Watsonville Municipal Code Art. VI Legislation

SECTION 600 LEGISLATION: METHOD OF ACTION.

When so provided by this Charter, or by law, the rights and powers conferred upon the Council shall be exercised by ordinance. Each act of the Council establishing a fine or other penalty, imposing a new or additional tax, or granting a franchise, shall be by ordinance.

SECTION 601 ADOPTION OF ORDINANCES.

Each ordinance shall be introduced in writing. With the sole exception of ordinances which take effect upon adoption, referred to in this Article, no ordinance shall be adopted by the Council on the day of its introduction, nor within six (6) days thereafter, nor at any time other than a regular or adjourned regular meeting, nor until such ordinance shall have been published as required by this Charter. In the event that any ordinance is altered after its introduction, the same shall not be finally adopted except at a regular or adjourned regular meeting held not less than six (6) days after the date upon which such ordinance was so altered. The correction of typographical or clerical errors shall not constitute the making of an alteration within the meaning of the foregoing sentence.

SECTION 602 ORDINANCES: EMERGENCY.

Any ordinance declared by the Council to be necessary as an emergency measure for preserving the public peace, health or safety, and containing a statement of the reasons for its urgency, may be introduced and adopted at one and the same meeting if passed by at least five (5) affirmative votes.

SECTION 603 ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS: VOTE REQUIRED.

No ordinance or resolution shall be passed or become effective without receiving the affirmative votes of at least four (4) members of the Council.

SECTION 604 ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS: ROLL CALL VOTE.

A roll call vote shall be taken upon the passage of all ordinances and resolutions and be entered upon the journal of the proceedings of the Council. Upon request of any member, a roll call vote shall be taken and recorded on any vote. Whenever a roll call vote of the Council is in order, the Clerk shall call the names of the members in alphabetical order except that the name of the Presiding Officer shall be called last. All members present shall be required to vote unless disqualified, in which case the disqualification shall be publicly declared and a record thereof made.

SECTION 605 ORDINANCES: ENACTMENT.

The enacting clause of all ordinances shall be substantially as follows: "The Council of the City of Watsonville does ordain as follows."

SECTION 606 ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS: SIGNING AND ATTESTING.

All ordinances and resolutions shall be signed by the Mayor and attested by the City Clerk.

SECTION 607 PUBLICATION OF ORDINANCES.

The City Clerk shall cause at least the title and a summary of each proposed ordinance, with the exception of those ordinances which take effect upon adoption referred to in this Article or as permitted by State law, to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the City at least three (3) days prior to its adoption or if there is none the Clerk shall cause it to be posted or published as otherwise allowed in accordance with State law. The City Clerk shall cause at least the title and a summary of each ordinance which takes effect upon adoption to be published at least within fifteen (15) days after its adoption. [§ 607 Amended by voter petition initiative on 11/5/24. Measure W]

SECTION 608 ORDINANCES: EFFECTIVE DATE.

No ordinance adopted by the Council shall become effective until thirty (30) days from and after the date of its adoption, except the following, which shall take effect upon adoption:

(a) An ordinance calling or otherwise relating to an election;

(b) An improvement proceeding ordinance adopted under some law or procedural ordinance;

(c) An ordinance declaring the amount of money necessary to be raised by taxation, or fixing the rate of taxation, or levying the annual tax upon property;

(d) An emergency ordinance adopted in the manner provided for in this Article;

(e) An ordinance annexing areas to the City; or

(f) An ordinance providing for a tax levy or appropriation for the usual current expenses of the City.

SECTION 609 ORDINANCES: AMENDMENT.

The amendment of any section or sections of an ordinance or code section may be accomplished solely by the reenactment of such section or sections at length, as amended.

SECTION 610 ORDINANCES: CODIFICATION.

The Council shall cause to be classified and codified under appropriate heads all general ordinances in force and cause the same to be printed in book, pamphlet, or looseleaf form for the use of the City, its officers and the public.

SECTION 611 ORDINANCES: VIOLATION AND PENALTY.

The Council may make the violation of its ordinances either

(a) a misdemeanor which may be prosecuted in the name of the People of the State of California, or may be redressed by civil action and may prescribe punishment for such violation by a fine not to exceed the maximum amount provided in Government Code Section 36901 and Penal Code Section 19, including any amendments to these sections, or by imprisonment not to exceed six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment, or

(b) an infraction which may be prosecuted in the name of the People of the State of California, or may be redressed by civil action and may prescribe punishment for such violation solely by a fine and not to exceed Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollars.