Hermosa Beach Municipal Code Ch. 2.04 City Council

Contents:

2.04.010 Council meetings–when held.

2.04.020 Meetings–where held.

2.04.030 Special meetings.

2.04.040 Meetings open to public; Exceptions for closed sessions.

2.04.050 Study sessions.

2.04.060 Rules governing city council meetings.

2.04.070 Disqualification for conflict of interest.

The city council shall hold regular meetings at least once a month at times fixed by resolution of the city council. When the day for any regular meeting falls on a legal holiday, no meeting shall be held on such holiday, but a regular meeting shall be held at the same hour on the following business day. The city council may adjourn any regular or adjourned meeting to a date specified in the order of adjournment. When so adjourned, the adjourned meeting is a regular meeting for all purposes. (Prior code § 2-1)

1. Generally. Regular meetings of the city council shall be held in the council chamber of the City Hall, 1315 Valley Drive, in the city.
2. Alternate Location. The alternate location for regular meetings of the city council shall be in the Hermosa Beach Community Center, 710 Pier Avenue, in the city, and said alternate location shall be used for such regular meetings only during such times as the city hall council chamber is not available and only after there shall have been posted at the entrance to the city hall council chamber a notice of meeting at the alternate location at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the date and time for any regular council meeting. If, by reason of fire, flood, earthquake or other emergency, it shall be unsafe to meet in the places designated, the meetings may be held for the duration of the emergency in such place within the city as is designated by the presiding officer of the council. Such notice of an emergency alternative meeting site shall be posted at Hermosa Beach City Hall if practicable and notification given in a manner consistent with state law. (Prior code § 2-2)

A special meeting of the city council may be ordered at any time by the mayor, or by a majority of the members of the council, by delivering personally or by mail written notice to each member of the council at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time of such meeting as specified in the notice. Said notice shall specify the time and place of the meeting and business to be transacted, and no other business shall be considered at such meetings by the city council.

Such written notice may be dispensed with as to any member who at or prior to the time the meeting convenes files with the city clerk a written waiver of notice. Such waiver may be given by telegram. Such written notice may also be dispensed with as to any member who is actually present at the meeting at the time it convenes.

Such written notice shall be delivered personally or by mail at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time of such meeting as specified in the notice to each local newspaper of general circulation, radio or television station requesting notice in writing. (Prior code § 2-2.1)

All regular and special meetings of the City Council shall be public; provided, however, the City Council may hold closed sessions during a regular, adjourned or special meeting, from which the public may be excluded as may be permitted by law. (Ord. 11-1326 §1, Sept. 2011; Prior code § 2-2.2)

From time to time the council will meet in a study session at a time and place to be designated by the council. Such study sessions shall be noticed at the prior council meeting and will be open to the public and the press. Such study sessions shall be devoted to matters pertaining to which the interchange of information preliminary to a regular meeting is deemed to be essential. No official action or formal vote shall be taken at such study session on any matter under discussion; provided, however, that the councilmen in attendance shall be entitled to express their opinion on any matter under discussion. The participation of the public in such sessions shall be subject to the discretion of the presiding officer. (Prior code § 2-2.3)

The City Council may, by Resolution, establish rules governing the conduct of its meetings. (Ord. 12-1331,§ 3, Jan. 2012; Prior code § 2-2.4)

1. Any member of the City Council who is disqualified from voting or taking any action on a particular matter by reason of a conflict of interest as defined either by the Political Reform Act (Government Code Sections 81000 et seq.) ("the Act") or by Government Code Section 1090 shall provide notification as set forth in subsection (b) of this Section, and shall disclose the nature of said conflict of interest in writing to the City Manager and City Attorney at the earliest possible time and in no event later than five (5) business days from the time that the conflict of interest arises.

2. The notification shall be in writing and shall set forth in reasonable detail and particularity the nature of the conflict, the scope of the members involvement in the project or transaction at issue, and that monetary or other consideration is to be derived by the member from said project or transaction. Said notification shall include a statement as to the affected members intention to disqualify himself or herself from any deliberation or discussion of the project or transaction at issue. The City Manager shall immediately transmit a copy of the notification to all members of the City Council.

3. Once a conflict of interest is ascertained, the disqualified member shall:

4. Remove himself or herself from the dais at all times during which the matter is under consideration; and

5. Refrain from participating in the discussion as a member of the body and from voting thereon; and

6. Refrain from using his or her official position to influence the decision regarding the matter.

7. Any member of the City Council so disqualified shall not be counted for the purpose of determining a quorum, and shall be considered absent for the purpose of determining the outcome of a vote on the matter, unless that members participation is required pursuant to the rule of legally required participation. (Ord. 12-1331,§ 1,2,3, Jan. 2012; Ord. 96-1159, §2, 05/96; Prior code § 2-2.19)