Chino Hills Municipal Code Ch. 2.04 City Council

The regular meetings of the City Council shall be held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at the hour of four o'clock (4:00) p.m. for closed sessions. The public meeting shall commence at six o'clock (6:00) p.m. Public hearings shall be set and noticed for six o'clock (6:00) p.m. If the date of any such regular meeting falls on a holiday, the regular meeting shall be held at the hour of four o'clock (4:00) p.m. for closed session and six o'clock (6:00) p.m. for the public meeting and public hearings on the next succeeding day which is not a holiday.

(Ord. 147 § 1, 2001: Ord. 92-19 § 1, 1992: Ord. 92-07 § 1; Ord. 91-05 § 2.04.010)

(Ord. No. 396, § 1, 5-24-2023)

The regular meetings of the City Council shall be held at a location to be designated by resolution of the City Council.

(Ord. 91-05 § 2.04.020)

For the purposes of this chapter, the definitions of "legislative body," "regular meeting," and "special meeting" as set forth in Section 54950 et seq. of the Government Code of the state of California shall apply.

(Ord. 91-05 § 2.04.023)

At least seventy-two (72) hours before a regular meeting, any legislative body of the city, or its designee, 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 location of the regular meeting and shall be posted in a location that is freely accessible to members of the public. No action shall be taken on any item not appearing on the posted agenda; provided, however, nothing in this section shall disallow the legislative body to take action on items of business not appearing on the posted agenda and under any of the conditions set forth at Section 54954.2(b) of the Government Code of the state of California.

(Ord. 91-05 § 2.04.024)

Every agenda for regular meetings of any legislative body of the city shall provide an opportunity for members of the public to directly address the legislative body on items of interest to the public that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body, provided that no action shall be taken on any item not appearing on the agenda unless the action is otherwise authorized by Government Code Section 54954.2(b). The legislative body may adopt reasonable regulations to ensure that the intent of this section is carried out, including, but not limited to, regulations limiting the total amount of time allocated for public testimony on particular issues and for each individual speaker.

(Ord. 91-05 § 2.04.025)

A special meeting may be called at any time by the presiding officer of the legislative body, or by a majority of the members of the legislative body, by delivering personally or by mail written notice to each member of the legislative body and to each local newspaper of general circulation, radio, or television station requesting notice in writing. The notice shall be delivered personally or by mail and shall be received at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time of the meeting as specified in the notice. The call and notice shall specify the time and place of the special meeting and the business to be transacted. No other business shall be considered at these meetings by the legislative body. The written notice may be dispensed with as to any member who at or prior to the time of the meeting convenes files with the clerk or secretary of the legislative body a written waiver of notice. The waiver may be given by telegram. The written notice may be dispensed with as to any member who is actually present at the meeting at the time it convenes. Notice shall be required pursuant to this section regardless of whether any action is taken at the special meeting. The call and notice shall be posted at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the special meeting in a location that is freely accessible to members of the public.

(Ord. 91-05 § 2.04.026)

A. In the case of an emergency situation involving matters upon which prompt action is necessary due to the disruption or threatened disruption of public facilities, a legislative body may hold an emergency meeting without complying with either the twenty-four (24) hour notice requirement or the twenty-four (24) hours posting requirement of Government Code Section 54956 or both the notice and posting requirement. For the purposes of this section, "emergency situation" means any of the following:

1. Work stoppage or other activity which severely impairs public health, safety, or both, as determined by a majority of the members of the legislative body;

2. Crippling disaster which severely impairs public health, safety, or both, as determined by a majority of the members of the legislative body.

B. However, each local newspaper of general circulation and radio or television station which has requested notice of special meetings pursuant to Government Code Section 54956 shall be notified by the presiding officer of the legislative body, or designee thereof, one hour prior to the emergency meeting by telephone and all telephone numbers provided in the most recent request of such newspaper or station for notification of special meetings shall be exhausted. In the event that telephone services are not functioning, the notice requirements of this section shall be deemed waived, and the legislative body or designee of the legislative body shall notify such newspapers, radio stations, or television stations of the fact of the holding of the emergency meeting, the purpose of the meeting, and any action taken at the meeting as soon after the meeting as possible.

C. Notwithstanding Government Code Section 54957, the legislative body shall not meet in closed session during a meeting called pursuant to this section.

