San Diego Municipal Code Div. 1 The Council

Table of Contents

Rule 1: Time and Place of Meetings

1.1. Time

1.2. Adjournment of Meetings

1.3. Place

1.4. Change of Time and Place

1.5. Notice

1.6. Special Meetings

1.7. Emergency Meetings

Rule 2: Procedure for Council Meetings

2.1. Agenda

2.2. Order of Business

2.3. Special Orders of Business

2.4. Adoption Agenda

2.5. Non-Agenda Items

2.6. Public Comment on Information and Adoption Agenda Items

2.7. Non-Agenda Public Comment

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2.9. Parliamentary Procedure

2.10. Procedure for Referral to Committee or Assignment to Council Docket

2.11. Procedure for Debate

2.12. Procedure for Reconsideration

2.13. Suspension of Rules of Council

2.14. Public Conduct

2.15. Procedure for Disruption of Telephonic or Internet Service

Rule 3: Duties of Councilmembers

3.1. Non-Public Meetings Prohibited

3.2. Requirement to Vote on Matters Not Involving Personal Interests

3.3. Voting After Absence from Council Meeting

Rule 4: Selection and Removal of the Council President and Council President Pro Tem

Pro Tem are Absent or Unable to Perform Their Duties

Rule 5: Duties of the Council President and Council President Pro Tem

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Rule 6: Standing and Special Committees

6.1. Creation of Standing Committees

6.2. Committee Appointments and Membership

6.3. Committee Meetings

6.4. Committee Quorums and Attendance

6.5. Conduct of Committee Business

6.6. Committee Consultants and Legislative Staff

6.7. Duties of Committee Chairs

6.8. Rights and Duties of Committee Members

6.9. Committee Hearings

6.10. Standing Committee Composition and Responsibilities

Rule 7: Procedures for Request for Council Action

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Rule 8: Noticing and Conduct of Closed Sessions

8.1. Form and Manner of Notice

8.2. Public Participation

8.3. Council Questions and Discussion in Open Session

8.4. Recording of Closed Sessions

8.5. Reporting of Closed Session Results in Open Session

Rule 9: Temporary Rules

Rule 10: Amendment of Rules of Council

Rule 11: Existing Procedures Preserved

Rule 1: TIME AND PLACE OF MEETINGS

The regular weekly meetings of the City Council (Council) shall be scheduled as follows,

Monday 10:00 a.m. — 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday 10:00 a.m. — 6:00 p.m.,

in accordance with the Council-approved legislative calendar, as

amended from time to time in accordance with Rule 1.4.

The official legislative calendar shall be available on the City’s website.

The Council meeting shall adjourn at the conclusion of the Council agenda. The Council may hold a duly called special meeting after the adjournment of a regular meeting.

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Regular Council meetings shall be held in the Council Chambers of the City Administration Building, San Diego Community Concourse, in the City of San Diego, California, unless otherwise provided in the legislative calendar. The Council may also hold regularly scheduled night Council meetings starting no earlier than 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the City Administration Building or in various community facilities throughout the City of San Diego. Night Council meetings will be scheduled as determined by the Council President, with the specific date, time, and location of each meeting to be established by resolution of the Council.

The Council may, by resolution, when necessary, change the time and place of a regular meeting or designate recess periods when regular meetings of the Council will not be held by amending the legislative calendar. The resolution shall set forth the circumstances necessitating the change.

(a) When these Rules require written notice to each Councilmember or to the Mayor, the notice may be delivered personally, by mail, or by electronic mail.

(b) The City Clerk may provide a copy of the agenda packet to any
member of the public requesting notice under California
Government Code section 54954.1 using the City Clerk’s
electronic mailing list unless the requestor specifically requests
the agenda packet be mailed. The City Clerk may charge a fee
for mailed agenda packets in accordance with California
Government Code section 54954.1.

(a) A special meeting may be called at any time by the Council President or by a majority of the members of the Council in accordance with Government Code section 54956. The party calling the special meeting shall deliver written notice as set forth in Rule 1.5, to each member of the Council and the Mayor, and to each local newspaper of general circulation, radio, or television station requesting notice in writing.

