[1]
Editor's Note: For additional information regarding the adoption of ordinances, resolutions and motions, see Charter § 1.4-405.
A. 
Public notice. Notice of meetings of County Council and committees thereof shall be given in the manner provided by this Administrative Code and 65 P.S. § 701 et seq., commonly known as the "Sunshine Act."
B. 
Regular meetings. Regular meetings of County Council shall be held at least twice in each calendar month in separate weeks unless otherwise provided by ordinance. County Council shall establish the time, place and conditions thereof. The schedule for regular County Council meetings shall be published at the beginning of the year.
C. 
Special meetings. Special meetings may be called by the President of County Council, the Chief Executive or upon the written request from the majority of the members of County Council as directed to the President of County Council. A written notice of each special meeting shall be delivered to each County Council member, the Chief Executive and the Manager at least 24 hours before a special meeting is held. Such notice shall specify the time and place of the special meeting and the business to be transacted. County Council shall consider no other business at such meeting. The presence at the meeting by a Member of County Council constitutes a waiver of notice. Public notice of special meetings shall be also given in accordance with 65 P.S. § 271 et seq., commonly known as the "Sunshine Act."
D. 
Emergency meetings. County Council may hold and take action at an emergency meeting. Such emergency meeting may be called by either the Chief Executive or the President of County Council, provided that:
(1) 
A quorum is present as provided in the Charter;
(2) 
The meeting qualifies as an "emergency meeting" as set forth in 65 P.S. § 701 et seq., commonly known as the "Sunshine Act," to wit, a meeting called for the purpose of dealing with a real or potential emergency involving a clear and present danger to life or property; and
(3) 
No other business shall be considered or transacted at such emergency meeting except for the matter for which the emergency meeting was called.
All regular, special, committee and emergency meetings of the County Council shall be open to the public to the extent required by and in accordance with 65 P.S. § 701 et seq., commonly known as the "Sunshine Act."
County Council may hold executive sessions in accordance with 65 P.S. § 701 et seq., commonly known as the "Sunshine Act." County Council shall take no official action on any matter in executive session.
A quorum of County Council necessary to transact official business shall consist of at least a majority of seated members of County Council. A quorum must be present in chambers or by telephone in order to transact official business.
At all regular, special, committee and emergency meetings, the County Council Clerk shall record all votes and keep minutes. Minutes shall include the date, time and place of the meeting, the names of members present, the substance of all official actions and a record by individual member of the roll call taken, the names of all citizens who appeared officially and the subject of their testimony.
A. 
The proposed agenda for regular meetings of the County Council shall be prepared by the County Council Clerk in consultation with County Council President and shall include all items requested in writing by any member of County Council, all ordinances or resolutions proposed by the Chief Executive, and all Ordinances presented through agenda initiative petitions certified as sufficient by the County Council Clerk of Staff in accordance with the provisions of Article XI of this Administrative Code.
B. 
The title of any ordinance or resolution to be considered shall be included as part of the public agenda.
C. 
The agenda for any regular meeting shall be available to all members of County Council and be available to the public no later than 24 hours prior to the stated regular meeting. In addition, the agenda for the stated regular meetings shall be posted in a conspicuous place in the Allegheny County Courthouse and on the Internet at an appropriate County-controlled Web site.
A. 
At the time appointed for any meeting of the County Council, the President shall take the chair and call the meeting to order. If a quorum is present, the President shall proceed with the order of business prescribed for the meeting. If, upon the call of the roll, a quorum is not present, the President shall order a recess for the period of not more than 30 minutes. If a quorum is not present by that time, the President shall declare the meeting adjourned.
B. 
Unless a majority of the seated members of County Council votes otherwise, the order of business for each regular meeting shall be as follows:
(1) 
The Pledge of Allegiance.
(2) 
Optional Prayer or Invocation.
(3) 
Roll Call.
(4) 
Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting.
(5) 
Public comments on specific agenda items.
(6) 
Report of County Manager, directors, independently elected County officials, the Courts, committees or special advisory groups as requested by Council.
(7) 
Official action on:
(a) 
Proclamations.
(b) 
Motions.
(c) 
Resolutions.
(d) 
Ordinances.
(8) 
Public comments on general items.
(9) 
Adjournment.
C. 
If the Chief Executive shall request to address the County Council, this shall be permitted immediately following the public comments on specific agenda items.
D. 
The Allegheny County Chief Executive shall attend one regularly scheduled meeting of Allegheny County Council in each of the months of March, June, September and December of every calendar year. The Chief Executive may select which regular meetings fulfilling the requirement of this subsection he wishes to attend, provided that he submits written notice of his selection no later than 30 days prior to the scheduled date of the selected regular meeting. In the event that the Executive fails to submit such written notice, he shall be deemed to have selected the second meeting in the appropriate month. Council may, upon written request by the Chief Executive, grant the Executive an extension of time to appear of no more than 30 days, provided that such extension is offered in the form of a motion and approved by at least a majority of the seated members of Council. The requirements of this subsection shall not be deemed to be met by the Chief Executive's attendance at any meeting to present the County's Comprehensive Fiscal Plan or make any appearance otherwise required by the Home Rule Charter or Allegheny County Code of Ordinances.
[Amended 9-22-2009 by Ord. No. 35-09]
E. 
County Council may 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.
A. 
The President or the presiding officer shall be responsible for the orderly conduct of business at each County Council meeting and shall preserve order and decorum at such meetings.
B. 
The County Council at its organization meeting shall adopt rules governing its procedure. The President or the presiding officer shall announce all decisions of the County Council and shall decide all questions of order without debate, subject, however, to an appeal by any County Council member. Any ruling by the President or the presiding officer may be overruled by a majority of the members present.
C. 
A roll call vote shall be taken on any item not receiving a unanimous voice vote either in the affirmative or negative.
D. 
The roll of members shall be called alphabetically, except that the President shall be called last. There shall be no secret balloting on any items.
E. 
Once a roll call vote is commenced, no member shall comment further on the issue except to announce his affirmative or negative vote, or his abstention.