1982-51 RESOLUTION NO. 82-51
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GRAND TERRACE, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING CITY COUNCIL
PROCEDURES.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Grand Terrace has deemed it
desirable to adopt procedures to govern the conduct of its meetings and any of
its other functions, activities, and regulations pertaining thereto;
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Grand Terrace does
hereby adopt the City Council Procedures attached hereto and incorporated
herein as Exhibit "A".
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by said City Council that the intent of
adopting the City Council Procedures shall be to provide directory guidelines
relating to the conduct of public business by or on behalf of the City
Council , and in the event of any noncompliance with or violation of any
provision herein, such will not be deemed to affect the validity of any action
taken, unless otherwise specifically provided by law.
ADOPTED this 18th day of November, 1982.
-ATTEST:
_Ci ty :e : of the City of Gra Mayor o Ci t of Grand Terrace
-d of the City Counci and of the City Co ncil thereof.
,thereof.--
Approved as to form:
i ty Attorney
STATE OF CALIFONIA )
COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO ) ss.
CITY OF GRAND TERRACE )
I, MYRNA ERWAY, City Clerk of the City of Grand Terrace, DO HEREBY
CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the City Council of
said City at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 18th day of
November, 1982, and that it was so adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Rigley, Petta, Nix, Pfennighausen;
Mayor Grant.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
i ty er the City -ot urand Urrace—
and of the City Council thereof.
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO ) ss.
CITY OF GRAND TERRACE )
I, MYRNA ERWAY, City Clerk of the City of Grand Terrace, DO HEREBY
CERTIFY that the above and foregoing is a full , true, and correct copy of
Resolution No. 82-51 of said City, and that the same has not been amended or
repealed.
DATED: 11/18/82.
i ty Cl e f the City of Grand ace
and of thEVCity Council thereof.'
T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
I MEETINGS
1 . 1 Regular Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1 .2 Adjourned Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1 . 3 Special Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1 .4 Closed Sessions - Matters of Discussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1 . 5 Closed Sessions - Report of Action/Statement of Reasons . 1
1 .6 Quorum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
II ORDER OF BUSINESS
2 . 1 Agenda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
2 . 2 Agenda Deadline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
2 . 3 Call to Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
2 . 4 Roll Call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
2 .5 Absence of City Clerk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
2 . 6 Preparation/Approval of Minutes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
2 . 7 Public Hearings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
2 . 8 Resolutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2 . 9 Ordinances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
2 . 10 Urgency Ordinances ( Emergency ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2 . 11 Non-Agenda Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2 . 12 Adjournment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
III PRESIDING OFFICER
3 . 1 Presiding Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3 . 2 Participation of Presiding Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
3 . 3 Question (Motion ) to be Stated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3 .4 Signing of Document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
3 . 5 Maintenance of Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
IV RULES , DECORUM , AND ORDER
4 . 1 Points of Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
4 . 2 Decorum and Order - Councilmembers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
4. 3 Decorum and Order - Employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
4 .4 Decorum and Order - Public . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
4. 6 Personal Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
4 . 6 Limitation of Debate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
4. 7 Dissent and Protest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
4 .8 Procedures in Absence of Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
V ADDRESSING THE COUNCIL
5 . 1 Manner of Addressing the Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
5 . 2 Time Limitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
5 .3 Addressing the Council After Motion � Is Made . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
5 . 4 Written Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
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VI MOTIONS
6 . 1 Processing. of Motions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
6. 2 Division of Motion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
6 .3 Precedence of Motions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
6 . 4 Particular Motions, Purpose, and Criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
.VII VOTING PROCEDURE
7 . 1 Voting Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
7 . 2 Voting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
7 . 3 Failure to Vote . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
7 .4 Reconsideration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
I
M E E T I N G S
1 . 1 REGULAR MEETINGS - The Regular City Council Meetings are held on
the - second and fourth Thursdays of every month beginning at
5 :30 p .m.
When the day of a regular meeting falls on a legal holiday , the
meeting shall be conducted at the same hour on. the next succeeding
Thursday unless otherwise specified.
1 . 2 ADJOURNED MEETINGS - Any regular or adjourned meeting may be
adjourned to a time , place, and date certain, but not beyond the
next regular meeting.
