The distribution of Orders and Resolutions introduced by city councillors can provide insight into how they approach their job and how they spend their time and staff resources. (Orders with multiple sponsors count once in the totals. Councillor names added at the time of the vote are not included.)

P - Policy orders

I - Requests for information from the City Manager and City departments

R - Rules and procedural items, such as the scheduling of hearings

M - Maintenance orders: fixing things, putting in stop signs, potholes, traffic, etc.

D - Death resolutions

C - Congratulations, get-well wishes, birthdays, naming of street corners, etc.

A - Announcements of upcoming events, holidays, proclamations, etc.

F - Foreign and national policy matters

Caveat: Merely filing a City Council order does not mean that constructive results will follow. The more successful initiatives are those which are accompanied by significant amounts of staff time and effort by the city councillors. On the other hand, some policy orders and requests for information can consume enormous amounts of staff time. The mere filing of such an order can thus be a counterproductive measure if the order is either frivolous or has no hope of leading to a productive result.