A. 
The legislative body of the city shall consist of four council members and the mayor, who are all elected at large. Said body shall be known as the city council. All members of the city council shall hold office for a term of four years from and after the Tuesday next succeeding the date of such election and until their successors are elected and qualified.
B. 
No person shall serve as a member of the city council for more than two consecutive full terms. No person shall serve as mayor for more than two consecutive full terms. For purposes of this subsection, the office of the mayor is not the same office as the office of member of the city council.
C. 
No person shall serve on the city council (either as mayor or as a member of the city council) for more than four consecutive full terms.
D. 
For purposes of subsection B of this section, two terms of office are considered consecutive unless there is a break in service of at least three years and eleven months.
E. 
For purposes of subsection C of this section, service on the city council is considered to be consecutive unless there is a break of at least three years and eleven months.
F. 
The following shall not be considered service on the city council or full terms of office for purposes of this section:
1. 
Any service that occurs as the result of appointment or election to the remainder of a term in an office that was vacated by its prior holder before the normal expiration of the term.
2. 
Any term that has been completed or is in progress as of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this subsection.
3. 
Any term in the office of treasurer or city clerk.
(Prior code § 2-200; Ord. 2061 § 1, 2015; Ord. 2215 § 1, 2020)
Subsequent to the registrar-recorder of the county of Los Angeles canvassing the returns of city elections and certifying the election results to the city, the city council shall certify the election results and the swearing-in of elected officials shall occur immediately thereafter in a duly convened city council meeting as defined by the Ralph M. Brown Act. All newly sworn-in elected officials shall be sworn-in at the same city council meeting.
(Ord. 2013 § 1, 2012)
A. 
The council shall meet regularly on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at six p.m. in the Council Chambers of the City Hall; provided, however, that when the time for any regular meeting of the council falls on a holiday, such meeting shall be held at the same hour in the same place on the next succeeding day not a holiday.
B. 
Notwithstanding subsection A, there shall be no regular meeting of the council on the fourth Tuesday of the month of July and the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month of August.
(Ord. 1651 § 2, 1998; Ord. 1788 § 1, 2004; Ord. 2258, 9/23/2025)
Either the mayor or any member of the city council shall nominate a mayor pro tem, and such nomination shall be ratified and confirmed by a majority vote of the city council. The term of the mayor pro tem shall be one year.
(Ord. 2172 § 1, 2019)
If, by reason of fire, flood or other emergency, it is unsafe to meet in the place designated in this code, all meetings may be held for the duration of such emergency at such place as is designated by the mayor, or, if the mayor should fail to act, by three members of the council; however, the majority of the council may at all times designate where the council shall meet during a time of emergency.
(Prior code § 2-202)
Regular meetings of the council may be adjourned or re-adjourned to a date certain, which date shall be specified in the order of adjournment and when so adjourned each adjourned meeting shall be a regular meeting for all purposes.
(Prior code § 2-203)
Special meetings may be called at any time by the mayor or by three members of the council by written notice delivered personally to each member at least twenty-four hours before the time specified for the proposed meeting, and twenty-four hour written notice given to all media of public communication requesting same. A special meeting shall also be validly called without the giving of such written notice if all members shall give their consent in writing to the holding of such meeting and such consent is on file in the office of the city clerk at the time of holding such meeting, provided that the media is notified of the call and notice is posted as herein provided. A telephonic communication from a member consenting to the holding of the meeting shall be considered a consent in writing. At any special meeting only such matters may be acted upon as are referred to in such written notice or consent.
The call and notice shall be posted at least twenty-four hours prior to the special meeting in a location which is freely accessible to the members of the public.
(Ord. 1395 § 2, 1987)
All regular meetings of the city council, and all meetings at which an ordinance, resolution or motion is acted upon by said council, shall be public.
(Prior code § 2-205)
The council may take official action only by the passage or adoption of ordinances, resolutions or motions as may be prescribed by the Constitution of the State Legislature; provided, that any action of said council fixing or prescribing a fine, punishment or penalty, or granting any franchise, shall be taken by ordinance.