1 . 3 SPECIAL MEETINGS - Special meetings may be called at any time by
the Mayor or three Councilmembers by written notice, to be
provided to Council 24 hours prior to the special meeting. Only
matters contained in the notice may be considered. No ordinances
(except emergency ordinances ) nor orders for payment of money may
be adopted at a special meeting. A Councilmember should file
consent ( form available in . the City Clerk ' s. office ) to holding a
special meeting during his or her absence from the City .
1 . 4 CLOSED SESSIONS - MATTERS OF DISCUSSION - All meetings of the
Council shall e open to the public ; however, the Council may hold
Closed Sessions, from which the public may be excluded, for
consideration of the following subjects :
a . Security : Matters posing a threat to the security of public
buildings or a threat to the public ' s right of access to
public services or public facilities ;
b . Personnel : Consideration of the appointment, employment, or
dismissa-7 of the, City Manager, contracted staff or services ,
and other personnel matters relating to disciplinary action .
Personnel also includes meeting with the City ' s designated
representatives prior to or during discussion with employee
organizations regarding salaries or fringe benefits to
employees in order to review its position and instruct its
designated representatives ;
c . Litigation : Consideration of pending or potential litigation
in w is he City is , or may become, a party .
1 . 5 CLOSED SESSIONS - REPORT OF ACTION/STATEMENT OF REASONS - The City
Council shall publicly report a e same meeting or the next
meeting any action taken , .and the roll call vote thereon , to
appoint, employ , or dismiss a public employee arising out of any
Closed Session.
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Prior to or after a Closed Session , the Council shall state the
general reason or reasons for the Closed Session . The Council may
consider only those items covered in the statement.
1 . 6 QUORUM - A majority of the Council (three members ) shall be
sufficient to do business . In the absence of all Councilmembers
from a regular or adjourned meeting, the City Clerk may declare
the meeting adjourned to a stated day' and hour.
Motions may be passed by a 2-1 vote if only three Members are
present. However, the following matters require a minimum of
three affirmative votes :
a . Ordinances ( emergency ordinances require four affirmative
votes ) ;
b. Resolutions ;
c. Orders for payment of money.
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II
O R D E R O F B U S I N E ,S S
2 . 1 AGENDA - The order of business of Council meetings will be listed
in the Agenda prepared by the City Clerk . The Council will follow
the order of business in the prepared Agenda ; items of audience
interest or special interest may be taken out of order by the
Mayor or by a majority consent' of the Council .
The Agenda will be posted in three public places designated by
Council for such purpose, and will be available for public review
at City Hall prior to regular meetings . All Agenda packet
material will be available for review at City Hall and at Council
Chambers.
Consent Calendar - Consent Calendar items are considered by
Council o be routine and will all be enacted by one motion in the
form listed. There will be no separate discussion of these items
prior to the time the Council votes on the motion to adopt, unless
members of the Council , Staff, or the public request specific
items discussed and/or removed from the Consent Calendar for
separate action . The Check Register will routinely appear on the
Consent Calendar.
2 . 2 AGENDA DEADLINE - Any citizen may request to have an item placed
on the gen a y advising in writing the City' Clerk ' s Office no
later than 12 :00 noon the Wednesday of the week preceding the
meeting.
The City Clerk will provide copies of the request to
Councilmembers prior to the next Council meeting ; however, it is
the Mayor ' s and City Manager ' s discretion whether to place the
item on the next regular Agenda.
2 . 3 CALL TO ORDER - The meeting of the Council shall be called to
order by t e ayor or, in his absence , the Mayor Pro Tem. ( See
Section 3 . 1 for absence of Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem. ) In the
absence of all Councilmember's, the City Clerk shall call the
meeting to order and declare the same adjourned to a stated day
and hour. The meetings will be opened with invocation and the
P1 e,dge of Allegiance.
2 . 4 ROLL CALL - A roll call of Councilmembers will be held by the City
Clerk , w o enters the names of those present and those absent in
the Minutes.
