Del Rey Oaks Municipal Code Ch. 2.04 City Council

A. Time. The City Council shall hold regular meetings on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. or as may be designated by resolution of the City Council. Provided, however, when the day fixed for any regular meeting of the Council falls upon a day designated by law as a legal or national holiday or is otherwise inconvenient to the Council because of such a holiday, such meeting shall be held at the same hour on the date designated by the Council and announced at a Council meeting.

B. Place. All regular meetings of the city council shall be held in the city hall, a building formerly known as the "Fire House" located in the city at Canyon Del Rey and Carlton Drive.

(Prior code § 1-201; Ord. No. 258, § 1, 9-23-2003; Ord. No. 265-A, § 1, 10-27-2009; Ord. No. 268, § 1, 10-27-2009)

The mayor may call special meetings of the council whenever in his opinion the public business may require it, or at the express written request of any three members of the council. Whenever a special meeting shall be called, a notice in writing signed by the mayor or the presiding officer of the council shall be served upon each member of the council either in person or by notice left at his place of residence, stating the date and hour of the meeting and the purpose for which such meeting is called, at least 24 hours prior to the time set for holding such meeting, and no business shall be transacted thereat, except such as is stated in the notice.

(Prior code § 1-202)

For any meeting of the City Council, any two Councilmembers, or the Mayor alone, may place an item on the agenda by requesting the City Manager do so. Such request shall be made in advance such that City staff shall have sufficient time to prepare the item sought to be placed on the agenda. The City Manager and the City Attorney may also place items on the agenda.

(Prior code § 1-203; Ord. No. 294, § 2, 11-27-2018)

The presiding officer of the council shall be the mayor. The presiding officer shall preserve strict order and decorum at all regular and special meetings of the council. He shall state every question coming before the council, announce the decision of the council on all subjects and decide all questions of order, subject, however, to an appeal to the council, in which event a majority vote of the council shall govern and conclusively determine such question of order. He shall vote on all questions, his name being called last. He shall sign all ordinances and resolutions adopted by the council during his presence. In the event of the absence of the mayor the presiding officer shall sign ordinances or resolutions as then adopted.

(Prior code § 1-204)

The mayor shall take the chair precisely at the hour appointed for the meeting, and shall immediately call the council to order. In the absence of the mayor, the city clerk, or his assistant, shall call the council to order, whereupon a temporary chairman shall be elected by the members of the council present. Upon the arrival of the mayor, the temporary chairman shall immediately relinquish the chair upon the conclusion of the business immediately before the council.

(Prior code § 1-205)

Before proceeding with the business of the council, the city clerk or his deputy shall call the roll of the members, and names of those present shall be entered in the minutes.

(Prior code § 1-206)

A majority of all the members elected to the council shall constitute a quorum at any regular or special meeting of the council. In the absence of a quorum, the presiding officer, shall, at the instance of any two members present, compel the attendance of absent members.

(Prior code § 1-207)

All meetings of the council shall be open to the public. Promptly at the hour set by law on the day of each regular meeting, the members of the council, the city clerk, and the city attorney shall take their regular stations in the council chambers, and the business of the council shall be taken up for consideration and disposition in the following order:

1. Roll call;

2. Approval of minutes of previous meeting;

3. Petitions, remonstrances and communications;

4. Introduction and adoption of resolutions and ordinances;

5. Report of officers—Boards—Committees;

6. Unfinished business;

7. New business;

8. Miscellaneous;

9. Appropriations;

10. Adjournment.

(Prior code § 1-208)

Unless a 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 clerk has previously furnished each member with a copy thereof.

(Prior code § 1-209)

Roberts Rules of Order shall govern in all matters not herein referred to.

A. Presiding Officer May Debate and Vote, Etc. The mayor or 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 councilman by reason of his acting as the presiding officer.

B. Getting the Floor—Improper References to Be Avoided. Every member desiring to speak shall address the chair, and, upon recognition by the presiding officer, shall confine himself 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 him to order, or as herein otherwise provided. If a member, while speaking, be called to order, he shall cease speaking until the question of order be determined, and, if in order, he shall be permitted to proceed.

D. Privilege of Closing Debate. The councilman moving the adoption of an ordinance or resolution shall have the privilege of closing the debate.

E. Motion to Reconsider. A motion to reconsider any action taken by the council may be made only on the day such action was taken. It may be made either immediately during the same session, or at a recessed or adjourned session thereof. Such motion must be made by one of the prevailing side, but may be seconded by any member, and may be made at any time and have precedence over all other motions or while a member has the floor; it shall be debatable. Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent any member of the council from making or remaking the same or any other motion at a subsequent meeting of the council.

F. Remarks of Councilman—When Entered in Minutes. A councilman may request, through the presiding officer, the privilege of having an abstract of his statement on any subject under consideration by the council entered in the minutes. If, the council consents thereto, such statement shall be entered in the minutes.

G. Synopsis of Debate—When Entered in Minutes. The clerk may be directed by the presiding officer, with consent of the council, to enter in the minutes a synopsis of the discussion on any question coming regularly before the council.

(Prior code § 1-210)

Any person desiring to address the council shall first secure the permission of the presiding officer so to do; provided, however, that under the following headings of business, unless the presiding officer rules otherwise, any qualified person may address the council without securing such prior permission:

A. Written Communications. Interested parties or their authorized representatives may address the council by written communications in regard to matters then under discussion.

B. Oral Communications. Taxpayers or residents of the city, or their authorized legal representatives, may address the council by oral communications on any matter concerning the city's business, or any matter over which the council has control; provided, however, that preference shall be given to those persons who may have notified the city clerk in advance of their desire to speak in order that the same may appear on the agenda of the council.

C. Reading of Protests, Etc. Interested persons or their authorized representatives may address the council by reading of protests, petitions, or communications relating to zoning, sewer and street proceedings, hearings on protests, appeals and petitions, or similar matters, in regard to matters then under consideration.

(Prior code § 1-211)

After a motion is made by the council, no person shall address the council without first securing the permission of the council so to do.

(Prior code § 1-212)

Each person addressing the council shall stand, and shall give his name and address in an audible tone of voice for the records, and unless further time is granted by the council, shall limit his address to three minutes. All remarks shall be addressed to the council as a body and not to any member thereof. No person, other than the council and the person having the floor, shall be permitted to enter into any discussion, either directly or through a member of the council, without the permission of the presiding officer. No question shall be asked a councilman except through the presiding officer.

(Prior code § 1-213)

Unless a member of the council states that he is not voting, his silence shall be recorded as an affirmative vote.

(Prior code § 1-214)

A. By Council Members. While the council is in session, the members must preserve order and decorum, and a member shall neither, by conversation or otherwise, delay or interrupt the proceedings or the peace of the council nor disturb any member while speaking or refuse to obey the orders of the council or its presiding officer, except as otherwise herein provided.

B. By Persons. Any person making personal, impertinent, or slanderous remarks or who shall become boisterous while addressing the council shall be forthwith, by the presiding officer, barred from further audience before the council, unless permission to continue be granted by a majority vote of the council.

C. No smoking shall at any time be permitted or allowed within the council chambers.

D. The rules and regulations contained in this chapter shall be applicable to all meetings by the various commissions or public hearings held at the city hall.

(Prior code § 1-215)

The chief of police, or such member or members of the police department as he may designate, shall be sergeant-at-arms of the council meetings. He, or they shall carry out all orders and instructions given by the presiding officer for the purpose of maintaining order and decorum at the council meeting. Upon instructions of the presiding officer, it shall be the duty of the sergeant-at-arms, or any of them present, to place any person who violates the order and decorum of the meeting under arrest, and cause him to be prosecuted under the provisions of this code, the complaint to be signed by the presiding officer.

(Prior code § 1-216)

No person, except city officials, shall be permitted within the rail in front of the council chamber without the express consent of the council.

(Prior code § 1-217)

The mayor shall appoint special committees which shall consist of a public safety committee of three members, recreation and parks committee of three members, public works committee of three members and a financial committee of three members.

(Prior code § 1-218)

The only standing committee of the council shall be the committee of the whole. The president of the council shall be the presiding officer of the committee of the whole, and the rules of proceedings in the council shall be observed in the committee of the whole as far as the same may be applicable.

(Prior code § 1-219)

In January of each year, and on an as-needed basis thereafter, the Mayor, with City Council approval, shall make all appointments to outside boards, commissions, and committees for the year. Each selection shall be based upon a nomination made by motion of the Mayor, seconded, and adopted by a majority of the City Council. If none of the nominees made by motion of the Mayor are approved by the City Council, any member of the City Council may make a nomination for appointment. Such nomination shall be seconded, and must be approved by a majority of the City Council in order to be appointed.

(Ord. No. 295, § 2, 11-27-2018)

Editor's note— Ord. No. 295, § 2, adopted Nov. 27, 2018, set out provisions intended for use as § 2.04.190. Inasmuch as there were already provision so designated, said section has been codified herein as § 2.04.195 at the discretion of the editor.

Any member shall have the right to have the reasons for his dissent from, or protest against, any action of the council entered on the minutes.

(Prior code § 1-220)

No account or other demand against the city shall be allowed until the same has been considered and reported upon by the financial committee.

(Prior code § 1-221)

A. Preparation of Ordinances. All ordinances shall be prepared by the city attorney. No ordinance shall be prepared for presentation to the council unless ordered by a majority vote of the council, or requested in writing by the mayor, or prepared by the city attorney on his own initiative.

B. Prior Approval by Administrative Staff. All ordinances, resolutions and contract documents shall, before presentation to the council, have been approved as to form and legality by the city attorney.

C. All ordinances of the city shall be posted in three public places in the city by the city clerk within 15 days after their final adoption.

D. All ordinances of the city shall be inscribed in the ordinance book of the city and filed in proper order by looseleaf insertion in the Municipal Code.

(Prior code § 1-222)

The committees of the council shall make reports in writing, and shall return petitions, resolutions, accounts, or other paper submitted for consideration.

(Prior code § 1-223)

All reports and resolutions shall be filed with the clerk and their title entered in the minutes.

(Prior code § 1-224)

A motion to adjourn shall always be in order and decided without debate.

(Prior code § 1-225)