[1]
Editor's Note: For additional information
regarding the Legislative Branch of the County, see Administrative
Code Part 3.
The legislative power of the County shall be
vested in the County Council.
County Council shall have, but not be limited
to, the following powers and duties:
a)
Adopt, amend and repeal ordinances, resolutions and
motions not contrary to the requirements of this Charter or law.
b)
Make appropriations, levy taxes, fees and service
charges, and incur indebtedness as permitted by law or by this Charter.
e)
Override, by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds
of the seated Members, any veto by the Chief Executive.
f)
Confirm or reject appointments within 45 days. In
the event that County Council does not confirm or reject an appointment
within 45 days, the appointment shall be effective as though County
Council had confirmed it.
g)
Conduct investigations of County departments, agencies or functions and issue subpoenas as provided in Article XIII, § 1.13-1307.
h)
Require, as it deems necessary, the attendance of
the Chief Executive at one County Council meeting in each quarter
of the fiscal year.
i)
Require, as it deems necessary, the attendance of
the Manager at County Council meetings and have the Manager provide
such information as may be required.
j)
Accept by ordinance grants, gifts or donations of
real or personal property on behalf of the County.
k)
By ordinance, lease, convey, vacate or abandon, or
permit the use of County land, buildings or other real or personal
property.
l)
Make appointments to authorities and agencies as required
by law or by this Charter.
m)
By ordinance or resolution, modify or eliminate any
department, agency or function that no longer meets the needs of the
County's taxpayers.
n)
Employ a County Council Clerk and other personnel to serve County Council in the fulfillment of its duties. County Council staff shall be subject to the personnel system. County Council, on a case-by-case basis, may contract for professional services within the limitations of its annual appropriation as provided in Article III, § 1.3-307(f).
County Council and its Members shall deal with
the Executive Branch exclusively through the Chief Executive or Manager
except for the purpose of obtaining information and advice. Individual
County Council Members shall not give orders or instructions, either
publicly or privately, to employees of the Executive Branch.
a)
County Council shall organize itself on the first
business day of January following each municipal election. At its
organizational meeting, County Council shall elect one of its Members
as President and such other officers as County Council deems necessary.
b)
County Council shall hold regular and special meetings,
and establish the time, place and conditions thereof. Regular meetings
shall be held at least twice in each calendar month in separate weeks
unless otherwise provided by ordinance.
c)
County Council shall adopt rules necessary for its
organization, procedures, meetings, public participation and committees.
d)
County Council shall take no action in the absence
of a quorum that shall consist of a majority of the seated Members.
a)
Actions of Council, except as otherwise provided in
this Charter, shall be taken by an affirmative vote of at least a
majority of the seated Members.
b)
County Council may override a Chief Executive veto by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the seated Members. Except as provided in Article VII, § 1.7-705, the override vote must occur within 30 days of the veto.
e)
No ordinance or resolution shall be voted on until
it has been read, by title and summary, at two County Council meetings
separated by at least seven days and the public has been given the
opportunity to comment on the ordinance or resolution. County Council
may act on ordinances and resolutions at the same meeting as the second
reading. Except for ordinances levying taxes, the requirement of the
second reading may be waived by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds
of the seated Members.[4]
[4]
Editor's Note: See Administrative Code § 5-311.04.
g)
If the Chief Executive approves any ordinance or resolution,
the Chief Executive shall sign and return it to the County Council
Clerk within seven days after receiving it.
h)
If the Chief Executive disapproves any ordinance or
resolution, the Chief Executive shall veto it by returning it unsigned
to County Council within seven days with written objections. The objections
shall be part of County Council proceedings.
i)
Any ordinance or resolution not returned within seven
days shall be effective in the same manner as if the Chief Executive
had signed it.
[1]
Editor's Note: For additional information
regarding official actions of the County Council, see Administrative
Code Art. 311.
County Council shall adopt by ordinance, and
amend as needed, an Administrative Code that shall provide a complete
plan of organization, departmental structure and operation for the
County government. The Administrative Code shall include, at a minimum,
a procedure for the adoption of emergency ordinances, resolutions
and appropriations, procedures for public notification of official
actions, procedures for initiative and referendum, procedures for
adjusting the compensation of the Chief Executive and reimbursing
the expenses of elected officers, a personnel system, components of
the comprehensive fiscal plan, sunset review procedures, the powers
of the Manager while serving as temporary chief executive, a competitive
procurement system and a table of organization for all departments
and agencies.
[1]
Editor's Note: See the Administrative Code
included in Division 1 of this Code.
