[Ord. No. 23.02, 2-2-2023]
A. These
rules are intended to provide a clear set of procedures for the governance
of business of the Board of Aldermen and any subcommittees of the
Board of Aldermen and all other committees established by the City.
These rules replace provisions of Roberts Rules of Order, except that
Roberts Rules may, in the discretion of the Chair of the meeting,
be used to inform the decision of the presiding officer if these rules
do not address a procedural question. Only procedural motions setout
below within these rules shall be entertained. Any procedural motions
contained in Robert's Rules of Order but not created within these
rules shall be ruled out of order. The intent of these rules and the
decisions of the Chair shall be guided by the following principles:
1. The Board of Aldermen must act as a body.
2. The Board of Aldermen should proceed in the most efficient manner
possible.
3. The Board of Aldermen must act by at least a majority of the members
of the body.
4. Every member must have an equal opportunity to participate in decision
making.
5. These rules of procedure must be followed consistently.
6. The Board retains the right to act with unanimous consent on any
matter provided such action is permitted by and consistent with the
laws of the State of Missouri.
[Ord. No. 23.02, 2-2-2023]
The Board of Aldermen shall meet in regular session in the Board room of the City Hall at the hour of 6:00 P.M. on the first and third Thursdays of each month. When any such meeting day is a holiday, the regular meeting shall be held at such time as may be provided by the Board. The Board may, by motion, dispense with any regular meeting, but at least one (1) meeting, regular or special, must be held in each calendar month. A videoconference meeting or any meeting in which some or all members participate through videoconference as permitted by Section
110.125, shall count as a regular public meeting. The Mayor, upon the Mayor's own motion, may, or at the request of two (2) members of the Board of Aldermen shall, call a special meeting of the Board of Aldermen.
[Ord. No. 23.02, 2-2-2023]
At least four (4) of the members of the Board of Aldermen shall
constitute a quorum for its business, but a smaller number may meet
to compel the attendance of absent members in the manner and subject
to the penalties prescribed by ordinance, and the names of the absentees
shall be noted by the City Clerk upon the journal.
[Ord. No. 23.02, 2-2-2023]
The Mayor shall be Presiding Officer of the Board of Aldermen.
During any absence or disability of the Mayor, the President of the
Board of Aldermen shall assume the powers and duties of the Mayor.
If neither the Mayor nor the President of the Board of Aldermen shall
be in attendance at any meeting of the Board of Aldermen, the Board
of Aldermen members present, a quorum being found, shall elect from
among their number a Presiding Officer until the conclusion of that
meeting or until the Mayor or the President of the Board of Aldermen
shall be present.
[Ord. No. 23.02, 2-2-2023]
A. The order of business in a regular Board of Aldermen meeting shall be contained in the official agenda published in accordance with the Missouri Sunshine Law. Such agenda items included herein below shall be included in the agenda and shall be in the following order unless amended by the Mayor as provided by Subsection
(B) herein below:
1. Call to order by the Mayor.
5. Public Comments. Each speaker shall be limited to three (3) minutes
unless the presiding officer shall extend the time which in any event
shall not be extended more than twice.
6. Approval Of Consent Agenda. Items on the consent agenda are routine
business matters; or, proposed ordinances approved unanimously by
the Board of Aldermen on First Reading. Consent agenda items shall
be removed upon the request of any Aldermen prior to approval of the
agenda for discussion as part of the regular agenda. A consent agenda
item shall be removed from the consent agenda after approval of the
agenda upon the consent of the Board of Aldermen.
7. Old Business. Ordinances on the agenda for second reading or items
held over from a prior meeting.
8. New Business. Proposed ordinances for approval and are presented
to the Board of Aldermen for two (2) readings and adoption.
10. Board of Aldermen comments.
11. Mayor's concluding comments.
12. Adjournment. Unless determined otherwise by the Mayor and Board of
Aldermen, no new agenda items shall be considered after 11:00 P.M.
B. The
order of business described above may be changed by the Mayor at any
time prior to the approval of the agenda by the Board of Aldermen
if, in the Mayor's discretion, he or she believes that such a change
would allow for a smoother transaction of business.
[Ord. No. 23.02, 2-2-2023]
During public comments section of the meeting, the public may
address Board of Aldermen on any matter listed in the Board of Aldermen
agenda for the meeting or directly related to the operations of the
City of Osage Beach, except for those matters that are the subject
of a public hearing requiring that testimony be sworn. Any person
requesting time to speak to the Board of Aldermen during the public
comments portion of the meeting must sign in giving the speaker's
name and address. Remarks must be confined to the items on the agenda
or the general subject of the operations of the City of Osage Beach.
The person will be given no more than three (3) minutes to speak.
