Managing a Consent Vote in Agenda and Minutes

What a Consent Agenda Is

A consent agenda (sometimes called a consent calendar) groups routine, non‑controversial items so they can be approved together with a single motion, instead of being debated and voted on individually. This approach is commonly used by councils, boards, and committees to improve meeting efficiency while maintaining transparency.

Consent items remain fully visible in the agenda and meeting packet. Any member can request that an item be removed (“lifted”) from consent for separate discussion before the vote.

Typical Items Placed on a Consent Agenda

Based on internal guidance and training references, consent agendas usually include:

Approval of previous meeting minutes
Routine staff reports or updates
Standard contracts or amendments with no policy impact
Procedural or administrative actions
Non‑controversial bylaws or resolutions

These are items where discussion is not expected and agreement is assume

Structure of a Consent Agenda Section (Example)

A typical agenda might include:

6. Consent Agenda

Items listed on the Consent Agenda are considered routine and will be approved in one motion unless a member requests an item be removed for separate consideration.

6.1 Approval of Minutes – March 12, 2026
6.2 Routine Financial Report
6.3 Contract Amendment – Vendor XYZ

(One motion to approve Items 6.1–6.3)

Managing Consent in eScribe

To manage an item from Consent, any parent item in the Agenda must have a motion populated in order for the Consent Agenda toggle to appear. In the example below, the Motion is populated on Item #7, however it can also appear on the sub item which will act as a the parent. To add a new motion, click the Minutes Tab and Add Motion from the drop down. If editing an existing motion, use the options menu to the right of the Motion text.

Toggling the Consent Button On

The Consent toggle must be "on" in order display all sub-items that are eligible for Consent. In the event the toggle does not appear, a Parent item does not have a motion populated.

Lifting Items from Consent within the Motion

Items from Consent can be lifted or removed from within the Motion by unchecking the item(s) that are not part of consent.

Lifting a Consent Item from the Agenda Navigation

Items from Consent can be lifted or removed from within the Agenda Navigation by simply "X" next to item from the agenda. The item will not be deleted, however the order of the lifted item will drop to the bottom of the Agenda item when viewing the Post Meeting Minutes package.

The item

Consent Agenda in Minutes

Consented Agenda items will appear in the Minutes in the same format as displayed the in the meeting, with the exception of the lifted item(s) will appear last in the order of the Agenda Items.

The main motion at the parent category will display the Moved By, Second By and result. The items that were lifted/removed may also have its own Motion displayed depending on how that item was handled. If an item was referred as result, the motion will be updated to indicate the item be referred to an upcoming meeting.