2 . 5 ABSENCE OF CITY CLERK - If the City Clerk is absent from a Council
meeting, the epu y ity Clerk acts in the Clerk ' s behalf. If
there is no Clerk or Deputy present, the Mayor shall appoint a
Councilmember to serve as City Clerk Pro Tem.
2 . 6 PREPARATION/APPROVAL OF MINUTES - It . is the City Clerk ' s
responsibility to maintain a record (Minutes ) of Council
meetings . The Clerk shall have exclusive responsibility for
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preparation of the Minutes , and any directions for changes in the
Minutes may -be made only by Council action.
In order to maintain a full and true Minute record, , the Minutes
shall consist of a clear and concise statement of each and every
Council action including motions made and the *vote thereon . Items
may be included if considered to be particularly relevant or
otherwise necessary by the Clerk . Action Minutes versus the
extent of discussion for inclusion in the Minutes will be the
discretion of Council . Any Councilmember may specify reflection
of statements in the Minutes by indicating "for the record. "
2 . 7 PUBLIC HEARINGS - The following procedure is suggested by the
League of California Cities for conductin,g public hearings :
a . Precede the hearing by a statement from the Mayor setting
forth the nature of the public hearing and the rules ;
b . Staff presentation and recommendation ;
c. The public hearing i.s declared open by the Mayor, and speakers
are invited to address the Council , stating name and address ,
in the following order:
( 1 ) Applicant, if any ;
( 2 ) Speakers in support of item;
( 3) Speakers in opposition of ' item ;
( 4 ) Rebuttal., if necessary ;
d . All Councilmembers should refrain from asking questions or in
any way interfering with the "audience participation" portion
of the public hearing;
e . After the Mayor has declared that the "audience participation"
portion of the hearing has concluded, the Councilmembers may
ask questions , anal the audience will be precluded from
participation other than to answer questions or to rebut new
evidence introduced ;
f . The Mayor shall declare 'the public hearing closed ;
g. Following discussion; the Mayor will ask for a motion
regarding the subject at hand.
2.8 RESOLUTIONS - Adoption of resolutions require a minimum of three
affirmative votes and becomes effective upon adoption. It is not
necessary to read resolutions in their entirety unless
specifically requested.
Resolution Not Prepared in Advance : Where a resolution has not
een prepared in advance, t i procedure shall be to instruct the
City Attorney to prepare a resolution for presentation at the next
Council meeting.
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Urgency Resolutions : In matters of urgency , a resoluion may be
presented verbally with specific instructions for written
preparation . After the resolution has been verbally stated, the
resolution may be adopted by three affirmative votes. Urgency
resolutions shall be avoided except when absolutely necessary .
2 . 9 ORDINANCES - Ordinances require a first and second reading, and
mus a read in their entirety by the .City Clerk or other
designated person unless waived by unanimous consent of the
Council .
Council will approve the introduction, or first reading, of the
ordinance, by title only (unless read in its entirety ) , and the
second reading and public hearing will then be set for the
following Council meeting.
With the exception of urgency (emergency ) ordinances, no
ordinances shall be adopted by the Council on the date of
introduction , nor within five days thereafter; nor at any time
other than a regular or adjourned meeting. An ordinance must be
adopted by at least three affirmative votes , and becomes effective
30 days thereafter (an- urgency ordinance requires a minimum of
four affirmative votes and becomes effective immediately , Ref :
Sec. 2 . 10) .
If an ordinance is altered after first reading, a motion for an
amended first reading is required. The ordinance shall not be
considered for adoption until five days. thereafter. Correction of
a typographical or clerical error does not constitute alteration
of the ordinance.
2 . 10 URGENCY- 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
reasons for the urgency , may be introduced and adopted at the same
meeting. An urgency ordinance must be adopted by at least four
affirmative votes , and becomes effective immediately .
2 . 11 NON-AGENDA ITEMS - No matters other than those appearing on the
Agenda will be acted upon by the Council except matters deemed to
be of urgent nature upon Council concensus.
2. 12 ADJOURNMENT - Adjournment of the meeting to the next regular
meeting does not require a motion. A motion is required to
adjourn a meeting to an adjourned meeting specifying the date ,
time , and place of said adjourned meeting.
