motion into the record” by briefly stating its purpose and responding to any clarifying questions. It is not necessary to read the entire motion aloud, though you may do so if time permits. Discussion at this stage will be limited.

• Please give a copy to the V‑MCC Secretary (Secretary.v-mcc@proton.me) before or during the meeting.

• If you wish—and capacity allows—a Council Liaison can be assigned to support you in drafting the motion (if needed) and guiding it through the V‑MCC process.

When does the council vote on my substantive motion?

• If the motion receives a second, it will be placed on the agenda as an Old Business item at the next regular Council meeting, where it will be discussed and voted on (unless postponed). You do not need to move the motion again at that subsequent meeting.

• If immediate action is required, substantive motions may be adopted at the same meeting at which they are proposed only if allowed by a two‑thirds (⅔) majority vote of both the Council and a two‑thirds (⅔) majority vote of the Board members present.

what can I make a substantive motion about?

• Per Article II,Section 2 (Focus) of the V-MCC Bylaws:

  • This Council shall limit the issues brought to it to those that affect the community. It shall avoid private concerns unless they have broad community implications.

  • The Council shall focus primarily on concrete logistical issues that affect Islanders, such as housing, building codes and zoning, local environmental issues, drinking water, public safety, crime prevention, transportation issues, the flora and fauna of the Island, etc. The Council may also consider social, regulatory and legislative issues affecting Islanders.

  • The Council shall avoid partisan political activity that supports or opposes individuals for public office. It shall strive to encourage Islanders of different ideologies and persuasions to work together toward community improvement.

  • The Council may promote networking between community groups to facilitate Island collaboration.

• Motions that are purely partisan statements, statements of philosophy, or manifestos are not in order.

How do i word the substantive motion?

Motions should be:

• Worded affirmatively and must not conflict with any higher law (applicable laws of the land, the V‑MCC Bylaws, or existing V‑MCC Standing Rules).

• Within V‑MCC’s jurisdiction (they must propose actions the Council can legitimately take).

• Germane (they must be directly relevant to Vashon‑Maury Island and its inhabitants).

• Efficacious (if adopted, they should have a reasonable chance of producing a substantive effect in the real world, rather than being purely symbolic or rhetorical).

how do i assure the substantive motion is equitable?

• Please consider the following questions from the GARE Toolkit (see guide here):

  • Proposal: What is the policy, program, practice or budget decision under consideration? What are the desired results and outcomes?

  • Data: What’s the data? What does the data tell us?

  • Community engagement: How have communities been engaged? Are there opportunities to expand engagement?

  • Analysis and strategies: Who will benefit from or be burdened by your proposal? What are your strategies for advancing racial equity or mitigating unintended consequences?

  • Implementation: What is your plan for implementation?

  • Accountability and communication: How will you ensure accountability, communicate, and evaluate results?

Can I get help formulating a motion?

• If you are unsure whether your idea is best presented as a motion, a request for information, or a proposal to refer an issue to a committee, you are encouraged to consult the President or a Board member in advance of the meeting.

how else can i urge the council to address a topic?

Making a substantive motion (to be decided by majority rule)—or to amend, table, rescind, or postpone a motion—is not the only action you can take during New Business!

Here are some other options:

• Move to discuss a certain topic for a set period of time.

• Move to seek Council consensus on a certain subject, for a set period of time.

• Ask that a straw poll (a nonbinding record of support and opposition) be taken on a certain subject.

  
  

There also are other possibilities for procedural motions that will be decided by a majority vote:

• Request an informational presentation or written update from a committee, officer, or guest expert.

• Move that someone (a V-MCC committee, the V-MCC Board, or someone else) be asked to investigate a certain matter and report back to the Council (either at a later date or when they are ready).

• Move to refer an issue to an existing committee for consideration and report back.

• Move that a certain advisory committee be formed. Ideally you will have a draft mission statement ready and at least an interim committee chair in mind. Advisory committees may be either Standing (ongoing) or Ad Hoc (temporary).

• Move that a certain person or group be requested to address the Council. (Ideally you will also indicate a contact person or who is expected to issue the request.)

• Move that someone (or a group) be recognized for some outstanding contribution or achievement.

• Propose scheduling a special meeting or community forum on a specific issue.

These routine procedural and operational motions are typically voted on at the same meeting.