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(b) The written notice must be received at least 24 hours before the
time of the meeting specified in the notice.

(c) The call and notice shall specify the time and place of the
special meeting and the business to be transacted. The Council
shall consider no other business at the meeting. Special
meetings shall be chaired by the Council President.

(d) Written notice may be dispensed with as to any
Councilmember who, at or prior to the time the meeting
convenes, files with the City Clerk a written waiver of notice.
The waiver may be given by electronic mail. Written notice
may also be dispensed with as to any Councilmember who is
actually present at the meeting at the time it convenes.

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, the Council President or a majority of the Council may call an emergency meeting at the request of the Mayor or, in the Mayor’s absence, the Director or Assistant Director of Emergency Services or as further prescribed in Municipal Code Chapter 5, Article 1, Division 1, without complying with the 24-hour notice requirement of Rule 1.6. For purposes of this paragraph, “emergency situation” means any of the following:

(a) Work stoppage or other activity which severely impairs public
health, safety, or both, as determined by a majority of the
members of the Council; or

(b) Crippling disaster which severely impairs public health, safety,
or both, as determined by a majority of the members of the
Council.

The determination of an emergency situation shall be made prior to
Council consideration of the emergency item(s).

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(c) The Council President or designee shall notify each local
newspaper of general circulation and radio or television
station which has requested written notice of special meetings
by telephone one hour prior to the emergency meeting. The
Council President or designee shall exhaust all telephone
numbers provided in the most recent request of such
newspaper or station for notification of special meetings. The
City Clerk shall maintain this list of telephone numbers. If
telephone services are not functioning, the notice
requirements of this paragraph shall be deemed waived, and
the Council, or designee, 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.

(d) The Council may meet in closed session during an emergency
meeting pursuant to California Government Code
section 54957. All special meeting requirements as prescribed
in Rule 1.6 shall be applicable to a meeting called pursuant to
Rule 1.7, with the exception of the 24-hour notice requirement.

(e) The minutes of a meeting called pursuant to Rule 1.7, a list of
persons the Council President or designee notified or attempted
to notify, a copy of the roll call vote, and any actions taken at
the meeting shall be posted for a minimum of ten days in a
public place as soon after the meeting as possible.

(f) This section is intended to be interpreted consistent with the
authority and limitations of California Government Code
sections 54956 and 54957 authorizing emergency meetings.

Rule 2: PROCEDURE FOR COUNCIL MEETINGS

Agendas for the Monday and Tuesday regular Council meetings, as provided in the adopted legislative calendar, shall be published in a location accessible to the public and made available on the City’s website.

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The order of business for Council meetings will generally be as follows, subject to the discretion of the Council President to take items out of order:

Monday at 10:00 a.m.

1. Roll Call

2. Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation

3. Public Comment on Closed Session (must be heard
prior to Closed Session)

Monday at 10:00 a.m.

Closed Session

Monday at 2:00 p.m.

1. Roll Call

2. Non-Agenda Communications from Mayor, Council,
Independent Budget Analyst, City Clerk, City Attorney

3. Ceremonial Items

4. Requests for Continuances by a Councilmember

5. Information and Adoption Agenda

6. Non-Agenda Public Comment

7. Non-Agenda Items

8. Report Out from Closed Session

9. Adjournment

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Tuesday at 10:00 a.m.

1. Roll Call

2. Pledge of Allegiance

3. Requests for Continuance by a Councilmember for
Items Scheduled During the Morning Session

4. Proclamations/Ceremonial Items

5. Consent Agenda Items

6. Non-Agenda Communications from Mayor, Council,
Independent Budget Analyst, City Clerk, City Attorney

7. Special Orders of Business

8. Items pulled from Consent by Councilmembers

9. Information and Adoption Agenda Items

10. Non-Agenda Public Comment

Tuesday at 2:00 p.m.

