Article III — Procedure

The City Council shall meet on the second Tuesday in December following a consolidated municipal election in November, for the purpose of administering the oath of office to newly elected Councilmembers, and shall meet on the second Tuesday in December of each year or as soon thereafter as practicable to choose one of its members as Vice Mayor. The Mayor shall preside at the meetings of the Council. If the Mayor is absent or unable to act, the Vice Mayor shall serve until the Mayor returns or is able to act. If both the Mayor and Vice Mayor are absent or unable to act the Council shall elect a Mayor Pro Tem to serve until the Mayor or Vice Mayor returns or is able to act. The Vice Mayor or, in the absence of the Vice Mayor, the Mayor Pro Tem, has all the powers and duties of the Mayor. The Vice Mayor or, in the absence of the Vice Mayor, the Mayor Pro Tem, shall act as the Presiding Officer. In the event that a quorum of the Council is participating in person, the Presiding Officer shall be a member of the Council that is participating in person. The Presiding Officer shall preserve strict order and decorum at all meetings of the Council. The Presiding Officer shall state every question coming before the Council, announce the decision of the Council 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 questions of order.

(Ord. 93-72 § 15, 1972; Ord. 119-74 § 1.2, 1974; Ord. 179-79 § 2, 1979; amended during 1990 republication; Ord. 444-94 § 1, 1994; Ord. 645-05 § 1, 2005; Ord. 663-06 § 1, 2006; Ord. 908-22 § 3, 2022)

The Mayor shall take the chair at the hour appointed for the meeting, or as soon thereafter as possible, and shall call the Council to order.

(Ord. 93-72 § 16, 1972; Ord. 908-22 § 3, 2022)

A majority of the Council constitutes a quorum for transaction of business. Less than a majority may adjourn from time to time.

(Ord. 93-72 § 17, 1972; Ord. 908-22 § 3, 2022)

All meetings of the Council shall be open to the public. At the hour set by law on the day of each regular meeting, or as soon thereafter as possible, the members of the Council, the City Clerk and the City Attorney shall take their places in the Council chambers and the business of the Council shall be taken up for consideration and disposition as established by City Council resolution. (Ord. 93-72 § 18, 1972; Ord. 152-76 § 1, 1976; Ord. 201-81 § 1, 1981; Ord. 248-85 § 1, 1985; Ord. 261-86 § 1, 1986; amended during 1990 republication; Ord. 908-22 § 3, 2022)

Article IV Rules of Debate

The Mayor 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 Councilmember by reason of his or her acting as the presiding officer. (Ord. 93-72 § 24, 1972)

Every member desiring to speak shall address the chair; and, upon recognition by the presiding officer, shall confine themselves to the question under debate, avoiding all personalities and indecorous language. During Council discussion and debate, Councilmembers shall stay focused on the agenda item or issue at hand. The presiding officer shall insist on compliance with this policy. During the discussion or debate, Councilmembers shall refrain from directly addressing each other and shall direct their comments through the presiding officer. (Ord. 93-72 § 25, 1972; Ord. 478-96 § 1, 1996)

A member, once recognized, shall not be interrupted when speaking unless it is to call him/her to order, or as otherwise provided in this chapter. If a member, while speaking, is called to order, he/she shall cease speaking until the question of order has been determined, and, if in order, shall be permitted to proceed.

(Ord. 93-72 § 26, 1972)

Councilmembers shall conduct themselves consistent with the rules of debate provided for including those requiring that every member desiring to speak shall address the chair and upon the recognition by the presiding officer shall confine himself/herself to the question or issue under debate avoiding all personalities and indecorous language and shall not be interrupted when speaking unless it is to call him/her to order. (Ord. 478-96 § 3, 1996)

A motion to reconsider any action taken by the Council may be made only on the day such action was taken. It may be 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. Such motion shall be debatable. Nothing in this section 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.

(Ord. 93-72 § 28, 1972)

Rules of debate are for the guidance of the presiding officer to ensure the orderly conduct of business before the City Council. Conduct of a Councilmember is not a violation unless it also violates Section 2.04.270.

(Ord. 478-96 § 4, 1996)