(Prior code § 2-206)
A majority of the council constitutes a quorum for transaction of business. Less than a majority may adjourn from time to time, and compel attendance of absent members by causing written notice to be delivered personally to each absent member of the time and place of said adjourned meeting at least three hours before said adjourned meeting. Failure to appear at said meeting shall constitute a vacating of the legislative office held unless member is physically unable to so attend.
(Prior code § 2-207)
If all councilmembers are absent from any regular meeting, the city clerk shall declare the meeting adjourned to a stated day and hour. He or she shall cause a written notice of the adjournment to be delivered personally to each councilmember at least three hours before the adjourned meeting.
(Prior code § 2-208)
The presiding officer shall preserve order at all regular and special meetings of the council. He or she shall state every question coming before the council, announce the decision of the council on all subjects and decide all questions of order, subject, however, to an appeal to the council, in which event a majority vote of the council shall govern and conclusively determine such question of order.
(Prior code § 2-210)
The mayor, mayor pro tempore or such other member of the council as may be presiding, may move, second and debate from the chair, subject only to such limitations of debate as are hereinafter imposed on all members and shall not be deprived of any of the rights and privileges of a councilmember by reason of his or her acting as the presiding officer.
(Prior code § 2-211)
A. 
All reports, communications, ordinances, resolutions, contract documents or other matters to be submitted to the council shall be delivered to the city clerk, whereupon the city clerk shall arrange a list of such matters according to the order of business and furnish each member of the council, the city manager, the city attorney and the city treasurer with a copy of the same prior to the council meeting.
B. 
At least seventy-two hours before a regular meeting, the city clerk shall post an agenda containing a brief general description of each item of business to be transacted or discussed at the meeting. The agenda shall specify the time and the location of the regular meeting and shall be posted in a location that is freely accessible to the members of the public. No agenda items shall be presented to the council by administrative officials except those of an urgent nature, and the same, when so presented, shall have the written approval of the city manager before presentation. Nothing in this section shall prevent the submission of agenda items by any member of the city council, the city manager, the city clerk, the city treasurer or the city attorney. Agenda items submitted to the city clerk by a member of the city council shall not be removed by any person, including the city manager, city attorney or any other member of the city council. The submittal of agenda items concerning proclamations and presentations must comply with the requirements prescribed by subsection C. The submittal of agenda items concerning resolutions of support must comply with the requirements prescribed by subsection D.
C. 
Limitation of One Proclamation or Presentation Per Council Member Per Meeting. A proclamation is broadly defined to include certificates of appreciation honoring individuals or organizations for their activities that benefit the city or honoring a city employee as the employee of the month. A presentation is broadly defined to include reports by individuals or organizations concerning their recruitment efforts, the progress of their activities, or their requests for contributions from the city or the city's residents. Every proclamation and presentation shall appear on the agenda as an item supported by the entire city council and shall not be listed as an item supported by only one individual councilmember.
1. 
The agenda for each regular city council meeting shall be limited to no more than a combined total of five proclamations and presentations.
2. 
Each councilmember shall be limited to submitting no more than a total of one proclamation or presentation for each regular city council meeting agenda.
3. 
Each councilmember shall be allowed to address the recipient of each proclamation and the person or organization making a presentation.
4. 
Each proclamation shall be signed by each councilmember.
5. 
Each proclamation and presentation shall be limited to no more than ten minutes.
D. 
Procedure for Agendizing any Resolution of Support. A resolution of support is broadly defined to include any resolution showing the city's support for any individual or organization that performs activities that benefit the city. A councilmember who desires to place any resolution of support on the agenda shall be limited to submitting no more than one resolution of support for each regular city council meeting agenda.
(Ord. 1395 § 5, 1987; Ord. 1995 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2041 § 1, 2013; Ord. 2049 § 1, 2013)
No contract, agreement, ordinance, development agreement, disposition and development agreement or owner participation agreement concerning any matter shall be placed on the agenda of the city council, planning commission, redevelopment agency, parking authority, public finance authority, or housing authority by the city clerk unless it has first been approved as to form by the city attorney. In addition, no staff report, no resolution and no ordinance may be placed on the agenda of the city council, planning commission or redevelopment agency by the city clerk unless it has first been approved as to form by the city attorney.
(Ord. 2002 § 1, 2011)
No lawsuit in which the city is a plaintiff shall be initiated in any judicial tribunal without prior approval by a majority of the city council.