1. Roll Call

2. Request for Continuance by a Councilmember for
Items Trailed from Morning Session or Items
Scheduled for Afternoon Session

3. Information and Adoption Agenda Items (trailed from
morning session or as scheduled)

4. Non-Agenda Communications from Mayor, Council, Independent Budget Analyst, City Clerk, City Attorney and Ceremonial Items (if trailed from morning session) 5. Non-Agenda Public Comment (trailed from morning session) 6. Non-Agenda Items 7. Adjournment Ch. Art. Div. 2 2 1 9

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Night Meetings

When a night meeting is scheduled in accordance with Rule 1.3, the Council President may determine the appropriate Order of Business.

The Council may discuss or take action on items of business not appearing on the posted agenda under any of the following conditions pursuant to California Government Code section 54954.2:

(a) An item has been continued by the Council to a date certain
from a properly posted agenda at a meeting held five days or
less before the date action is taken on the item, or

(b) Upon a determination by a two-thirds vote of the Council, or if
less than two-thirds of the members are present, a unanimous
vote of those present, that the need to take action arose after
the agenda was posted, or

(c) Upon a determination by a majority of the Council that an
emergency exists as defined in Rule 1.7.

The originating official shall follow the existing docketing process and
indicate the reason for the request. The Council shall be required to
first vote upon the matter of determining the validity of the
circumstances giving rise to the request prior to discussion and action
upon the item of business. A vote to take up these matters is only
required for items under sections (b) and (c) of this section.

The Council shall provide twice the allotted time to a member of the public who uses an interpreter to provide public testimony under Rules 2.6 or 2.7.

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(a) In all cases not provided by these Rules of Council, or other ordinance or resolution, Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised will be used as a guide to the Council’s conduct.

(b) Robert’s Rules of Order notwithstanding, a “majority” of
Councilmembers means five Councilmembers. A “majority
vote” means the affirmative vote of five Councilmembers. A
“two-thirds vote” or “supermajority vote” means the
affirmative vote of six Councilmembers.

(c) For committee meeting purposes, “majority” means two
members when referring to committees of three total members
and three members when referring to committees of four or
five total members and “majority vote” means a majority of the
members appointed to a committee.

(d) Failure of an Item to Receive Sufficient Votes. The failure of a
motion to obtain a majority or supermajority vote, as required,
means no action has been taken; therefore, the agenda item or
staff recommendation is not yet approved or denied. The Chair
shall permit alternative motions. Alternative motions may
include a motion to continue. If no further motions are passed,
the Chair will close with the following results, except where
otherwise provided by law:

(1) If the matter is an appeal from a decision of a lower
decision-making body, the appeal shall be deemed
denied and the decision from which the appeal was
taken shall be deemed sustained.

(2) If the matter is a quasi-judicial matter, which by statute
or ordinance is under the original jurisdiction of the
City Council, so that no lower decision has been made,
then the matter is deemed denied.

(3) For all other legislative or administrative matters, the
matter is not approved.

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The following guidelines shall be used in debating any item and may be modified at the discretion of the Council President or by a vote of the Council majority setting different time limits for debates:

(a) Brief opening statement by the item originator explaining the
item (maximum of five minutes).

(b) Statements may be made by the Independent Budget Analyst,
City Attorney, and City Auditor concerning the item
(maximum of five minutes each).

(c) Comment by members of the public regarding the item
according to Rule 2.6.

(d) Questions and Discussion. Each Councilmember, the City
Attorney, and the Independent Budget Analyst shall be allowed
to speak and shall be limited to five minutes per person. Each
Councilmember has the right to obtain an additional three
minutes upon request, with the further right of any other
Councilmember to yield all or a portion of such
Councilmember’s time to another Councilmember. Motions by
Councilmembers may be made at this time.

(e) Call for a vote on the motion or where no motion has been
made, a request for a motion.

Any Rule of Council may be suspended temporarily by a vote of two- thirds of the Councilmembers, provided that such temporary suspension shall apply only to the matter under immediate consideration, and in no case shall it extend beyond an adjournment.

