Yolo County Municipal Code Art. 1 Rules Governing Meetings

For the purposes of Articles 1, 2, and 3 of this chapter, unless otherwise apparent from the context, certain words and phrases used in Articles 1, 2, and 3 of this chapter are defined as follows:

(a) “Party” shall mean any person disclosed by an application or the records of the County or an officer thereof to have an interest or possible interest in the subject matter of a hearing.

(b) “Person” shall mean any person, firm, association, organization, partnership, business trust, corporation, company, or the County, or an officer or department head thereof. (Rule 42, Ord. 555)

The purpose of this article is to provide rules for the conduct of meetings of the Board. (Rule 1, Ord. 555)

Regular meetings of the Board shall be held at the times and dates specified by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. (Rule 2, Ord. 555, as amended by § 1, Ord. 695, eff. January 23, 1974, § 1, Ord. 743, eff. March 1, 1976, § 1, Ord. 842, eff. April 19, 1979, § 1, Ord. 922, eff. October 22, 1981, § 1, Ord. 984, eff. September 13, 1984, § 1, Ord. 1086, eff. February 2, 1989, § 1, Ord. 1100, eff. January 1, 1990, and § 1, Ord. 1251, eff. August 31, 2000)

The Board may adjourn any regular, adjourned regular, specials, or adjourned special meeting to a time and place specified in the order of adjournment. Less than a quorum may so adjourn from time to time. If all members are absent from any regular or adjourned regular meeting, the Clerk of the Board may declare the meeting adjourned to a stated time and place, and he shall cause a written notice of the adjournment to be given in the same manner as provided in Section-2-1.105 of this article for special meetings, unless such notice is waived as provided for special meetings. A copy of the order or notice of adjournment shall be conspicuously posted on or near the door of the Board Chambers or place where the regular, adjourned regular, special, or adjourned special meeting was held within twenty-four (24) hours after the time of adjournment. When a regular or adjourned regular meeting is adjourned as provided in this section, the resulting adjourned regular meeting shall be a regular meeting for all purposes. When an order of adjournment of any meeting fails to state the hour at which the adjourned meeting is to be held, it shall be held at the hour specified for regular meetings. (Rule 3, Ord. 555)

An emergency or special meeting may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board, or by a majority of the members of the Board, by delivering personally or by mail a notice in writing to each member and to each local newspaper of general circulation and radio or television station requesting notice. Such notice shall be delivered personally or by mail at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time of such meeting as specified in the notice. The call and notice shall specify the time and place of the special meeting and the business to be transacted. No other business shall be considered at such meetings by the Board. Such written notice may be dispensed with as to any member who at or prior to the time the meeting convenes files with the Clerk of the Board a written waiver of notice. Such waiver may be given by telegram. Such written notice may also be dispensed with as to any member who is actually present at the meeting at the time it convenes. (Rule 4, Ord. 555)

At the first meeting in each calendar year, the Board shall elect a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman. (Rule 5, Ord. 555)

The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Board. The Vice-Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Board in the absence of the Chairman. (Rule 6, Ord. 555)

The presiding officer of the Board shall preserve order and decorum and shall decide questions of order, subject to appeal to the Board. Any action on an appeal that would override the requirement for a two-thirds vote must be adopted by a two-thirds vote. The presiding officer may place a motion before the Board from the chair. (Rule 7, Ord. 555, as amended by § 1, Ord. 1227, eff. November 5, 1998)

The Clerk of the Board shall prepare and mail to each member of the Board on or before the Thursday following the regular meeting a copy of the minutes of the previous meeting. Upon a majority vote of the Board, the approval of minutes of previous meetings, may be done without the reading of such minutes. (Rule 8, Ord. 555)

All questions of law shall be referred to the County Counsel for his opinion. (Rule 9, Ord. 555)

All meetings of the Board shall be open and public and all persons shall be permitted to attend any meeting of the Board except as provided in Section 2- 1.112 of this article or by State law. (Rule 10, Ord. 555)

The Board may hold executive sessions during a regular or special meeting to consider the appointment, employment, or dismissal of a public officer or employee or to hear complaints or charges brought against such officer or employee unless such officer or employee requests a public hearing. (Rule 11, Ord. 555)

No action or decision of the Board shall be valid or binding unless a majority of all the members concur therein; provided, however, where required by law or this article, no action or decision shall be valid or binding in the absence of a two-thirds or unanimous vote. Roll call votes, when taken, shall commence with the closest member to the left of the presiding officer and shall continue clockwise, the presiding officer voting last. (Rule 12, Ord. 555, as amended by § 2, Ord. 1227, eff. November 5, 1998)

Any of the rules set forth in this article not required by law may be suspended by two-thirds of the members of the Board. (Rule 13, Ord. 555, as amended by § 3, Ord. 1227, eff. November 5, 1998)

Any rule may be altered, amended, or repealed at any time by a majority vote of the Board; provided, however, that the portion of any rule requiring a two-thirds vote may only be amended, altered, or repealed by a two-thirds vote of the Board; and further provided, any amendment or repeal shall not affect any pending matter. (Rule 14, Ord. 555, as amended by § 4, Ord. 1227, eff. November 5, 1998)

At the meeting at which an otherwise final vote is taken on any question, including a quasi-judicial determination, any member voting with the majority may move reconsideration of the matter. Such a motion made and seconded shall suspend consideration of the matter until the next succeeding meeting of the Board, at which time it shall have precedence over every other motion, except for a motion to adjourn. The matter shall not be deemed final until disposition of the motion for consideration. (Rule 15, Ord. 555, as amended by § 5, Ord. 1227, eff. November 5, 1998)

No deviation from or failure to follow the procedure set forth in this article and Articles 2 and 3 of this chapter shall invalidate any action or decision of the Board unless such deviation or failure shall have effectively prejudiced the rights of any person of the County. (Rule 16, Ord. 555)

Any motion to extend or limit debate or to move the previous question or cut off debate shall require a two-thirds vote of the Board. (§ 6, Ord. 1227, eff. November 5, 1998)