To expedite meetings and reserve time for matters that need to be discussed, many local agencies have a section on their agendas labeled as the “consent calendar.”

Items on the consent calendar are generally non-controversial items that do not require much, if any, discussion.

The consent calendar allows decision-makers to group such items together under one heading and decide them at one time.

Local agencies typically have a procedure for removing an item from the consent calendar for separate discussion.

This enables the item to be considered and voted upon separately if discussion is needed or if a decision-maker needs to not vote on that item because of a disqualifying conflict of interest.