Santa Fe Springs Municipal Code Ch. 30 City Council

(A) That certain building designated and located at 11710 Telegraph Road shall be named and designated as the "City Hall" in and for the city.

(B) That certain room at 11710 Telegraph Road, identified as the Council Chamber, shall be designated as "Council Chamber" of the City Council.

(Ord. 102, passed 11-13-58; '64 Code, § 2-1; '64 Code, § 2-4; Am. Ord. 314, passed 8-3-67)

Neither the City Council nor any of its members shall direct or request the appointment of any person to, or his removal from, office by the City Manager or any of his subordinates or in any manner take part in the appointment or removal of officers and employees in the administrative service of the city. Except for the purpose of inquiry, the City Council and its members shall deal with the administrative service solely through the City Manager and neither the City Council nor any member thereof shall give orders to any subordinates of the City Manager, either publicly or privately. The City Council may, however, ask or direct the City Manager to investigate alleged improprieties and take appropriate action based on the results of such investigations.

(Ord. 18, passed 7-11-57; '64 Code, § 2-16; Am. Ord. 1031, passed 5-24-12)

In accordance with the provisions of Section 36516 of the Government Code, the compensation of the members of the City Council shall be $1,019.38 per month. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 36516.5 of the Government Code, this section shall take effect as to all Council members when one or more members begin a new term of office following the 2024 general municipal election.

(Ord. 135, passed 8-27-59; '64 Code, § 2-16.1; Am. Ord. 731, passed 4-28-88; Am. Ord. 771, passed 4-26-90; Am. Ord. 857, passed 7-13-95; Am. Ord. 876, passed 6-26-97; Am. Ord. 900, passed 6-24-99; Am. Ord. 916, passed 4-26-01; Am. Ord. 973, passed 11-17-05; Am. Ord. 980, passed 9-28-06; Am. Ord. 987, passed 1-10-08; Am. Ord. 1022, passed 2-10-11; Am. Ord. 1032, passed 7-31-12; Ord. 1141, § 1, passed 7-16-24)

Pursuant to Government Code Section 36805, the City Council shall hold regular meetings at least once a month at times fixed by resolution.

(Ord. 1, passed 5-15-57; Ord. 15A, passed 6-5-57; '64 Code, §§ 2-5—2-6; Ord. 704, passed 11-13-86; Am. Ord. 949, passed 1-22-04; Am. Ord. 1115, passed 1-14-21; Ord. 1139, § 1, passed 6-4-24)

(A) Any regular meeting of the City Council, or adjourned session thereof, may be adjourned to a stated day and hour which shall be specified in the order of adjournment; and when so adjourned, such adjourned meeting shall be a regular meeting for all purposes. Such adjourned meeting may likewise be adjourned, and when so adjourned, shall be a regular meeting for all purposes.

(B) In the event any order of adjournment of a City Council meeting fails to state the hour at which the adjourned meeting is to be held, such adjourned meeting may be validly held on the day specified in the order of adjournment, if held at the hour prescribed for regular meetings.

(Ord. 1, passed 5-15-57; Ord. 15A, passed 6-5-57; '64 Code, § 2-7—2-8)

No notice of any adjournment of any regular meeting or adjourned regular meeting of the City Council, when such adjournment is made by the City Council, or by members thereof when a quorum is not present, need be given, as all members of the City Council are charged with the duty and responsibility of ascertaining the time and place of each such regular meeting and adjourned regular meeting. In cases where a meeting is adjourned by the City Clerk, pursuant to the provisions of state law, written notice of the date and time to which the meeting has been so adjourned shall be given to the Mayor and each Council member at least three hours before the adjourned meeting.

(Ord. 1, passed 5-15-57; Ord. 15A, passed 6-5-57; '64 Code, § 2-9)

Special meetings of the City Council may be called and notice thereof given, as contemplated under the provisions of state law pertaining to such matters. Any special meeting of the City Council may also be validly called and held without further notice if all of the members of the City Council, and other persons or agencies who may be entitled to notice of special meetings under the provisions of Cal. Gov't Code § 54956, shall give their consent in writing to the holding of such special meeting and such consent is on file in the office of the City Clerk at the time of the holding of such meeting. A telegram or letter from a Council member, or other person or agency entitled to notice, consenting to the holding of the special meeting shall be deemed to be a consent in writing within the meaning of the terms as expressed in this section. At any special meeting, the power of the City Council to transact business shall be limited to the subjects and matters referred to in the written notice or written consent, pursuant to which such meeting is held.

(Ord. 1, passed 5-15-57; '64 Code, § 2-10)

Three members of the City Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting, but a lesser number may adjourn and may compel the attendance of absent members in the manner and under the penalties set forth in § 30.20.

(Ord. 1, passed 5-15-57; '64 Code, § 2-11)

The Mayor or any two members of the City Council may file a written order requiring the attendance of any Council member who may be absent from any City Council meeting, and shall have the power to send members of the police force of the city with such written order to bring the absent Council member before the Council. It shall be unlawful for any member of the City Council to fail or refuse to immediately accompany such police officers to the Council Chamber upon being served with such written order, unless such member of the City Council is injured, ill or incapacitated to such an extent as to reasonably preclude such attendance on his part, or unless he is so precluded by the serious illness or injury of any member of his immediate family.

(Ord. 1, passed 5-15-57; '64 Code, § 2-12)

Cross reference— Penalty, see § 10.97

(A) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to ensure that all public meetings conducted by the City of Santa Fe Springs (the "City") City Council and its respective commissions and committees are inclusive, respectful, and productive, the following rules of decorum ("Rules of Decorum") are established. These rules are designed to minimize disruptions and allow for meaningful public participation so that the City may conduct the people's business effectively.