No person shall engage in any conduct that disrupts, disturbs, or impedes the conduct of a Council meeting, whether by loud, threatening, or obscene conduct, or otherwise. Any person who engages in such conduct that impedes the orderly conduct of any Council meeting, at the discretion of the Council President, shall be given a warning that their conduct is out of order, is disrupting the meeting, and failure to stop may result in their removal from the meeting. Any person having been ruled out of order by the Council President shall immediately conform to the orders of the Council President. Any person who refuses when ordered to conform to the rules of conduct may be removed from the place of the Council meeting by order of the Council President.

(a) If a disruption to telephonic or internet service occurs before or during an open session meeting, the City shall make good faith efforts to restore service before convening or reconvening the meeting.

(1) If the disruption occurs before an open session meeting
and continues at the noticed time for the meeting to
begin, the Council shall not convene the meeting until
one hour after the time the disruption was discovered or
until service is restored, whichever is earlier.

(2) If the disruption begins during an open session meeting,
the Council shall recess the meeting for one hour or
until service is restored, whichever is earlier.

(3) Good faith efforts to restore telephonic or internet
service shall be made, which may include the
following:

(A) troubleshooting platform or teleconferencing
software;

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(B) resetting or replacing audiovisual equipment;

(C) attempting alternative connection methods;

(D) contacting necessary support staff or service
providers; and

(E) switching to back-up equipment or platforms, if
available.

(4) Any efforts taken to restore telephonic or internet service
shall be documented by the City Clerk or stated on the
record.

(5) If after one hour, service is not restored, the Council
may proceed as follows:

(A) adjourn the open session meeting; or

(B) continue the open session meeting by adopting, by roll call vote, a finding that good faith efforts to restore telephonic or internet service were made in compliance with Rule 2.15 and that the public interest in continuing the meeting outweighs the public interest in remote public access. Upon adoption of the finding, the open session meeting may continue.

(b) If a disruption to telephonic or internet service occurs before or
during a closed session meeting, the Council may convene or
continue in closed session without recess.

Rule 3: DUTIES OF COUNCILMEMBERS

Except as authorized pursuant to California Government Code section 54953, any use of direct communication, personal intermediaries, or technological devices by a majority of the members of the legislative body to discuss, deliberate, or take action on any item of business within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body is prohibited.

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No Councilmember shall be excused from voting at a Council meeting except on matters involving the consideration of the Councilmember’s own official conduct, when the Councilmember’s own personal financial interests are involved, and as otherwise required by law. Councilmembers should identify their own conflicts and seek advice before the meeting at which the potential conflict will be addressed. (See California Political Reform Act, Government Code section 81000 et seq. and Government Code sections 1126 and 1090.)

Council business shall not be impeded by the absence of a member as long as a quorum is present. Members absent from a Council meeting should study and review applicable materials before voting on any such matters. In the case of quasi-judicial matters, a Councilmember must review applicable materials before voting.

On those matters where a full Council vote is deemed necessary by the Council or legally required, all reports and comments shall be heard as expeditiously as possible with a quorum present. The actual vote will be taken by the full Council after absent members have had sufficient time for review of applicable material and recordings.

Rule 4: SELECTION AND REMOVAL OF THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM

The official title of the Council’s presiding officer shall be Council President. The acting presiding officer’s title shall be Council President Pro Tem.

In odd-numbered years, at the first Monday Council meeting in December and in even-numbered years, at the first Council meeting held on or after the tenth day of December, the Council shall select a Council President from one of its members by majority vote of the Council. The Council President shall serve for a term of one year, commencing on the date set forth above, or until a successor is selected and qualified, whichever is later. The Council President may serve more than one term. Ch. Art. Div. 2 2 1 22

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No later than the second meeting of the Council in January of each year, the Council President shall select a Council President Pro Tem, subject to confirmation by a majority of the Council. The Council President Pro Tem shall perform all the duties of the Council President as prescribed by the City Charter or by ordinance when the Council President is absent or unable to perform those duties. The Council President Pro Tem shall serve for a term of one year, commencing on the date set forth above, or until a successor is selected and qualified, whichever is later. The Council President Pro Tem may serve more than one term.

