Rules of Procedure
MEETINGS - GENERAL
A. SESSIONS OF THE COUNCIL
1. Legislative Sessions. Legislative sessions shall be held on the second and fourth Monday of each month except City holidays, and such additional days as the Council may determine. The Council may cancel any session on an affirmative vote of at least 3 members, provided that the vote is taken at least seven (7) calendar days before the canceled session. The Mayor or at least two members of the Council shall have authority to call special sessions of the Council. The Council shall cancel any session scheduled for a date when inclement weather causes the City Government to close.
2. Special Legislative Sessions. The Mayor shall give a minimum of seven (7) calendar days notice prior to any Special Session of the Council, unless, in the judgment of the Mayor, or Council member requesting a Special Session, an emergency session is required. At the time of the calling of any Special Session, the Mayor shall indicate whether such Special Session shall be a legislative session or a non-legislative session. If two (2) or more members of the Council make a written request to the Mayor for a special session, the Mayor shall call a special session within seven (7) calendar days after receiving the request.
3. Closed Session. Session may be closed upon affirmative vote of a majority in accordance with the State Open Meetings Law.
B. TIME AND PLACE OF MEETINGS
1. All legislative sessions of the Council shall be scheduled to convene at City Hall at 7:30 P.M. unless a different time or place shall be authorized by the affirmative vote of at least three (3) members of the Council.
2. No meeting shall continue past the hour of I 1:00 P.M. unless these rules of procedure are suspended.
C. QUORUM.
Three (3) members of the Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
D. VOTING.
All voting, except on procedural motions, shall be by roll call, and the ayes and nays shall be recorded. Each member of the Council shall be called to vote. The Mayor shall be called last to cast a vote and shall vote on all matters. A majority of the members of the Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but no ordinance shall be approved nor any action taken upon an ordinance without the favorable votes of a majority of the whole number of members elected to the Council. Any member may explain his or her vote prior to casting.
E. PRESIDING OFFICER.
The Mayor shall be the presiding officer, and shall decide questions of order, subject to an appeal to the Council by any members. The President shall be the presiding officer in the absence of the Mayor.
F. RULES OF PROCEDURE.
Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised 1990 Edition, shall govern parliamentary proceedings except where they conflict with these rules or other laws applicable in this city.
G. NOTICE OF MEETINGS.
The City Manager shall give such notice as required by law of all Council meetings, hearings, and sessions in accordance with the Open Meetings Law.
H. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
1 . Any person speaking shall state his name, home address, and organization represented. During the regular business meetings, a reasonable amount of time will be provided for members of the public to address the Council on relevant matters. However, no person shall be allowed to address the Council until the appropriate time and then after recognition by the presiding officer of the Council.
2. Insulting or inflammatory language is prohibited during Council meetings. The Mayor or Presiding Officer independently or upon the motion of the Council, may censure any person for violation of this Rule. The Mayor, President or Presiding Member shall order the removal of any person who disrupts the business of the Council.
3. All comments shall be directed to the Mayor or Presiding Officer and shall not be addressed to others in attendance unless permitted by the Mayor or Presiding Officer.
H. LIAISONS.
The Council shall have authority to designate one or more of its members as liaison to various City committees and there shall be liaisons to the following:
1.- Economic Development Commission Swim Club
3. Fire Department
4. Senior Citizens Board
5. Appearance & Preservation Committee
6. Taxicab Bureau
7. Boys & Girls Club
8. Heritage Trust Committee
9. Board of Parks & Recreation
1O. Planning Commission
11. Other as deemed by Council
SESSIONS - ORDER OF BUSINESS
A. OPENING
1. Call to Order
2. Opening Prayer
3. Pledge of Allegiance
4. Approval of Minutes
B. PRESENTATIONS
1 . Presentation of Proclamations
2. Consideration of Petitions and Applications
3. Special Presentations
C PUBLIC HEARINGS
D. PUBLIC COMMENT
1. Not more than three (3) minutes shall be given to any individual speaking unless the Council determines otherwise.
2. Recess if needed
E. LEGISLATIVE SESSION
1. Introduction of Resolutions and/or Ordinances
2. Introduction of Amendments
3. Call For Vote
F. BUSINESS OF COUNCIL
1 . Unfinished Business
2. New Business
3. Business from City Manager
4. Business from Council Members
5. Business from Mayor
6. Public Comment
7. Announcements
8. Adjournment
SESSIONS - MOTIONS
A. STATEMENT OF MOTIONS.
When a motion has been made and seconded, the Mayor shall restate the Motion.
Motions may be made orally or in writing, but a motion shall be reduced to writing only upon request of the Mayor or Presiding Officer. Motions shall, whenever possible, be stated affirmatively. Prior to being voted upon, the maker and seconder may withdraw their respective procedural actions.
B. RECUSAL.
No member shall vote on any question of immediate personal or financial interest or that of the member's client or which presents a conflict of interest.
IV. COUNCIL MINUTES
A. Minutes of the Council shall be maintained by the City Manager. A copy of the approved
minutes shall be posted in their entirety on the City's website and available to the public at
City Hall for inspection during normal working days of the City Government.
B. All votes by roll call shall be recorded in the minutes
V. CITY MANAGER
The City Manager shall have the following duties:
1. Keep the minutes of meetings.
2. Maintain the Council's minutes
3. Prepare an agenda for meetings of the City Council.
4. Give notice of meetings and hearings to the Council and others as required by the Charter or other laws applicable to the City.
VI. COUNCIL AGENDA
I . The Mayor shall ensure that an appropriate agenda is prepared for each Council Session by the City Manager, to include all matters requested by a member of the Council.
VII. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCES
A. GENERAL.
An Ordinance may be introduced by any member at any legislative session upon the call for the introduction of ordinance. Upon introduction, the City Manager shall make copies available for distribution to the public and a copy of the ordinance introduced shall be posted on the City's website.
VIII. OTHER COUNCIL BUSINESS
A. RESOLUTIONS.
A member may prepare, prior to the meeting of the Council, a resolution and may deliver it to the City Manager prior to the session. With respect to all resolutions, the City Manager shall ascribe a number thereto, which shall be sequential throughout the calendar year.
B. ADDITIONAL PROCEDURES FOR INTRODUCTION OF RESOLUTIONS.
In addition to resolutions introduced in accordance with paragraph A, a resolution may be introduced during the course of debate or discussion and may be acted upon by the Council promptly.
IX. SUSPENSION AND AMENDMENT OF RULES.
A. Except as otherwise provided, these rules may be suspended in whole or in part by a vote of three members of the Council present at the meeting, subject to the requirements of the Charter or other law.
B. These rules may be amended by a majority vote of the Council in office at any regular session on notice of the amendment proposed at a session at least seven (7) calendar days prior.
C. These rules shall continue in effect from year to year without necessity for re-adoption.