(B) Definitions. The following definitions shall apply to this section unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.

Disruptive conduct means any behavior during a meeting that disrupts, disturbs, impedes, or renders infeasible the orderly conduct of the meeting.

True threat of force means a threat that has sufficient indicia of intent and seriousness, that a reasonable observer would perceive it to be an actual threat to use force by the person making the threat. Any person failing to leave the room in which the public meeting is being conducted after being ordered to do so by the presiding officer and who willfully resists, delays or obstructs removal by law enforcement personnel, may be subject to arrest for violation of the Penal Code or Santa Fe Springs Municipal Code.

(C) Presiding Officer. The presiding officer of any public meeting shall be responsible for preserving order and ensuring the Rules of Decorum are enforced throughout the duration of the meeting. The presiding officer shall have the authority to recognize speakers, determine the order of business, enforce these rules of decorum, rule on points of order, and take such actions as may be necessary to maintain the orderly conduct of the meeting.

(D) Council and City Staff Conduct. Members of the City Council, commissioners, committee members, as provided in Section 32.39 are subject to these Rules of Decorum, and City staff shall conduct themselves in a professional and respectful manner at all times. All members shall speak only upon recognition by the presiding officer and shall confine their comments to the matter under discussion. Members shall avoid interrupting speakers, engaging in personal attacks, or otherwise engage in disruptive conduct.

(E) Audience Conduct. Members of the audience shall not engage in disruptive conduct that impacts the orderly conduct of business. This includes, but is not limited to, applauding over speakers recognized by the presiding officer, booing, shouting, interrupting speakers, or holding signs that obstruct the view of others or create a distraction. All electronic devices must be silenced. Physical obstruction of aisles, exits, or access to the dais is prohibited. Items deemed dangerous, hazardous, or disruptive by the presiding officer, including weapons or noisemaking devices, are prohibited in the Council Chambers or meeting room, as the case may be. It shall be unlawful for any person to disrupt any public meeting conducted by the City through the conduct described herein, by tumultuous or offensive conduct or by threatening, traducing, quarreling, challenging to fight or fighting. It shall be unlawful for any person present at any public meeting and while in session to fail or refuse to be seated or remain quiet when ordered or commanded to do so by the presiding officer.

(F) Public Participation. Members of the public shall have the right to speak on matters within the body's jurisdiction during the public comment periods designated on the agenda. Each speaker shall have three minutes to speak, unless the body, by a majority vote, decides to modify the time limit as deemed necessary for the orderly conduct of business. Speakers shall submit a written request to speak (commonly known as a speaker card) and submit it to City Clerk staff. Speakers may address the body during the general public comment period which generally shall be taken up at or near the beginning of each regular meeting. Speakers may not yield time to others. All remarks shall be addressed to the body as a whole and not to individual members, staff, or members of the audience.

(G) Warning and Removal. In the event that an audience member or a member of the body is engaged in disruptive conduct, the presiding officer may warn the individual that their behavior is disrupting the meeting and that their failure to cease their behavior may result in their removal. If the conduct continues, the presiding officer may direct that the individual be removed from the meeting. Upon the order of the presiding officer, any law enforcement personnel present shall carry out the removal.

(1) Exception—True Threat of Force. If an individual engages in behavior or disruptive conduct that constitutes use of force or a true threat of force the presiding officer may order their immediate removal without issuing a warning.

(2) Clearance of the Meeting Room. If order cannot be restored after the presiding officer has ordered the removal of disruptive persons, the presiding officer may clear the meeting room. Individuals not engaging in disruptive behavior can be readmitted at the direction of the presiding officer.

(H) [Robert's Rules of Order.] Except as may be otherwise provided by law, public meetings shall ordinarily be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order, Revised; provided, however, that a failure to observe or enforce such rules shall in no manner affect the regularity, validity or legality of any action or proceeding taken by the body. Any body subject to these Rules of Decorum, in its discretion and in accordance with its right to govern its own proceedings, reserves the right to proceed at any time otherwise than as prescribed or indicated in Robert's Rules of Order, Revised.

(Ord. 1, passed 5-15-57; '64 Code, §§ 2-13—2-15; Ord. 1163, § 2, passed 10-7-25)

Cross reference— Penalty, see § 10.97

(A) The City Council shall reorganize by selecting one of its number as Mayor, and another of its number as Mayor Pro Tempore, on the following occasions:

(1) At the first meeting of December in nonelection years; or

(2) At the first meeting immediately following the certification of election results in election years.

(B) Persons shall be appointed to the position of Mayor in accordance with the following order of appointment:

(1) Rounds.

(2) Zamora.

(3) Rodriguez.

(4) Martin.

(5) Sarno.

(C) Persons shall be appointed to the position of Mayor Pro Tempore in the same order for the period of time immediately preceding their appointment as Mayor.

(D) As members leave the city council, the order of appointment shall be deemed modified by adding the names of new council members at the bottom of the order of appointment, and deleting the name of the retiring member or members therefrom. Where the names of two or more new council members are added to the order at the same time, their respective positions on the order of appointment shall be determined based upon which person received the highest number of votes in the municipal election immediately preceding.

(E) If any member declines to be appointed as the Mayor or Mayor Pro Tem in accordance with the order of appointment, that member will be moved to the bottom of the order of appointment.

Ord. No. 1149, passed 9-3-24)