Should the speaker yield to a question from an Aldermen, the time
yielded shall not be included in the three (3) minutes. Members of
the public will be ruled out of order if their comments stray from
the agenda item(s) or general subject related to the operations of
the City of Osage Beach. During public comments Aldermen may address
a speaker on the speaker's issue, unless such matter is the subject
of current litigation involving the City.
[Ord. No. 23.02, 2-2-2023]
The Board of Aldermen comments section of the agenda is reserved
for discussions among the Board of Aldermen. Any member of Board of
Aldermen may use this time to comment on items on the agenda or the
general subject of the operations of the City of Osage Beach. At the
discretion of the presiding officer, directions to staff, including
requests for legal opinions, may result from these discussions.
[Ord. No. 23.02, 2-2-2023]
The staff comments are reserved for items of general interest,
community announcements and other such information. Staff may ask
for clarification or direction from the Board of Aldermen related
to items on the agenda or for items of an emergency nature for which
insufficient time exist for adding to the agenda. During staff comments
staff may address a public comment, unless such matter is the subject
of current litigation involving the City.
[Ord. No. 23.02, 2-2-2023]
A. The
following rules of order shall be used to govern the transaction of
business for the Board of Aldermen and any Committee created by the
Board or Aldermen of the City Code:
1. Rule 1. Action By The Board Of Aldermen. The Board of Aldermen shall
proceed by motion unless otherwise provided for herein. Any member
of the Board of Aldermen may make a motion except the Mayor. The President
of the Board of Aldermen when presiding may, however, make a motion.
A substantive motion is a motion to adopt an ordinance or resolution,
a motion to approve an expenditure previously authorized by the ordinance
adopting the annual budget. A procedural motion is a motion concerning
the business of the Board or any other motion not defined as a substantive
motion.
2. Rule 2. Second Required. A second to any motion shall be required
to allow consideration and debate on any procedural or substantive
motion.
3. Rule 3. Positive Motions. All motions shall be offered in a positive
manner such as a "Motion to approve, or Motion to Adopt." Negative
motions, motions to not do an act or disapprove shall be out of order
as applied to bills, ordinances, or resolutions on the agenda. As
to any item properly noticed on the agenda the Board may make a motion
to express its disapproval of an idea or a concept, but such motion
hall have no force of effect upon any substantive bill, ordinance
or resolution.
4. Rule 4. One (1) Motion At A Time. An Aldermen may make only one (1)
motion at a time.
5. Rule 5. Substantive Motion. A substantive motion is out of order
while another substantive motion is pending.
6. Rule 6. Adoption By A Majority Vote. Any substantive motion to adopt
any ordinance or resolution may be adopted only by a majority of the
entire Board of Aldermen including the Mayor, unless a greater number
of votes are required by these Rules, or the Charter or State law
provisions. Thus a substantive motion must pass by at least four (4)
out of the six (6) currently authorized members of the Board or in
the case of a three (3) to three (3) tie vote, the Mayor's voting
in the affirmative. Any procedural motion may be adopted by a majority
of the Board of Aldermen present and voting.
7. Rule 7. Voting. All votes taken during any Board of Aldermen meeting or Board of Aldermen Committee meeting shall be cast by members of the Board of Aldermen physically present and in attendance at the meeting or by a member attending electronically as such voting may be permitted by Section
110.125 of this Code. Voting shall be either by voice vote or roll call vote and the ayes and nays shall be recorded in the journal. In all roll call votes the names of the members of the Board of Aldermen shall be called randomly. A majority of the members of the Board of Aldermen shall constitute a quorum for its business, but a smaller number may meet to compel the attendance of absent members in the manner and subject to the penalties prescribed by ordinance. Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Aldermen shall be necessary to adopt any ordinance. Any ordinance to amend the Code of Ordinances which is defeated shall not be reintroduced within the next six (6) months.
8. Rule 8. Debate. The Chair shall state the motion and then open the
floor to debate. The Chair shall preside over the debate according
to the following general principles:
a. The maker of the motion is entitled to speak first.
b. A member who has not spoken on the issue shall be recognized before
someone who has already spoken.
9. Rule 9. Ratification Of Actions. To the extent permitted by law,
the Board of Aldermen may ratify actions taken on its behalf but without
its prior approval. A motion to ratify is a substantive motion.
10. Rule 910. Procedural Motions.
a. Only Certain Motions Allowed. In addition to substantive proposals,
only the following procedural motions, and no others, are in order.
Unless otherwise noted, each motion is debatable, may be amended,
and requires a majority of the votes cast, a quorum being present,
for adoption. Procedural motions are in order while a substantive
motion is pending and at other times, except as otherwise noted.
b. Order Of Priority Of Motions. In order of priority (if applicable),
the procedural motions are:
(1)
Motion 1. To Adjourn. This motion may be made only at the conclusion
of action on a pending substantive matter; it may not interrupt deliberation
of a pending matter. A motion to adjourn to a time and place certain
shall state the time and place when the meeting shall reconvene provided
that such time and location comply with the requirements of Ch. 610,
RSMo. If a motion to adjourn is made without reference to a time and
place certain, the Board of Aldermen shall reconvene at such time
and place as stated in the previously approved meeting schedule.