(Ord. 2042 § 1, 2013)
Promptly at the hour set by law on the day of each regular meeting the members of the council, the city clerk, the city treasurer, the city attorney and the city manager shall take their regular stations in the council chambers, and the business of the council shall be taken up for consideration and disposition in the following order:
A. 
Call to order by mayor or mayor pro tem, roll call;
B. 
Pledge of allegiance;
C. 
Nondenominational invocation;
D. 
Proclamations/certificates of appreciation/presentations;
E. 
Written communications received, oral communications;
F. 
City clerk consent calendar (approval of city council minutes, approval of waiver of full readings of resolutions and ordinances on agenda, city treasurer's request for approval of warrants and adoption of resolutions);
G. 
Opening of bids or results of opening of bids;
H. 
Public hearings, ordinances (first reading and adoptions);
I. 
General matters (non-consent);
J. 
City manager consent calendar;
K. 
City attorney consent calendar;
L. 
Community redevelopment agency;
M. 
Parking authority;
N. 
Housing authority;
O. 
Report on city's general fund balance, operating fund balance and financial back-up documents;
P. 
Discussion/action items;
Q. 
Elected officials reports/recommendations, appointment/re-appointments/removal of commissioners;
R. 
Closed sessions;
S. 
Adjournment.
Nothing in this section shall prevent the taking up of miscellaneous business or any other kind of business mentioned herein out of the order herein enumerated providing no objection is raised by a majority of the council. If the majority of the city council objects, the order of business herein enumerated shall control.
(Prior code § 2-213; Ord. 1968 § 1, 2010; Ord. 1996 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2096 § 2, 2015; Ord. 2137 § 2, 2017)
The following rules shall govern the meetings of the city council and its transaction of business:
A. 
Acquiring the Floor. Every member of the council desiring to speak shall address the chair, and upon recognition by the presiding officer, shall confine him or herself to the question under debate, avoiding all personalities and indecorous language.
B. 
Interruptions. A member, once recognized, shall not be interrupted when speaking unless it is to call him or her to order; he or she shall cease speaking until the question of order is determined, and, if in order, he or she shall be permitted to proceed.
C. 
Privilege of Closing Debate. The councilman moving the adoption of an ordinance, motion or resolution, or a majority of said council, shall have the privilege of closing the debate.
D. 
Motions. No motion shall be put until it is seconded. When seconded, it shall be stated by the mayor or presiding officer before debate. Upon request of the chair or any councilman, every motion shall be reduced to writing. After a motion is stated by the chair it shall be deemed in the possession of the council, but it may be withdrawn at any time before the decision or amendment by the councilmember originating said motion or the second thereto. No motion shall be withdrawn by the original maker without the consent of the second.
E. 
Motions Under Debate. When a motion is under debate, the only motions in order shall be:
1. 
To adjourn;
2. 
To table until later in the meeting;
3. 
To postpone to a certain day;
4. 
To postpone indefinitely;
5. 
Adjourn to a certain day;
6. 
To refer;
7. 
To amend.
All such motions shall have precedence in the order herein arranged, the first four to be decided without debate.
F. 
Amendments. An amendment modifying the intention of a motion shall be in order but an amendment relating to a different subject entirely shall not be in order. A motion to amend an amendment shall be in order; but to amend an amendment to an amendment shall not be entertained.
G. 
Motion to Reconsider. A motion to reconsider any action taken by the council may be made only on the day such action was taken. It may be made either immediately during the same session or at a recess or adjourned session thereof. Such motion must be made by one of the prevailing side, but may be seconded by any member, and may be made at any time and have precedence over all other motions or while a member has the floor; it shall be debatable. Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent any member of the council from making or remaking the same or any other motion at a subsequent meeting of the council.
H. 
Remarks of Councilmembers. A councilmember may request, through the presiding officer, the privilege of having an abstract of his or her statement on any subject under consideration by the council entered in the minutes. If the council consents thereto, such statement shall be entered in the minutes.
I. 
Synopsis of Debates. The clerk may be directed by the presiding officer, with the consent of the council, to enter in the minutes a synopsis of the discussion on any question coming regularly before the council.
J. 
