HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD 2000-47 - Council Meeting RulesORDINANCE NO. a ♦♦
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN, TEXAS
AMENDING CHAPTER 2.24 OF THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES RELATING TO CITY COUNCIL MEETING
RULES AND PROCEDURES; PROVIDING A REPEALING
CLAUSE AND SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND SETTING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, on November 28, 1989, the City Council passed Ordinance No.
890458, codified as Chapter 2.24 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Georgetown,
adopting rules and procedures to be followed at its public meetings;
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that these rules and procedures are necessary
in to maintain order and decorum at said meetings; and
WHEREAS, after its annual review of these rules and procedures, the City Council
has determined that the certain revisions to the rules and procedures are necessary; and
WHEREAS, the caption of this ordinance was printed in the Williamson County Sun
on September 6, 2000 in compliance with the City Charter of the City of Georgetown;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
GEORGETOWN, TEXAS, THAT:
SECTION 1. The facts and recitations contained in the preamble of this ordinance
are hereby found and declared to be true and correct, and are incorporated by reference
herein and expressly made a part hereof, as if copied verbatim. The City Council hereby
finds that this ordinance implements the following elements of the Century Plan Policy Plan
and that the enactment of this ordinance is not inconsistent or in conflict with any other
Century Plan Policies, as required by Section 2.03 of the Administrative Chapter of the
Policy Plan:
• Finance Policy 5.0: All municipal operations are conducted in an efficient
business -like manner and sufficient financial resources for both short-term
and long-term needs are provided; and
• Governmental Affairs Policy 6.0 - A high level of cooperation and involvement
exists among Georgetown's citizens and governmental organizations.
SECTION 2. The City Council of the City of Georgetown hereby amends Chapter
2.24 of the Code of Ordinances, entitled "CITY COUNCIL MEETING RULES AND
PROCEDURES" as follows:
Ordinance No. 0?oOO p 117
Revision to City Council Meeting Rules and Procedures
Page 1 of 5
2.24.040 Agenda—Agenda packets
The agenda packets for all regular meetings will be made available to
Councilmembers and for public review at the Georgetown Public Library at 5:00 p.m.
on Friday afternoon preceding the meetings. Incomplete items contained in the
agenda packets are subject to being deferred to the next regular meeting.
2.24.060 Agenda—Public notices.
The City Secretary's office will assume responsibility for issuing to
newspapers, radio and television stations a copy of the agenda advising them that the
regular meeting will be held on the following Tuesday night. Notice of Council
meetings will appear in the news media and on the City website at least one day
before any regular meeting. The City Secretary's office will also assume the
responsibility for compliance with the Open Meetings Act. The agenda for regular
Council meetings will be provided to the news media and placed on the City website
at least 24 hours before the scheduled regular meeting.
2.24.070 Chairperson
The Mayor, or in his/her absence, the Mayor Pro Tem, shall preside as
Chairperson at all meetings of the Council. In the absence of both the Mayor and
Mayor Pro Tem, the Council shall elect a temporary Chairperson.
2.24.080 Call to order.
The meetings of the Council shall be called to order by the Mayor, or in
his/her absence, by the Mayor Pro Tem. In the absence of both the Mayor and Mayor
Pro Tem, the meeting shall be called to order by the City Secretary, and a temporary
Chairperson shall be elected as provided in Section 2.24.070.
2.24.090 General rules—Quorum.
Four Councilmembers' plus the Mayor or five Councilmembers shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
2.24.100 General rules—Attendance.
Notification should be made to Mayor or City Manager if a Councilmember
is unable to attend.
2.24.120 Parliamentary procedure.
Any Councilmember may call for the question of the issue, and upon
seconding by another Councilmember, the motion for calling the question of the issue
shall immediately be put to vote. Passage of the motion to address the previous
question shall terminate debate on the motion, amendment or amended motion, and
the matter shall move on immediately.
Ordinance No. ,00047
Revision to City Council Meeting Rules and Procedures
Page 2 of 5
Table 2.24.120
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS, MOTIONS AND THEIR PRECEDENCE
1. To Adjourn
2: To Take a Recess
3. For the Previous
Question
4. To Continue to a Time
Certain
5. To Commit, Refer or
Recommit
6. To Amend
7. To Amend an
Amendment
8. To Offer a Substitute
Amendment
9. To Amend a Substitute
Amendment
10. To Table
11. Bring From Table
12. Reconsider Prior Action
13. Motion to Suspend Rules
Debatable Amendable
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
A Majority 2/3
Vote Vote
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Second Required
No No, unless other
business is pending
No No
No Yes
WIN
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
2.24.140 Code of conduct—Citizens.
Citizens are welcome and invited to attend all meetings of the Council and
will be admitted to the Council Chamber up to the fire safety capacity of the room.
