[Code 1968, § 2-101; Ord. of 8-15-1995; Ord. of 1-6-1997]
The City Council shall meet regularly in the City hall at 7:00
p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays in every month.
[Code 1968, § 2-201]
The Clerk shall prepare an agenda of business to be considered
at each regular City Council meeting. No business shall be considered
by the City Council unless it is placed upon the agenda for the meeting
not later than 12:00 noon on the Friday preceding the meeting, except
upon the approval of five or more members of the City Council.
[Code 1968, § 2-202]
The presiding officer of the City Council shall be the Mayor.
The presiding officer shall preserve strict order and decorum at all
regular and special meetings of the City Council. He shall state every
question coming before the City Council, announce the decision of
the City Council on all subjects and decide all questions of order,
subject, however, to an appeal to the City Council, in which event
a majority vote of the City Council shall govern and conclusively
determine such question of order. He shall vote last on all questions.
He shall sign all ordinances adopted by the City Council during his
presence. In the event of the absence of the Mayor, the presiding
officer shall sign ordinances as they are adopted.
[Code 1968, § 2-203]
The Mayor, or in his absence, the Mayor pro tempore, shall take
the chair precisely at the hour appointed for the meeting, and shall
immediately call the City Council to order. In the absence of the
Mayor or Mayor pro tempore, the City Clerk or his assistant shall
call the City Council to order, whereupon a temporary chairman shall
be elected by the members of the City Council present. Upon the arrival
of the Mayor or Mayor pro tempore, the temporary chairman shall relinquish
the chair upon the conclusion of the business immediately before the
City Council.
[Code 1968, § 2-206]
Unless a reading of the minutes of the City Council meeting
is requested by a member of the City Council, such minutes may be
approved without reading if the City Clerk has previously furnished
each Councilmember with a copy of such minutes.
[Code 1968, § 2-207]
The presiding officer may debate and vote. The Mayor, or such
other Councilmember as may be presiding, may move, second and debate
from the chair, subject only to such limitations of debate as are
imposed by this division on all Council members, and shall not be
deprived of any of the rights or privileges of a Councilmember by
reason of his acting as the presiding officer.
[Code 1968, § 2-208]
Every Councilmember desiring to speak shall address the chair,
and, upon recognition by the presiding officer, shall confine himself
to the question under debate, avoiding all personalities and indecorous
language.
[Code 1968, § 2-209]
Once recognized, a Councilmember shall not be interrupted when
speaking unless such interruption is made to call him to order, or
as otherwise provided in this division. While speaking, if a Councilmember
is called to order, he shall cease speaking until the question of
order is determined, and, if in order, he shall be permitted to proceed.
[Code 1968, § 2-210]
The Councilmember moving the adoption of an ordinance or resolution
shall have the privilege of closing the debate.
[Code 1968, § 2-211]
A motion to reconsider any action taken by the City Council
may be made only on the date such action was taken. Such motion may
be made either immediately during the same session, or at a recessed
or adjourned session thereof. Such motion must be made by one of the
prevailing side, but may be seconded by any Councilmember, and may
be made at any time and have precedence over all other motions or
while a Councilmember has the floor, it shall be debated. Nothing
in this section shall be construed to prevent any Councilmember from
making or remaking the same or any other motion at a subsequent meeting
of the City Council.
[Code 1968, § 2-212]
A Councilmember may request, through the presiding officer,
the privilege of having an abstract of his statement on any subject
under consideration by the City Council entered in the minutes. If
the City Council consents to such entry, such statement shall by entered
in the minutes.
[Code 1968, § 2-213]
The City Clerk may be directed by the presiding officer, with
the consent of the City Council, to enter in the minutes a synopsis
of the discussion on any question coming regularly before the City
Council.
[Code 1968, § 2-214]
(a)
Any person desiring to address the City Council shall first secure
the permission of the presiding officer to do so; provided, however,
that under the following headings of business, unless the presiding
officer rules otherwise, any qualified person may address the City
Council without securing such prior permission:
(1)
Written communications. Interested parties or their authorized representatives
may address the City Council by written communications in regard to
matters then under discussion.
(2)
Oral communications. Taxpayers or residents of the City, or their
authorized legal representatives, may address the City Council by
oral communication on any matter concerning the City business, or
any matter over which the City Council has control; provided, however,
that preference shall be given to those persons who may have notified
the City Clerk in advance of their desire to speak in order that such
desire to speak may appear on the agenda of the City Council.
(3)
Reading of protests, petitions or communications. Interested persons
or their authorized representatives may address the City Council by
the reading of protests, petitions or communications relating to zoning,
sewer and street proceedings, hearings on protests, appeals and petitions,
or similar matters, in regard to matters then under consideration.
[Code 1968, § 2-215]
After a motion is made by the City Council, no person shall
address the City Council without first securing the permission of
the City Council to do so.
[Code 1968, § 2-216]
Each person addressing the City Council shall give his name
and address, in an audible tone of voice, for the record, and unless
further time is granted by the City Council, such person shall limit
his address to five minutes. All remarks shall be addressed to the
City Council as a body, and not to any Councilmember. No person, other
than the City Council and the person having the floor, shall be permitted
to enter into any discussion, either directly or through a Councilmember,
without the permission of the presiding officer. No question shall
be asked a Councilmember, except through the presiding officer.
[Code 1968, § 2-217]
The silence of a Councilmember upon a vote shall be recorded
as an affirmative vote.
[Code 1968, § 2-218]
(a)
Council members. Whenever the City Council is in session, the Council
members must preserve order and decorum, and a Councilmember shall
neither, by conversation or otherwise, delay or interrupt the proceedings
of the peace of the City Council, nor disturb any Councilmember while
he is speaking, except as otherwise provided in this division.
(b)
Other persons. Any person making personal, impertinent or slanderous
remarks, or who shall become boisterous while addressing the City
Council, shall be barred by the presiding officer from further audience
before the City Council unless permission to continue is granted by
a majority vote of the City Council.
[Code 1968, § 2-219]
Upon instructions of the presiding officer, it shall be the duty of the Chief of Police, or such members of the police department as he may designate, to place any person under arrest who violates the order and decorum of a City Council meeting, and cause such person to be prosecuted under the provisions set forth in § 1-7, and the complaint shall be signed by the presiding officer.
[Code 1968, § 2-220]
All special committees shall be appointed by the presiding officer,
unless otherwise directed by the City Council.
[Code 1968, § 2-221]
Any Councilmember shall have the right to have the reasons for
his dissent from, or protest against, any action of the City Council
entered on the minutes.
[Code 1968, § 2-223]
Before presentation to the City Council, all ordinances, resolutions
and contract documents shall be approved as to form and legality by
the City Attorney, or City Manager, or his authorized representative.
[Code 1968, § 2-224]
Ordinances, resolutions, contract documents and other matters
or subjects requiring action by the City Council must be introduced
and sponsored by a Councilmember, except that the City Manager or
City Attorney may present ordinances, resolutions, contract documents
and other matters or subjects to the City Council, and any Councilmember
may assume sponsorship thereof by moving that such ordinances, resolutions,
contract documents, matters or subjects by adopted, or they shall
otherwise not be considered.
[Code 1968, § 2-225]
All reports and resolutions shall be filed with the City Clerk
and entered on the minutes.
[Code 1968, § 2-226]
The motion to adjourn shall always be in order and decided without
debate.