Adjournment. A motion to adjourn the city council shall always be in order, except:
1. 
When a member is in possession of the floor;
2. 
While the ayes and nays are being called;
3. 
When the members are voting;
4. 
When adjournment was the last preceding motion.
K. 
Amendment of Motion to Adjourn. A motion simply to adjourn cannot be amended, but a motion to adjourn to a given time may be, and is open to debate.
L. 
Suspension of Rules. The rules may be suspended by the unanimous vote of the councilmen present and may be amended by a majority vote of the members elect in the same manner as ordinances are amended.
M. 
Robert's Rules. Upon questions arising, not covered by the foregoing, Robert's Rules of Order shall govern unless a majority of the council shall deem otherwise. The majority of the council may at any time adopt additional rules for a certain meeting, or a certain purpose only, providing no conflict is raised with the rules herein created.
(Prior code § 2-214)
Any person desiring to address the 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 council without securing such prior permission:
A. 
Written Communications. Under the heading of "written communications," interested parties or their authorized representatives may address the council in regard to matters under consideration.
B. 
Rules. The city council may adopt rules setting forth qualifications, limitations and procedures for addressing the council under this section, by resolution.
(Prior code § 2-215)
Each person addressing councilmembers for any purpose should stand and give his or her name and address in an audible tone of voice for the record and unless further time is granted by the council shall limit his or her address to a period of time as set forth by resolution. All remarks shall be addressed to the council as a body and not to any member thereof. No person, other than the council, shall be permitted to enter into any discussion, either directly or through a member of the council, without permission of the presiding officer.
(Ord. 1598 § 2, 1995)
While the council is in session, the members must preserve order and decorum. Any person whose conduct disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly proceedings of any council meeting, shall be forthwith, by the presiding officer, barred from further audience before the council unless permission to continue is granted by a majority vote of the council.
(Prior code § 2-218; Ord. 2177 § 2, 2019)
The chief of police, or such member or members of the police department as he or she may designate, shall be sergeant at arms of the council meetings. He, she or they, shall carry out all orders and instructions given by the council for the purpose of maintaining order and decorum at the council meeting. Upon instructions of the presiding officer, it shall be the duty of the sergeant at arms, or any of them present, to place any person who violates the order and decorum of the meeting under arrest, and cause him or her to be prosecuted under the provisions of this code, the complaint to be signed by the presiding officer.
(Prior code § 2-219)
The council shall cause the city clerk to keep a correct record of its proceedings. The city clerk shall enter the ayes and nays in the journal of council proceedings. If the city clerk is absent, the deputy city clerk shall act. If there is none, the mayor shall appoint one of the councilmembers as city clerk pro tempore.
(Prior code § 2-220)
Any person present at a council or city commission meeting who willfully disturbs the peace and quiet of such meeting or any person thereat, by using profane language or slanderous language, or by loud and unusual noise, or by tumultuous or offensive conduct, or by threatening, quarreling, challenging to fight, fighting, or persistently interrupting the proceedings of the council or commission, or refusing to keep quiet and be seated when ordered to do so by the presiding officer when another has been previously recognized and is speaking, or when the allotted time has expired for any person to speak on a matter, and on the order of the presiding officer fails and refuses to desist from speaking, is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Prior code § 2-221)
A. 
The city council and its members shall deal with the administrative services of the city (including, but not limited to, assignments, administrative tasks, research and reports by staff) only through the city manager except for the purpose of inquiry, and neither the city council, nor any member thereof, shall give directions or instructions to any subordinate of the city manager, any city contractor or consultant, or appointed city commissioner or board member.
B. 
Similarly, the individual city council members shall refrain from meeting or contacting the city's contractors or retained consultants without first advising the city manager of such meeting. If the city manager is advised of such a meeting between the individual city council member and the city's contractor or consultant, the city council member shall be required to subsequently report to the city manager whether the individual council member requested research or directed the contractor or consultant to undertake work assignments that are contrary to objectives listed in the contractor's or consultant's contract with the city as well as the amount that the contractor or consultant will charge the city for such a meeting.
C. 
