Following a regular City election, the new Council shall meet
on the third Tuesday of April. A President of the Council shall be
chosen at this time from among the Alderpersons by majority vote.
[Amended 2-10-2020 by Ord. No. 1900-20; 4-24-2023 by Ord. No. 1954-23]
The regular meetings of the Common Council shall be held at
the Council Chambers at a time designated by the Common Council on
the second and fourth Mondays of each month except when such day is
a legal holiday or when a lack of agenda items makes holding a meeting
impractical, as determined by the Mayor, in which case a notice of
canceled meeting will be published. The Council shall meet a minimum
of once per month regardless.
The Mayor or, in his absence, the President of the Council shall
take the chair at the hour appointed, call the members of the Council
to order, and may, at the instance of any two members, order the attendance
of absentees. In the absence of the Mayor and President of the Council,
any member may call the Council to order, and thereupon the Council
shall appoint a Chairman to preside at such meeting.
Two-thirds of the membership of the Council shall constitute
a quorum for the transaction of business, although a lesser number
may adjourn. The Mayor shall not be counted in determining a quorum.
At all regular meetings the order of business shall be determined
by the Mayor.
Meetings of the Council and committees shall be open to the
public except as provided in § 19.85, Wis. Stats. No member
shall leave a meeting of the Council or a committee without leave
of absence under penalty of $5 for each offense. The Council may punish
by fine members or other persons for disorderly behavior.
An agenda shall be prepared for all meetings of the Common Council
by the City Administrator. The City Administrator shall advise the
Mayor of the items included on the agenda. An item may be placed on
the agenda by the City Administrator, Mayor, or any other Council
member. An item recommended for placement on an agenda may be removed
from the agenda by the Mayor. If the Mayor removes an item from the
agenda, the item shall be restored to the agenda upon the request
of two or more Council members.
All petitions, memorials, resolutions, and other communications
shall be in writing, with a brief statement of their contents endorsed
upon them together with the name of the member presenting the same.
All petitions shall be presented by the presiding officer and the
contents briefly explained. Petitions shall thereupon be referred
to a committee.
No claims shall be allowed unless itemized. Claims shall be
examined and certified to be correct by a committee of the Council
and reported to and audited by the Council.
Any rule hereunder may be suspended by a 2/3 vote of the members
present.
Any of the rules hereunder may be altered or amended by a 2/3
vote of all the members of the Council.
When not otherwise covered by these rules of procedure, Robert's
Rules of Order Revised shall govern.