D. All special meeting requirements as prescribed in Government Code Section 54956 shall be applicable to a meeting called pursuant to this section, with the exception of the twenty-four (24) hour notice requirement.

E. The minutes of a meeting called pursuant to this section, a list of persons who the presiding officer of the legislative body, or designee of the legislative body, notified or intended to notify, a copy of the roll call vote, and any actions taken at the meeting shall be posted for a minimum of ten (10) days in a public place as soon after the meeting as possible.

(Ord. 91-05 § 2.04.027)

The provisions of this chapter shall be enforceable pursuant to the provisions of Government Code Sections 54960 through 54960.5, as such sections may be amended.

(Ord. 91-05 § 2.04.028)

Any person using profane, vulgar, loud, or boisterous language at any meeting or otherwise interrupting the proceedings, who refuses to be seated or keep quiet when ordered to do so by the Mayor or other presiding officer of the Council, is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(Ord. 91-05 § 2.04.030)

A. Presiding Officer May Debate and Vote. The Mayor or in the Mayor's absence 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 by these rules imposed on all members and shall not be deprived of any of the rights and privileges of a member of the Council by reason of acting as the presiding officer.

B. Conduct of Speaker. Every member desiring to speak shall address the chair, and upon recognition by the presiding officer, shall confine himself or herself to the question under debate, avoiding all personalities and indecorous language.

C. Interruptions. A member, once recognized, shall not be interrupted when speaking unless it be to call such member to order or as herein otherwise provided. If a member while speaking, be called to order, such member shall cease speaking until the question of order be determined, and, if in order, he or she shall be permitted to proceed.

D. Motion to Reconsider. A motion to reconsider any action taken by the Council may be made only on the day such action was taken. Such motion must be made by one on the prevailing side but may be seconded by any member. A motion to reconsider shall have precedence over all other motions, and/or over a member having the floor; a reconsideration motion shall be debatable. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent any member of the Council from making or remaking the same or other motion at a subsequent meeting of the Council when such issue is on the noticed Council meeting agenda.

E. Rules of Order. The presiding officer shall state every question coming before the Council, announce the decision of the Council on all subjects and decide all questions of order. Questions of order are, however, subject to an appeal to the Council, in which event a majority vote of the Council shall govern and conclusively determine said question of order. Robert's Rules of Order, if used, shall only be used as a guide and is not conclusive authority on any question of order or procedure.

(Ord. 91-05 § 2.04.040)

A. Approval of Minutes. Unless the reading of the minutes of a Council meeting is requested by a member of the Council, such minutes may be approved without reading if the City Clerk has previously furnished each member with a copy of such minutes. Minutes shall be approved by voice or roll call vote.

B. Designated as Official Record. The approved written minutes constitute the official record of City Council proceedings and actions and are superior to any other record, recordation, document, transcript, videotape, or other memorial or writing of such proceedings and actions.

(Ord. 91-05 § 2.04.041)

(Ord. No. 410, §§ 3, 4, 10-8-2024)

The salary for City Council Members shall be one thousand nine hundred dollars and no cents ($1,900.00) per month. Such salary shall be payable at the same time and in the same manner as salaries are paid to other officers and employees of the City.

(Ord. 189 § 1, 2006: Ord. 153 § 1, 2002: Ord. 91-08 § 1: Ord. 91-05 § 2.04.050)

(Ord. No. 295, § 1, 2-23-2016; Ord. No. 385, § 1, 7-12-2022; Ord. No. 411, § 1, 10-8-2024)

Editor's note— The compensation established per Ord. No. 411 shall begin on December 14, 2024.

Editor's note— Ord. No. 376, § 1, adopted November 9, 2021, repealed § 2.04.130 which pertained to reimbursements for city council and derived from Ord. 91-05 § 2.04.051.

Unless otherwise specifically provided in this code or by state law, all city board and commission appointments, except for ex officio members where applicable, shall be made by the City Council.

(Ord. 91-05 § 2.04.060)

A. That the Vice Mayor shall have all of the duties and responsibilities assigned to the Mayor Pro Tempore which are identified in various California Codes.

B. That for all intents and purposes, the title Vice Mayor shall mean exactly the same as Mayor Pro Tempore under state law, California Codes, ordinances, resolutions and City policies.

(Ord. No. 374, § 1, 9-28-2021)