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III
P R E S I D I N G O F F I C E R
3 . 1 PRESIDING OFFICER - The Mayor shall be the Presiding Officer at
all meetings of the Council . In the absence of the Mayor, the
Mayor Pro Tem shall preside . In the absence of both the Mayor and
Mayor Pro Tem, the Council shall elect a temporary Presiding
Officer to serve until the arrival of the Mayor or Mayor Pro Tem
or until adjournment.
The terms "Presiding Officer, " "Mayor, " and "Chair" shall be used
interchangeably within this manual .
3 . 2 PARTICIPATION OF PRESIDING OFFICER - The Presiding Officer is
primarily responsible for the con uct of the meeting ; may move ,
second, and debate from the Chair, subject only to such
limitations of debate as are imposed on all Councilmembers ; and
shall not be deprived of any such rights and privileges .
3 - 3. QUESTION (MOTION) TO BE STATED - The Presiding Officer shall
verbally restate each motion immediately prior to calling for the
vote. Following the vote, the Presiding Officer shall announce
whether the motion carried or was defeated. In cases where the
action of the Council may be unclear for those in the audience ,
the Mayor shall summarize the action of the Council before
proceeding to the next item of business.
3 . 4 SIGNING OF DOCUMENT - Subject to Council policy , the Mayor shall
sign ordinances, resolutions , and contracts approved by the
Council at meetings at which he is in attendance . In the event of
his absence, the Mayor Pro Tem shall sign all such documents
adopted and approved by Council .
3 . 5 MAINTENANCE OF ORDER - The Mayor is responsible for the
maintenance of order- and decorum at all times . No person shall be
allowed to speak who has not first been recognized by the Chair.
All questions and remarks shall be addressed to the Chair.
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IV
R U L E S, D E C O R U M, AND 0 R D E R
4 . 1 POINTS OF ORDER - The Presiding Officer shall determine all Points
of Order su ject to the right of any Councilmember to appeal to
the Council . If any appeal is taken, the questions shall be ,
shall the decision of the Presiding Officer be sustained?" In
this. event, a majority vote shall govern and conclusively
determine such question of order.
4. 2 DECORUM AND ORDER - COUNCILMEMBERS
a. Every Councilmember desiring to speak shall address. the Chair
and, upon recognition by the Mayor, shall confine himself to
the question under debate.
b. Every Councilmember desiring to question the administrative
staff shall address questions to the City Manager or City
Attorney , who shall be entitled to either answer the inquiry
or designate a member of staff for that purpose.
C . A Councilmember, once recognized, shall not be interrupted
while speaking unless called to order by the Mayor, unless a
point of order is raised by another Councilmember, or the
speaker chooses to yield to questions from another
Councilmember.
d. A Councilmember who is called to order while speaking shall
cease speaking until the question of order is determined. If
ruled to be not in order, the Councilmember shall remain
silent or shall alter the remarks so as to comply with rules
of the Council .
e . Councilmembers shall accord the utmost courtesy to each other,
to City employees , and to the public appearing before the
Council and shall refrain at all times from rude and
derogatory remarks, reflections as to integrity , abusive
comments ,, and statements' as to motives and personalities .
f . Any Councilmember may move to require the Mayor to enforce the
. rules , and the affirmative. vote of a majority of the Council
shall require the Mayor to so act.
4 . 3 DECORUM AND ORDER - EMPLOYEES— Members of the Administrative
Staff and employees o t e ity shall observe the same rules of
procedure and decorum applicable to members of the Council . The
City Manager shall ensure that all City employees observe such
decorum.
Any Staff member, including the City Manager , desiring to address
the Council shall first be recognized by the Chair. All remarks
shall be addressed to the Chair, and not to any one individual
Councilmember or public member.
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4 . 4 DECORUM AND ORDER - PUBLIC - The City Council , elected by the
public, must be tree to discuss issues confronting the City in an
orderly environment. Public members attending Council meetings
shall observe the same rules of order and decorum applicable to
the Council . Any person making impertinent and slanderous remarks
or who becomes boisterous while addressing the Council or while
attending a Council meeting shall be requested to leave the room,
and such person may be barred from further audience before the
Council .