Citizens wishing to address the Council must sign up to speak in accordance with the
policy of the Council concerning citizen participation and general public comment
at public meetings. Citizens shall be allowed a maximum of three minutes to speak,
but may take up to a maximum of six minutes, if another citizen who has signed up
to speak yields his/her time to that citizen speaker. Persons who disrupt the meeting
may be asked to leave and be removed.
Ordinance No. 2000 a41.7
Revision to City Council Meeting Rules and Procedures
Page 3 of 5
2.24.150 Decorum and debate.
A. No member shall speak more than five (5) minutes on any subject or
amendment, which time may be used in any combination of separate speech or
comments totaling five (5) minutes. Councilmembers may yield a portion of their
time to another. The Mayor shall not be obligated to recognize any Councilmember
for a second comment on the subject or amendment until every Councilmember
wishing to speak has been allowed a first comment. Any member wishing to speak
more than five minutes on any question or amendment thereto shall be permitted to
do so without objection upon motion supported by majority plus one of the Council.
No member shall be permitted to interrupt another.
B. The Mayor and Councilmembers shall treat each other with dignity,
respect and civility.
C. If a member is speaking out of turn or otherwise transgressing the rules
of the Council, the presiding officer shall, or any Councilmember may, call him/her
to order, in which case he/she shall immediately refrain from such transgression,
unless permitted to explain. The Council shall, if appealed to, decide the case
without debate. If the decision is in favor of the member called to order, he/she may
proceed, but not otherwise.
2.24.160 Consideration of ordinances, resolutions and motions- Majority
vote required.
An affirmative vote of a majority of the Councilmembers is necessary to take
any official action in the name of the City, except as otherwise provided in the
Charter, other City ordinances, or by the laws of the State of Texas.
2.24.170 Consideration of ordinances, resolutions and motions—Voting
required.
A. No member shall be excused from voting, except as provided in this
Section.
B. Members shall abstain from voting on matters involving the
consideration of his/her own official conduct, or where his/her
personal interests are involved. Any member prohibited from voting
by this section shall:
1. file a Conflict of Interest Affidavit with the City Secretary
stating the nature of the conflict;
2, upon commencement of consideration of the matter, announce
that he/she is excused from voting on the matter; and
3, shall not enter into discussion or debate on the matter.
C. Any member who reasonably believes that his/her voting on a matter
would create an appearance of impropriety shall be excused from
voting. Such member shall state publicly the reason(s) she/he
believes voting would be improper.
D. - Any Councilmember excused from voting shall be treated as if that
member was absent.
Ordinance No. .2000 . V7
Revision to City Council Meeting Rules and Procedures
Page 4 of 5
2.24.180 Consideration of ordinances, resolutions and motions—Motion
to reconsider.
When a question has once been determined by the Council, the same question
shall not again be considered until ninety (90) days thereafter, and then only by
motion to reconsider made by a member who voted with the prevailing side of such
question and in accordance with Section 2.24.020, except as provided in other City
ordinances.
2.24.190 Suspension of rules.
Any one or all of the provisions of this chapter may be suspended by a vote
of a majority plus one of the members of the Council, except such provisions that
embody provisions of the Charter, identically or substantially.
SECTION 3. All ordinances and resolutions, or parts of ordinances and resolutions,
in conflict with this Ordinance are hereby repealed, and are no longer of any force and
effect.
SECTION 4. If any provision of this ordinance or application thereof to any person
or circumstance, shall be held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions,
or application thereof, of this ordinance which can be given effect without the invalid
provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this ordinance are hereby
declared to be severable.
SECTION 5. The Mayor is hereby authorized to sign this ordinance and the City
Secretary to attest. This ordinance shall become effective and be in full force and effect
in (10) ten days on and after publication in accordance with the provisions of the Charter
of the City of Georgetown.
PASSED AND APPROVED on First Reading on the 1 day of � �t ��r� , 2000.
PASSED AND APPROVED on Second Reading on the 1 day of,let^,
2000.
ATTEST:
Sandra Lee, City
GI
marianne Landers banKS, city Attorney
Ordinance No. .2000 ® q 7
Revision to City Council Meeting Rules and Procedures
Page 5 of 5
THE CITY OF GEORGETOWN:
By: VG 6J W&&
MaryEllen Kersch, Mayor