At any time, the Council President or Council President Pro Tem may be removed by a majority vote of the Council. In the event of a vacancy in either the position of Council President or Council President Pro Tem, the Council shall fill that vacancy at the next regularly scheduled Council meeting and the successor shall serve for the remaining term of the position being filled.

President Pro Tem are Absent or Unable to Perform Their Duties

In the absence of both the Council President and Council President Pro
Tem, the City Clerk shall call the Council meeting to order, and the
Council shall immediately elect a Chair Pro Tem to preside during that
meeting. Such office is terminated by the entrance of the Council
President or Council President Pro Tem, or by the election of another
Chair Pro Tem. If the Council must elect a Chair Pro Tem to hold
office beyond the current meeting, the City Clerk shall provide written
notice, as set forth in Rule 1.5, prior to the meeting at which such
election is held. The Chair Pro Tem shall have the authority of the
Council President in the absence of the Council President and the
Council President Pro Tem. The procedures for electing the Chair Pro
Tem are as follows:

(a) The City Clerk calls the meeting to order, takes roll call, and
takes up consideration of electing a Chair Pro Tem.

(b) The City Clerk opens the floor to nominations, calling on
Councilmembers in accordance with the order captured by the
voting system, followed by any virtually attending
Councilmembers in the order in which they raised their virtual
hand.

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(c) When all nominations have been placed on the floor, the City
Clerk calls on each nominee to make a statement (maximum of
three minutes).

(d) Councilmembers will have five minutes per person for
questioning nominees.

(e) Members of the public may comment regarding the item
(maximum of three minutes per speaker).

(f) When there is only one nomination, the nominee may be
elected by majority vote. The City Clerk will call for a vote on
the main motion or, where no motion has been made, request a
motion.

(g) If there are multiple nominations, the City Clerk shall follow Council Policy 000-13 regarding how to fill a vacancy if the number of nominees is greater than the number of vacancies.

Rule 5: DUTIES OF THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM

The Council President shall have such duties as prescribed for the presiding officer in Article XV of the City Charter and such other responsibilities, rights, and duties prescribed by the Council and authorized by law. The Council President Pro Tem shall perform all the duties of the Council President as prescribed by the City Charter or by ordinance when the Council President is absent or unable to perform those duties. When the Council President and Council President Pro Tem are absent or unable to vote, the City Clerk will call for a vote, per Rule 4.5.

The duties of the Council President shall include:

(a) Chair meetings of the Council and enforce the Rules of
Council.

(b) Call special meetings of the Council under Rule 1.

(c) Manage the docketing process and identify which items should
be docketed, placed on the consent agenda, or referred to
committee.

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(d) Coordinate closed session dockets with the Mayor and City
Attorney.

(e) Select the committee chairs and committee vice chairs with
approval by a Council majority.

(f) Request information regarding matters before the Council.

(g) Represent the Council at government and public functions.

(h) Make appointments, required by law or other governing
authority to be made by the Council President, in a timely
manner.

In the event of a vacancy in the office of the Mayor, the Council
President shall assume those duties of the Mayor prescribed in City
Charter section 265(i).

Rule 6: STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Committees

Any member of the Council or a Council committee may initiate a Request for Council Action for matters within the jurisdiction of the Council. Committee requests for Council action must be within the areas of responsibility assigned to that committee. Requests for Council Action shall be placed on the Adoption Agenda unless referred to committee by the Council President. If the Council President determines that a Request for Council Action initiated by a Councilmember who is not a member of the committee with assigned responsibility for the subject matter should be referred to committee, it shall be referred to the Committee on Rules or the Committee of the Whole unless the Councilmember’s participation at the committee with assigned responsibility for the subject matter complies with the Brown Act and Rule 6.3.4.

The official who originated the Request for Council Action shall cause the resolution or ordinance, with attached digest and any other supporting materials prepared in accordance with Rule 7, to be submitted to the Council President or designee no later than 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday for placing on the agenda of a regular Council meeting to be held within a timely manner not to exceed 120 days or as soon as necessary to comply with any legal deadline.