4 . 5 PERSONAL INTEREST - No Councilmembers prevented from voting by
persona interest shall remain at the Council dais during the
debate and vote on any such matter. In the event of such
conflict, the Councilmembers shall state for the record the
grounds and leave the Council dais during debate on issues .
4 . 6 LIMITATION OF DEBATE - No Councilmember shall be allowed to speak
more than once upon any one subject until every other
Councilmember choosing to speak has spoken . Merely asking a
question or making a suggestion is not considered as speaking.
4 . 7 DISSENT AND PROTEST - Any Councilmember shall have the right to
express dissent from, or protest to , any action of the Council and
request that the reason be entered into the Minutes .
4. 8 PROCEDURES IN ABSENCE OF RULES - In the absence of a rule to
govern a point of procedure, oberts Rules of Order shall govern.
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Y
A D D R E S S I N G T H E C O U N C I L
5 . 1 MANNER OF ADDRESSING THE COUNCIL - Any person desiring to address
e Council will raise his or her hand and wait to be recognized
by the Mayor, and after being recognized shall proceed to the
podium, or microphone, and state for the record his or her name
and address . Remarks are to be limited to the question under
discussion.
5 . 2 TIME LIMITATION - Any public member addressing the Council shall
limit is a ress to three (3 ) minutes unless further time is
granted by the Mayor or majority of the Council . When any group
of persons wishes to address the Council on the same subject
matter, it shall be proper for the Mayor to request that a
spokesman be chosen to represent the group , so as to avoid
unnecessary repetition.
5 . 3 ADDRESSING THE COUNCIL AFTER MOTION IS MADE - After a motion has
been ma e, no person shall address the Council without securing
permission by a majority consensus of the Council .
5 . 4 WRITTEN COMMUNICATION - Unless specifically requested otherwise,
the City Manager is authorized to receive and open all mail
addressed to the City Council and take any immediate
administrative action required between Council meetings , which
does not require specific Council action . Any communication
requiring Council action will be reported to the Council at the
next possible meeting, together with a report and recommendation
of the City Manager.
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VI
M O T I O N S
6 .1. PROCESSING OF MOTIONS - When a motion is made and seconded, it
shall a restated by the Preciding Officer before debate. A
motion shall not be withdrawn by the mover without the consent of
the Councilmember seconding it and the approval of Council .
6 . 2 DIVISION OF MOTION - If a motion contains two or more divisionable
propositions , the ayor may , and upon request of a Councilmember
shall (unless appealed by another Councilmember ) , divide the
motion..
6 . 3 PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS - When a motion is before the Council , the
ordinary motions rank as follows - the lowest at the bottom and
the highest at the top of the list: When any one of them is
immediately pending, the motions shown above it are in order, and
those below are out of order. Those marked ( 2/3 ) require a 2/3rd
affirmative vote for their adoption, the others require only a
majority vote.
( 1 ) Adjourn ;
( 2 ) Recess ;
( 3 ) Lay on the Table ;
( 4 ) Previous Question ( 2/3 ) ;
( 5 ) Limit or extend debate ( 2/3 ) ;
( 6 ) Postpone to a certain time ;
( 7 ) Refer to committee or staff ;
(8 ) Amend ;.
( 9 ) Postpone indefinitely .
The- above order of preference is subject to the following
restrictions :
a . A motion shall not be in order when the previous question
has been ordered;
b. A motion shall not be in order while a vote is. being taken .
PARTICULAR MOTIONS, PURPOSE, AND CRITERIA
( 1 ) Motion to Adjourn :
Purpose - To terminate a meeting.
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Debatable or Amendable - No, except a motion to adjourn
to another time is a stable and amendable as to the time
to which the meeting is to be adjourned.
The motion to adjourn shall be in order at any time
except as follows :
(a ) When repeated without intervening business or
discussion ;
(b ) When made as an interruption to' a Councilmember
speaking;
(c ) When the previous question has been ordered ;
( d ) While a vote is being taken .
( 2.) Motion to Recess :
Purpose - To permit an interlude in the meeting and to
set a definite time for continuing the meeting.
Debatable or. Amendable - Yes , but restricted as to time
or duration of recess.
