Chapter 2.04
COUNCIL

Sections:

2.04.010    Regular meetings.

2.04.020    Meeting place.

2.04.030    Attendance.

2.04.040    Resolutions.

2.04.050    Procedure.

2.04.060    Voting abstentions.

2.04.065    Motion approval – Quorum required.

2.04.070    Decorum.

2.04.080    Notice of special meetings.

2.04.010 Regular meetings.

The City Council shall establish, by resolution, a recurring meeting schedule on routine days of the month and at routine times. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Council may, by motion or resolution, set such different or additional meeting dates and times as it may deem appropriate. (Ord. 5953, 2021; Ord. 5013 § 1, 1992; Ord. 2722 § 1, 1956).

2.04.020 Meeting place.

All meetings shall be held in the City Hall or such other location as may be determined by the Council. (Ord. 5013 § 1, 1992; Ord. 4510 § 2, 1982; Ord. 2722 § 1, 1956).

2.04.030 Attendance.

If a quorum is not present, at a regular meeting or at any special meeting called pursuant to the requirements of Section 14 of the Charter, those members present may adjourn to a later time. (Ord. 5778 § 1, 2012; Ord. 5013 § 1, 1992; Ord. 2722 § 3, 1956).

2.04.040 Resolutions.

All resolutions shall be in writing and numbered consecutively in the order in which they are introduced. All resolutions shall be signed by the Mayor, or in the Mayor’s absence, by the Council President, and attested by the City Clerk or his/her deputy. A resolution shall be available for Council and public inspection or orally presented. (Ord. 5778 § 1, 2012; Ord. 5013 § 1, 1992; Ord. 4510 § 3, 1982; Ord. 2722 § 4, 1956).

2.04.050 Procedure.

The Council shall be guided by Robert’s Rules of Order. No action of the Council shall be rendered invalid for failure to comply with Robert’s Rules of Order. (Ord. 5778 § 1, 2012; Ord. 2722 § 5, 1956).

2.04.060 Voting abstentions.

Unless a member of the Council states that he/she is not voting, his/her silence shall be recorded as an affirmative vote. In a circumstance where the full Council is present and where a motion, properly before the Council, fails for want of the concurrence of four City Councilors, an abstention shall be deemed a vote against the motion. In all other circumstances, an announced abstention shall not be considered, either for or against the proposition. Following the vote, the City Clerk shall announce the vote count. If the Recorder’s count is disputed by any Council member, a roll call shall be taken to decide the issue. (Ord. 5872 § 1, 2016; Ord. 5778 § 1, 2012; Ord. 2722 § 6, 1956).

2.04.065 Motion approval – Quorum required.

At any meeting of a City committee, commission or board, where a quorum is present at the meeting, a majority of the quorum present voting on a question before the committee, commission or board, shall be necessary in order to approve a motion. (Ord. 5136 § 1, 1994).

2.04.070 Decorum.

The Chief of Police, or such member of the Police Department as he/she shall designate, shall be sergeant-at-arms of the Council. He/she shall carry out all orders and instructions given by the presiding officer for the purpose of maintaining order and decorum. (Ord. 2722 § 7, 1956).

2.04.080 Notice of special meetings.

Notice of special meetings of the Council may be given orally or in writing. The City Manager or designee shall be responsible for the notification by telephone of all Councilors of any specially called Council meeting. Within five days after a Councilor shall take oath of office, he/she shall leave a permanent address within the City where all notices of special meetings are to be delivered and shall further designate a telephone number at which all notices of special Council meetings are to be called. Delivery of a written notice of a specially called Council meeting to the address given by the Councilor shall be at least 24 hours before the time of the specially called meeting. In case of an actual emergency, a meeting may be held upon such notice as is appropriate to the circumstances, but the minutes for the meeting shall describe the emergency justifying less than 24 hours’ notice. In the event a Councilor is notified of a specially called Council meeting by telephone, then the City Manager shall keep a log of the telephone calls in notifying the Councilor as to the number called and the date and time the call was made. Notices to Councilor of a specially called Council meeting shall be entered in the minutes of the special Council meeting and shall be a permanent record of the special meeting. Written notice may be provided electronically to any Councilor who has given written authorization for formal notifications to be received in this fashion. (Ord. 5778 § 1, 2012; Ord. 5013 § 1, 1992; Ord. 4510 § 4, 1982; Ord. 3048 § 1, 1963; Ord. 2722 § 10, 1956).