(2)
Motion 2. To Take A Brief Recess. This motion may be made to
allow a short recess of the Board of Aldermen. In no event shall a
motion to recess provide for a recess longer than thirty (30) minutes.
The Mayor may call for a brief recess following completion of an agenda
item but for no longer than fifteen (15) minutes unless a specific
reason for a longer recess is stated.
(3)
Motion 3. To Suspend The Rules. The Board of Aldermen may suspend
any procedural rule not required by Statute, the City Charter or any
other law upon motion and the affirmative vote of a two-thirds (2/3)
majority of the entire Board of Aldermen. This motion is debatable
but may not be amended.
(4)
Motion 4. To Postpone (To Postpone To A Date Certain). The Board
of Aldermen may defer a substantive motion or item of business for
later consideration at a specified date. Any such motion shall state
the specific date where the item will be considered. The item will
then return to the agenda on the specified date without further action
by the Board of Aldermen. If a motion to postpone does not contain
a specific date for the return of the item to the agenda the City
Clerk shall place the item as Old Business upon the next agenda.
(5)
Motion 5. To Amend.
(a)
An amendment to a motion must be pertinent to the subject matter
of the main motion. An amendment is improper if adoption of the motion
with that amendment added would have the same effect as rejection
of the original main motion. A proposal to substitute completely different
wording for a motion or an amendment shall be treated as a motion
to amend.
(b)
Only one (1) motion to amend may be considered at a time. A
motion to amend must be adopted or rejected before a subsequent motion
to amend will be considered.
(c)
Any amendment to a proposed ordinance or resolution shall be
reduced to writing by the City Clerk and read back to the Board before
the vote on the amendment.
(d)
No motion or proposition on a subject different from that under
consideration shall be allowed or permitted as a proposed amendment.
(6)
Motion 6. To End Debate. The motion, upon approval, shall cause
the immediate end of debate on the item. The motion is debatable but
may not be amended. The motion is not in order until there have been
at least twenty (20) minutes of debate and every member has had an
opportunity to speak once. No such motion shall be effective unless
it shall receive a second and the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3)
of the entire Board of Aldermen including the Mayor.
(7)
Motion 7. To Reconsider. The Board of Aldermen may vote to reconsider
its action on a matter. The motion to do so must be made by a member
who voted with the prevailing side. In the event of a tie, those voting
"no" shall be considered on the prevailing side. Motions to reconsider
actions taken by the Board of Aldermen may be made at the same regular
or special session meeting of the Board of Aldermen where the vote
being moved to be reconsidered was taken; or, at the next regular
or special session meeting of the Board of Aldermen after the meeting
where the vote being moved to be reconsidered was taken. The motion
cannot interrupt deliberation on a pending matter but is in order
at any time before final adjournment of the meeting. Upon approval,
any such motion shall cause the item to be placed on the agenda as
Old Business at the next regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen.
(8)
Motion 8. To Direct The City Administrator Or Other Appointed
Official. Any Aldermen may make a motion to direct the City Administrator
or other appointed official to take such action as the Board of Aldermen
deems proper and necessary for the efficient governance of the City
provided such direction is otherwise consistent with the Charter of
the City. The motion requires the affirmative vote of a majority of
the entire Board of Aldermen to be adopted.
(9)
Motion 9. To Go Into Closed Session. The Board of Aldermen may
go into closed session only for one (1) or more of the permissible
purposes listed in Ch. 610, RSMo., or as otherwise provided by law.
The Board of Aldermen shall commence a closed session only after a
motion to go into closed session has been made and adopted by the
roll call vote of a majority of those present and voting during an
open meeting. The motion shall state the purpose of the closed session.
The Board of Aldermen shall terminate the closed session by a majority
roll call vote, using a motion to adjourn or upon the finding of the
Chair that there is unanimous consent of the Board the meeting is
adjourned and shall be recorded in the minutes as so agreeing.
11. Rule 10. Withdrawal Of Motion Or Second. Any motion or second may
be withdrawn by the maker without the consent of the other at any
time before it is amended or before the Chair puts the motion to a
vote, whichever occurs first.
12. Rule 11. Duty To Vote. Each Aldermen shall vote upon every question.
A member may abstain from voting only after disclosure, to be recorded
in the minutes, of the actual or potential conflict of interest. In
all cases, an abstention shall be treated as a vote that is not cast
for or against the motion and shall not be counted for the purpose
of determining the result of the vote.
13. Rule 12. Special Rules Of Procedure. The Board of Aldermen may adopt
special rules of procedure for matters constituting special circumstances.
Any such rule shall be adopted only upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds
(2/3) of the members of the entire Board of Aldermen including the
Mayor.