At least 72 hours before the regularly scheduled meeting of the Council, the City Clerk shall post the agenda with 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 meeting and shall be posted in a location freely accessible to the public. No discussion or action shall be taken on any item not appearing on the posted agenda, except as otherwise provided in Rule 2.5.

Rule 8: NOTICING AND CONDUCT OF CLOSED SESSION

The Council may impose upon itself requirements which allow greater access
to its meetings than prescribed by the minimum legal standards set forth in the
California Open Meeting Law, commonly known as “the Brown Act”
(California Government Code sections 54950-54963).

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(a) All closed session items shall appear on a Closed Session Agenda or Supplemental Closed Session Agenda, which agenda may be separate and distinct from the Council’s regular meeting agenda, but which shall be made available to the public and distributed concurrent with the regular meeting agenda of the Council, per Rule 7.6.3. A line item shall appear on the regular Council docket indicating that closed session items will be appearing on a separate Closed Session Agenda.

The Closed Session Agenda shall clearly indicate the time and
place that open session discussion of closed session items is
scheduled to occur. The Closed Session Agenda shall also
indicate the time and place for the scheduled closed session.

(b) All Closed Session Agenda items shall contain descriptions
which can be easily understood and informative to the public in
a meaningful way, unless to do so would harm the City and
public interest by disclosing facts that are not known to the
adverse party in any litigation or negotiations. Meaningful
means clear and specific enough to alert a person of average
intelligence and education whose interests are affected by the
item that the person may have a reason to attend the meeting or
seek more information on the item. The description should be
concise and written in plain, easily understood words.

(c) For authorized exceptions to open meetings, the following
minimum noticing and disclosure requirements, as may be
amended, shall apply:

(1) Significant Exposure to Litigation: California
Government Code section 54956.9.

(2) Conference with Legal Counsel – Existing Litigation:
California Government Code section 54956.9.

(3) Conference with Legal Counsel – Initiation of
Litigation: California Government Code section
54956.9.

(4) Conference with Real Property Negotiator: California
Government Code section 54956.8.

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(5) Conference with Labor Negotiators: California
Government Code section 54957.6.

(6) Threat to Public Services or Facilities: California
Government Code section 54957(a).

(7) Public Employee Performance Evaluation: California
Government Code section 54957(b)(1).

(8) Public Employee Appointment: California Government
Code section 54957(b)(1).

(9) Public Employee Discipline/Dismissal/Release:
California Government Code section 54957(b)(1).

(d) In open session, before public comment or Council discussion
of any closed session item, the City Attorney or appropriate
staff may provide an oral update or progress report on matters
under litigation, real property negotiations, or employee unit
bargaining if requested by a member of the Council.

The public shall have the opportunity to directly address the Council on any closed session item on the agenda, prior to the Council convening in closed session.

At the regular or special meeting of the Council, the Mayor and Councilmembers may discuss the basis for convening into closed session, ask questions, and respond to questions from the public.

All closed sessions, except those related to personnel matters, shall be recorded.

(a) The Council shall adjourn from closed session, reconvene in open session, and publicly report such final action and the vote or abstention of every member present when a public report is required by law, including:

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(1) Approval of an agreement concluding real estate
negotiations: California Government Code
section 54957.1(a)(1).

(2) Approval given to the City’s legal counsel to defend, or
seek, or refrain from seeking appellate review or relief,
or to enter as an amicus curiae in any form of litigation
as the result of a consultation: California Government
Code section 54957.1(a)(2).

(3) Approval given to its legal counsel of a settlement of
litigation at any stage prior to or during a judicial or
quasi-judicial proceeding (pending litigation):
California Government Code section 54957.1(a)(3).

(4) Final disposition of any claim: California Government
Code section 54957.1(a)(4).

(5) Action taken to appoint, employ, dismiss, accept the
resignation of, or otherwise affect the employment
status of a public employee: California Government
Code section 54957.1(a)(5).

(6) Approval of an agreement concluding labor
negotiations with represented employees which is a
final and has been accepted or ratified by the other
party: California Government Code section
54957.1(a)(6).

