Chapter 2.04 — CITY COUNCIL

For statutory provisions authorizing the city council to establish rules for the conduct of its proceedings, see Gov. Code §36813.

A.

Regular meetings of the city council will be held at 1100 E. Parlier Avenue, Parlier, California on the first and third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m.

B.

In the event there is insufficient space at the above location, the council may meet at an alternative location. If meeting at other than the 1100 E. Parlier Avenue location, the meeting shall be announced at the council meeting prior to the relocation. If such announcement is not made, notice of the new location shall be posted for the two hours immediately preceding the meeting at a publicly visible location at 1100 E. Parlier Avenue. Alternatively, the city clerk or mayor may call a meeting to order at 1100 E. Parlier Avenue and adjourn the meeting to a new location, leaving publicly visible notice of the new location posted at 1100 E. Parlier Avenue.

(Ord. 97-01, §1, 1997: Ord. 94-12 §1, 1995: Ord. 88-03, 1988: Ord. 87-10, 1988: Ord. 84-02, 1984: Ord. 82- 03 §2, 1982: Ord. 79-4 §1, 1979: Ord. 78-3 §1, 1978: Ord. 77-3 §1, 1977: Ord. 72-142 §1, 1972).

(Ord. No. 2017-02, § 1, 12-6-2017; Ord. No. 2018-01, § 1, 2-8-2018)

The mayor shall receive the sum of nine hundred twenty-seven dollars each month or salary. Each council member, other than the mayor, shall receive the sum of seven hundred ninety-five dollars per month, as salary. The salaries provided for by this section are exclusive of any amount payable to members of the council, including the mayor, as reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses of office.

(Ord. 85-13 §1, 1985: Ord. 83-10B §1, 1983).

(Ord. No. 2019-01, § 2, 2-7-2019)

The council may, by resolution, provide that councilpersons and the mayor participate in and receive benefits including, but not limited to, retirement, health and welfare, and federal social security benefits, to be paid for by the city.

(Ord. 85-13 §2, 1985).

At the beginning of each term, the mayor shall appoint councilmen to the following committees, to consist of one member each, who shall be known as commissioners:

A.

Commissioner of streets, sidewalks and parks;

B.

Commissioner of health and safety;

C.

Commissioner of light and water;

D.

Commissioner of fire and police.

The chairman of the council shall be the mayor.

(Ord. 2 §1, 1921).

All business brought before the council shall be referred to the appropriate commissioner for his investigation, report and recommendation in reference thereto, before any action shall be taken thereon by the council as a whole, except when the business in question is of special urgency, or of such a nature that it may be disposed of immediately. Upon a four-fifths vote of the council, any commissioner may be required to report his recommendations in writing.

(Ord. 2 §2, 1921).

The minutes of the city council or journal of their proceedings required to be kept by the clerk shall be neatly typewritten in a special looseleaf journal book, with each of the different kinds of business transacted set off in paragraphs with proper subheads.

Until a substantial fireproof vault has been provided for keeping the public records, the clerk shall keep the original copies of all ordinances, and, wherever possible, copies of all other official records, in a fireproof safe deposit box or boxes which he is authorized to lease for that purpose.

(Ord. 2 §4, 1921).

The commissioners of finance, streets, sidewalks and parks, and water and light, shall constitute the auditing committee who shall examine and approve all bills in writing before the same may be paid

(Ord. 2 §5, 1921).

A.

The following shall constitute the border of business to be followed in conducting the regular meetings of the council:

Order of Business

A.

Roll call;

B.

Minutes of previous meeting;

C.

Receiving written communications;

D.

Receiving oral communications;

E.

Report of special committees;

F.

Report of commissioners;

G.

Unfinished business;

H.

Paying bills;

I.

New business;

J.

Adjournment.

B.

Any citizen may arise and address the council on any business specially concerning them or affecting their interests, but preference will be given to those who have first presented matters in the form of a written communication or who have personally notified the mayor of the council of their desire to speak.

C.

The members of the council shall remain seated while participating in discussions and at all times during any meeting; they shall address their remarks to the mayor and other members of the council, and not to the citizens who may happen to be in attendance.

D.

The regular order of business may be suspended by a majority vote for the accommodation of nonresidents who may have business before the council or for any other purpose.

(Ord. 2 §6, 1921).

Any member or other 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 so to do by the mayor or mayor pro tem of the council, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable as specified in Section 1.16.010 of this code. It shall be the duty of the chief of police, upon order of the presiding officer, to eject any such member or person from the council room.

(Ord. 2 §7, 1921).

In case a quorum should not be present at any meeting and important business remains to be transacted or diposed of, any two members of the council may cause a written notice to be served personally upon the other members directing their immediate attendance, whereupon the members receiving such written notice shall be required to attend immediately, except in case of sickness or death in their immediate family; otherwise, they shall be liable to a fine, penalty or forfeiture to the city in the sum of twenty-five dollars, recoverable by a civil action in the recorder's court.

(Ord. 2 §8, 1921).

Any member of the city council who refuses to attend four consecutive meetings, when neither sick nor absent from the city at the time the meetings were held, shall be deemed to have forfeited his title to the office of councilman, and the remaining members or a majority thereof may cause an action to be brought in the superior court to have his office declared vacant.

(Ord. 2 §9, 1921).

The proceedings of the council shall be governed under "Roberts' Rules of Order" on all matters pertaining to parliamentary law, but no ordinance, resolution, proceeding or other action of the council shall be invalidated or the legality thereof otherwise affected by failure or omission to observe or follow said rules.

(Ord. 2 §10, 1921).

All notices of special meetings must be delivered personally to the members of the city council in the time, form and manner provided by law.

(Ord. 2 §10, 1921).