Chapter 2.08 — CITY COUNCIL

2. For statutory provisions regulating the council and council meetings in general, see Gov. C.A., Section 36805 et seq. For statutory provisions establishing certain days as state holidays, see Gov. C.A., Section 6700.

Commencing with the regular meeting of October 5, 1964, the council chambers located in the city hall, and having a street address of 5655 Jillson Street, Commerce, California, shall be the council chambers of the city council. All meetings of the city council shall be held therein.

(Ord. 86 §1, 1964: Ord. 57 §1, 1962: Ord. 4 §1, 1960: prior code §2700).

The offices of all agencies, departments, officers, and employees of the city shall be located at such address as may be fixed by resolution of the city council.

(Prior code §2701).

The city council shall, by resolution, designate those days which shall be deemed to be holidays.

(Ord. 340 §2, 1984).

Regular meetings of the city council shall be held in the city on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at the hour of six p.m., or the next succeeding day which is not a holiday, and shall be held concurrently with the regular meetings of the successor agency to the Commerce Community Development Commission. The city council may hold a closed session of the city council prior to six p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month immediately preceding the open session, provided that the time for the closed session is identified on the city council agenda. Such closed sessions shall be considered part of the regular meeting.

(Ord. 594 §1, 2006: Ord. 411 §1, 1987: Ord. 397 §1, 1987: prior code §2703).

(Ord. No. 694, § 1, 2-6-2018; Ord. No. 780, § 1, 11-16-2021)

Every official, board, commission or other body connected with the city government having any report, communications or other matters to be presented at a council meeting, shall notify the city clerk of that fact in writing before five p.m. of the fourth day (Sunday included) preceding the day of the meeting, whereupon the city clerk shall prepare a list setting forth such matters and the nature thereof under their appropriate headings, and setting forth all other matters to come before the meeting under their appropriate headings, all under the headings and in order specified in Section 2.08.060 hereof. The city clerk shall, on the day preceding such meeting, cause one copy thereof to be delivered to each councilman. Matters deemed by the city council to be of emergency are excepted from the foregoing provision.

(Ord. 180 §1, 1972: prior code §2704).

Citizens, individuals, corporations, committees or civic groups having any reports, communications or other matters to be presented at a council meeting shall do so in accordance with regulations for such purpose which may be adopted by the city council from time to time.

(Ord. 180 §2, 1972).

Promptly at eight p.m. on the night of each regular meeting, the members of the council, the city administrator, city clerk, city attorney or other officers, shall assemble at their regular stations in the council chambers, whereupon the business of the meeting shall be taken up in the order as the city council may, from time to time, prescribe by resolution.

(Prior code §2705).

Any matter, the consideration of which has not been completed at any meeting of the council and which has not been continued to a specific date, shall be listed for consideration at the next regular meeting of the council under the heading of "unfinished business."

(Prior code §2706).

Under the head of communications or petitions, all persons may personally, or by their representatives, address the council in regard to any matters in which they are interested.

(Prior code §2707).

Ordinances ready for passage shall be taken up under unfinished business and be read in full unless the reading thereof is dispensed with by unanimous vote of the council present, after the reading of the title.

(Prior code §2708).

Resolutions may be introduced under the head of new business and be read in full, unless the further reading thereof is waived by regular motion adopted by unanimous vote of the councilmen present after the reading of the title.

(Prior code §2709).

While discussing any question under consideration by the council, it is the duty of the members thereof to remain seated and address their remarks to the presiding officer and their fellow members. Any remarks or

orders to the audience shall be addressed by the presiding officer, or with his permission, by members of the council.

(Prior code §2710).

Following each council meeting, the city clerk shall send a typewritten copy of the minutes thereof to each member of the city council at their respective residences. Thereafter the reading of the minutes by the city clerk at the following meeting may be dispensed with by a majority vote of the members present.

(Prior code §2711).

In all matters and things not otherwise provided for herein, the proceedings of the council shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order, 1915 revised edition. No ordinance, resolution, proceedings or other action of the city council shall be invalidated, or the legality thereof otherwise affected, by the failure or omission to observe or follow the rules.

(Prior code §2713).

Special meetings of the city council may be called at any time by the mayor or by three members of the city council, by written notice delivered personally to each member at least twenty-four hours before the time specified for the proposed meeting; provided, however, that any special meeting of the city council shall be a validly called special meeting without the giving of the written notice as above provided, if all members of the city council give their consent in writing to the holding of the meeting. The consent is on file in the office of the city clerk at the time of holding the meeting. A telegraphic communication from a councilman consenting to the holding of the meeting shall be a consent in writing, within the meaning of the terms as expressed in the foregoing sentence. At any special meeting, the power of the city council to transact business shall be limited to matters referred to in the written notice or written consent. Notice may be dispensed with in regard to any councilman who is present at the meeting.

(Prior code 2714).

In order to expedite the orderly procedure of the city council meetings, in the event the mayor cannot be present, the council shall also elect some other member of the city council who shall act as mayor pro tem in his absence.

(Prior code 2715).

(a)

A person is ineligible to hold office as a member of the city council if that person has served in the office for three full terms. A full term may exceed a four-year period if authorized by state law.

(b)

For the purpose of term limitation, a person who was appointed or elected to a vacant office for an unexpired term of more than one-half the original term shall be deemed to have served a full term.

(c)

For the purpose of term limitation, all offices of member of the city council elected at large shall be considered as one office.

(Ord. No. 634, §§ 1—4, 3-8-2011; Ord. No. 800, § 2, 11-8-2022)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 634, adopted March 8, 2011, did not specifically amend the Code; hence, inclusion herein as Section 2.08.160 was at the discretion of the editor. See also the Code Comparative Table.