The city manager shall take his or her directions and instructions regarding administrative tasks and services from the city council only during a duly convened meeting of the city council as defined by the Ralph M. Brown Act, and no individual council member shall give any direction or instruction regarding administrative tasks and services to the city manager which is not made during such a duly convened meeting. Any direction or instruction given to the city manager which is not made during a duly convened council meeting is unauthorized and the city manager is not obligated to comply with such order or instructions.
D. 
Directives to the City Manager. A directive is a request, pronouncement, or instruction to conduct research, prepare a report, letter, agenda item, resolution or ordinance, or otherwise initiate action on a designated project. Each city council member shall make no more than two directives to the city manager at any city council meeting. Any city council member making a directive to the city manager shall: (1) state the purpose of the directive, the reasons why the directive is warranted, and the ways the directive would directly benefit the city, for example, economic development, job creation, raising the quality of life, or community safety; and (2) request city staff to state any reasons why the directive might not be warranted, for example, the directive duplicates a report or task already accomplished in the recent past, the report or task already exists in another format, or existing federal, state, or local resources already address the directive. No directive shall be put until seconded. Upon receipt of a second, the city council shall vote on whether the directive to the city manager shall be made. If passed, a directive shall be considered a directive from the entire council as a whole. Staff shall comply with all directives of the city council as a whole.
(Ord. 1774 § 1, 2003; Ord. 1879 § 1, 2007; Ord. 1991 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2040 § 1, 2013; Ord. 2259, 12/9/2025)
A. 
An elected official shall file with the city clerk a completed disclosure form whenever the elected official makes a recommendation or suggestion to the city manager, the city attorney, or any other city employee to hire or retain a particular person as a consultant, a vendor, or an employee. The disclosure shall be made on a disclosure form furnished by the city clerk and shall include the elected official's relationship to the recommended or suggested consultant, vendor, or employee. The disclosure form shall be filed within thirty days of the recommendation or suggestion to the city manager, city attorney or any other city employee. The filing of the disclosure form by the elected official shall be mandatory regardless of whether the recommended or suggested consultant, vendor, or employee is hired or retained by the city.
B. 
The penalty for failure to file the disclosure form within thirty days of the recommendation or suggestion to the city manager, the city attorney, or any other city employee may be censure by the city council. A ten dollar per day late fee shall be assessed against the elected official each day after the thirty-day deadline for filing the disclosure form, up to a maximum late fee of five hundred dollars.
C. 
The duty to file a disclosure statement shall not apply in the following situations:
1. 
No disclosure statement need be filed for a recommendation or suggestion concerning the appointment or election of an individual to a position defined in subsection A of Section 2.32.010 of this code.
2. 
No disclosure statement need be filed for a recommendation or suggestion made by one city councilmember to another city councilmember.
D. 
The following words and phrases whenever used in this section shall be construed as follows:
1. 
"Person" is defined in Section 1.04.010 of this code.
2. 
"Vendor" means any person who supplies for consideration any real property or any tangible or intangible personal property to the city, regardless of whether such property is supplied by sale, lease, or any other form.
3. 
"Consultant" means any person who supplies for consideration any services to the city (including any tangible or intangible personal property incidental to such services), including without limitation, architect services, animal services, auditing services, educational services, emergency services, financial services, informational services, insurance services, legal services, maintenance services, medical services, public safety services, real estate services, recreational services, recycling services, refuse services, repair services, transportation services, towing services, utility services, or veterinary services.
4. 
"Elected official" means the city mayor, city councilmembers, the city clerk, and the city treasurer.
5. 
"Employee" includes a city employee in a classified position, defined in Section 2.32.010 of this code, or in an unclassified position, defined in Section 2.32.020 of this code.
(Ord. 1990 § 1, 2011)
The city council agenda contains an item for individual reports of elected officials. These individual reports of elected officials shall be limited to ten minutes. Discussion/action items shall not be counted in the ten-minute limit. If an elected official is interrupted during the ten-minute time limit, the elected official's time shall be extended by the amount of time lost due to the interruption. However, if the elected official asks questions of city staff during elected officials' reports, the responses of staff will be counted as part of the ten-minute limit. Time limits for elected officials' reports shall be enforced. Any other elected official, city manager or city attorney may provide a courtesy reminder to elected officials during their reports in order to ensure that time limits are adhered to.
(Ord. 1988 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2050 § 1, 2013)