(3 ) Motion to Lay on Table :
Purpose - To .set aside, temporarily, a pending main
motion to consider other business. The intent of this
motion is not meant to postpone action . A motion to
"Take Off the Table" must be made later in the same or
next regular meeting or the motion is lost.
Debatable or Amendable - It is debatable, but not
amen a e.
(4 ) Motion for Previous Question (Motion ) :
Purpose - To prevent or stop discussion on the pending
question or questions and to bring such question or
q.uestions to vote immediately . If the motion fails ,
discussion shall continue. If the motion passes , a vote
shall be taken on pending motion or motions .
Debatable or Amendable - No .
( 5 ) Motion to Limit or Extend Debate :
Purpose - To limit or determine the time that will be
evd—oted to discussion of a pending motion or to extend or
remove limitations . already imposed on its discussion.
Debatable or Amendable - Not debatable ; amendments are
restricted to period of time of the proposed limit or
extension.
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(6 ) Postpone to a Certain Time :
Purpose - To Defer action to a specific subsequent
meeting.
Debatable or Amendable - Yes .
( 7 ) Motion to Refer to Commission or Staff:
Purpose - To refer the question before the Council to a
commission or to the City Staff for the purpose of
investigating or studying the proposal and to make a
report back to the Council .
If the motion fails , discussion or vote on the question
resumes.
Debatable or Amendable - Yes .
(8) Motion to Amend :
Purpose - To modify or change a motion that is being
consi ered by the Council so that it will express more
satisfactorily the will of the members . If there are two
amendments , the second amendment is voted upon first - if
it carries , it automatically cancels the first amendment,
and then the vote is taken on the amended motion . An
amendment motion relating to a different matter shall not
be in order.
Debatable or Amendable - Yes.
( 9) Postpone Indefinitely :
Purpose - To prevent further discussion and voting on the
main motion . If the motion fails , discussion and voting
on the main motion resumes . If it passes, the subject of
main motion shall not be brought up again for the
remainder of the meeting.
Debatable or Amendable - It is debatable but no
amendable.
( 10) Main Motion :
Purpose - The primary proposal or question before the
ou��T for discussion and decision.
Debatable or Amendable - Yes .
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VII
V O T I N G
7 . 1 VOTING PROCEDURE - Motions will be adopted by "either voice or
roll call vote. The results of the vote shall be entered in full
in the minutes.
7. 2 VOTING - Every ordinance, resolution , and payment of money
requires three affirmative votes. Emergency ordinances require
four affirmative votes . Unless otherwise advised by the City
Attorney , all other actions of the Council require a: majority vote
of the Councilmembers present.
7 . 3 FAILURE TO VOTE - Every Councilmember should vote unless
disqua ie or a personal conflict of interest or for cause
accepted by the Council or by opinion of the City Attorney .
Self-disqualification, without cause, which results in a tie vote
shall be avoided; but no Councilmember shall be forced to vote. A
Councilmember- who abstains shall , in effect, consent that a
majority of the quorum may act for him. Tie votes shall be lost
motions and may be reconsidered.
7 . 4 RECONSIDERATION - After motion and vote by the Council , such
ac ion may a reconsidered or rescinded only in the following
manner:
Reconsideration :
A motion to set aside a vote (to reconsider ) on a main motion
shall always be in order at the same .meeting. The .motion to
reconsider is amendable and debatable. Such motion can be made by
any Councilmember who voted affirmatively on the matter. If the
motion to reconsider passes , the effect thereof is to overrule and
cancel the prior action.
Rescission :
A motion to rescind (repeal , cancel , nullify ) prior Council action
on a main motion shall be in order at any meeting of the Council .
The effect of rescinding prior Council action shall operate
prespectively only , and not retroactively to the date of the
original action. That is , it shall not operate to adversely
affect intervening legal rights which create an estoppel
situation.
Lost Motion :
A lost motion is one that fails to receive the necessary number of
votes to carry . Tie votes result in a .lost motion . Lost motions
may be renewed at any subsequent Council meeting. To revive a
lost motion at the same meeting, the proper action is a motion to
reconsider ( discussed above ) .
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