(b) Reports that are required to be made pursuant to this section
may be made orally or in writing. The City shall provide to any
person who has submitted a written request to the City within
24 hours of the posting of the agenda, or to any person who has
made a standing request for all documentation as part of a
request for notice of meetings pursuant to California
Government Code sections 54954.1 or 54956, if the requester
is present at the time the closed session ends, copies of any
contracts, settlement agreements, or other documents that were
finally approved or adopted in the closed session. If the action
taken results in one or more substantive amendments to the
related documents requiring retyping, the documents need not
be released until the retyping is completed during normal
business hours, provided that an oral summation of the
substance of the amendments has been made for the benefit of
the document requester or any other person present and
requesting the information.

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(c) The documentation referred to in Rule 8.5(b) shall be available
to any person on the next business day following the meeting
in which the action referred to is taken or, in the case of
substantial amendments, when any necessary retyping is
complete.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require that the
legislative body approve actions not otherwise subject to
legislative body approval.

The City Attorney, in coordination with the City Clerk, shall provide the Council with a weekly listing of all litigation filed against or by the City of San Diego, its officers or employees, any City boards and commissions (collectively “the City”) that has been served upon the City. The list shall include the court in which the case was filed, the name of the litigants, the date filed, and the court case number. A copy of the list shall be kept on file in the Office of the City Clerk and available for members of the public. The list shall be provided every week, and shall report on cases served the immediate preceding week.

Rule 9: TEMPORARY RULES

The Council President may, at any time, place on the Adoption Agenda a
resolution establishing a temporary rule. Upon adoption by the Council, the
temporary rule shall have the effect, for the time being, of a standing rule. If
such temporary rule is in conflict with a Rule of Council, it shall supersede
such Rule of Council only for the day on which it was adopted or for such
greater period as may be specified in the temporary rule.

Rule 10: AMENDMENT OF RULES OF COUNCIL

No Rule of Council shall be amended except by ordinance adopted by the
Council. No such ordinance shall be considered by the Council until it has
been referred to the standing Committee on Rules.

Rule 11: EXISTING PROCEDURES PRESERVED

The procedures of the Council contained in the Council Policy Manual shall
be continued in full force and effect.

(Amended 6-21-2011 by O-20066 N.S.; effective 7-21-2011.)
(Amended 11-1-2011 by O-20109 N.S.; effective 12-1-2011.)

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San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 2: Government (7-2026)

(Amended 1-10-2012 by O-20121 N.S.; effective 2-9-2012.) (Amended 1-8-2013 by O-20242 N.S.; effective 2-7-2013.) (Amended 10-29-2013 by O-20316 N.S.; effective 11-28-2013.) (Amended 1-13-2015 by O-20452 and O-20453 N.S.; effective 2-12-2015.) (Retitled from “Permanent Rules of the Council” to “Rules of the Council (Rules of Council)” and amended 1-12-2016 by O-20594 N.S.; effective 2-11-2016.) (Amended 12-6-2016 by O-20765 N.S.; effective 1-5-2017.) (Amended 8-6-2019 by O-21101 N.S.; effective 9-5-2019.) (Amended 12-6-2022 by O-21576 N.S.; effective 1-5-2023.) (Amended 10-8-2024 by O-21879 N.S.; effective 11-7-2024.) (Amended 3-11-2025 by O-21930 N.S.; effective 4-10-2025.) (Amended 5-12-2026 by O-22090 N.S.; effective 7-1-2026.)

Within fifteen days after final passage of any ordinance or resolution of a general nature, the City Clerk shall cause the same to be published once in the “City Official Newspaper” as defined by section 113 of the City Charter; provided, however, that when any ordinance or resolution is, by the City Charter, or by any general law, the provisions of which have been adopted by the City Charter, required to be published more than once, the City Clerk shall cause such ordinance or resolution to be published in the manner and as often as is so required. (Amended 4–17–1989 by O–17277 N.S) (Amended 1-12-2016 by O-20594 N.S.; effective 2-11-2016.)

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San Diego Municipal Code Chapter 2: Government (4-2025)

Article 2: Administrative Code