City Council Official Proceedings are available, with some gaps, for the years 1900-2006. Researchers interested in earlier proceedings should consult the records of each individual council. While essentially the working papers of City Council meetings, these files provide the most comprehensive record of what transpired at each session of the body. There is at least one file folder for each Council meeting. Contents of the files vary over time, but may include some or all of the following:

• copy of the meeting agenda
• copy of the completed agenda, showing actions taken
• a meeting summary
• copy of the official proceedings as submitted to the Official Journal for publication
• communications from the Mayor
• communications from other City officers
• reports of Council committees
• reports from other City agencies, including often extensive materials from the City Planning Commission
• petitions, complaints, and correspondence from citizens and other interests
• ordinances, motions, and resolutions introduced as new business and ammendments before the Council
• full text of motions and resolutions adopted by the Council, with a record of the vote on each item (generally, adopted ordinances are NOT included in the proceedings files)