HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.11 Resolution Amending and Restating the Rules for the Conduct of Meetings of the City CouncilIP
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DUBLIN
CALIFORNIA
STAFF REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
DATE: December 19, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Linda Smith, City Manager
Agenda Item 5.1
SU B.ECT: Resolution Amending and Restating the Rules for the Conduct of Meetings of
the City Council
Prepared by: Marsha Moore, MMC, City Clerk
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
At its October 13, 2023 Special Meeting, the City Council directed Staff to update the agenda
format and order of business. The Rules of Conduct of Meetings of the City Council includes a
section with the order of business for the City Council meeting agenda. The amended rules update
the order of business to reflect the changes approved by the City Council.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt the Resolution Amending and Restating the Rules for the Conduct of Meetings of the City
Council.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None.
DESCRIPTION:
At its October 13, 2023 Special Meeting, the City Council discussed the agenda format and directed
Staff to make updates. Those updates are reflected in the following changes made to the Rules of
Conduct:
Order of Business (Section 9)
The following changes were made: changed 'Oral Communications' to 'Presentations and
Proclamations,' added 'Public Comment,' removed 'Written Communications,' and changed 'Other
Business' to 'City Manager and City Council Reports.'
Page 1 of 2
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Addressing the City Council (Section 13)
The current rules address public comment for items not on the agenda in 13.d. The language has
been cleaned up to replace 'Oral Communications' with 'Public Comment' to match the changes
made in Section 9.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
None.
NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH:
The City Council Agenda was posted.
ATTACHMENTS:
1) Resolution Amending and Restating the Rules for the Conduct of Meetings of the City Council
2) Rules for the Conduct of Meetings of the City Council (redline version)
Page 2 of 2
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Attachment I
RESOLUTION NO. xx-23
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN
AMENDING AND RESTATING THE RULES FOR THE CONDUCT OF
MEETINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
WHEREAS, from time to time the City Council amends and restates the Rules of Conduct
of Meetings of the City Council, and the Rules were last restated by Resolution No. 130-21; and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to amend and restate the Rules in order to change
the Order of Business.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Rules for the Conduct of Meetings of the
City Council are amended to read as follows in their entirety:
1. REGULAR MEETINGS
a. Time Regular meetings of the City Council shall be held on the first and third
Tuesday of each month at the hour of 7:00 p.m., except that Closed Session Items shall
be held at 6:30 p.m. Whenever the day fixed for any regular meeting of the City Council
falls upon a day designated as a holiday, such meeting will be held at the same hour on
the next succeeding day not a holiday.
b. Place All regular meetings of the City Council shall be held at the Civic
Center, as designated by Ordinance.
c. Public All meetings of the City Council shall be open to the public; provided,
however, the City Council may hold closed sessions as provided by the laws of the State
of California.
2. SPECIAL MEETINGS
A special meeting may be ordered at any time by the Mayor whenever in his/her opinion
the public business may require it or upon the written request of any three members of the
City Council. Whenever a special meeting shall be called, written notice of such meeting
shall be delivered personally or by any other means by the City Clerk to each member of
the City Council and to each local newspaper of general circulation and radio/television
station requesting notice in writing. Such notice must be delivered at least 24 hours before
the time of such meeting as specified in the notice. The notice shall specify the time and
place of the special meeting and the business to be transacted or discussed. No other
business shall be considered at such meetings by the City Council.
The agenda for special meetings shall contain the information set forth in Section 3.a. - f.
below. At least 24 hours before each special meeting, the City Clerk shall post a copy of
the agenda, including the call and notice of the special meeting at the same location
identified in Section 3 below.
Reso. No. xx-23, Item x.x, Adopted xx/xx/2023 Page 1 of 8
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3. AGENDA
The City Clerk shall, in consultation with the City Manager, arrange an agenda of matters
according to the order of business and furnish each member of the City Council, the City
Manager, City Attorney, and City Department Heads with a copy of the agenda packet prior
to the City Council meeting at least 72 hours in advance of a regular meeting, and 24 hours
in advance of a special meeting, as time for preparation will permit.
The agenda prepared by the City Clerk shall, at a minimum, include:
a. The date of the meeting
b. The time of the meeting
c. The location of the meeting
d. A brief general description of each item of business to be transacted or
discussed at the meeting
e. Specified period of time for members of the public to address the City Council
on items of interest to the public that are within the jurisdiction of the City
Council, including a statement that no person may speak longer than three
minutes, and including language that the City Council can only briefly
respond with questions, refer to Staff, or place on a future agenda.
f A specified section under which City Councilmembers and Staff may present
informational only reports.
At least 72 hours before each regular meeting, the City Clerk shall post a copy of the
agenda in the Kiosk in front of the Civic Center located at 100 Civic Plaza, Dublin,
California.
The City Clerk shall execute a declaration of posting which shall be filed in the Office of the
City Clerk.
The City Clerk shall so mark or denote "Consent Calendar" items on the agenda to identify
those items on the agenda which can reasonably be expected to generate no discussion
by members of the City Council, City Staff or interested persons in the audience. The City
Council shall consider all of the items on the Consent Calendar portion of the agenda at
one time by a vote after a motion has been duly made and seconded. If any member of the
City Council, City Staff or interested person in the audience requests that a consent item
be removed from the list, such item shall be taken up for consideration and disposition in
the order listed on the agenda.
4. PRESIDING OFFICER
The Mayor shall preside at all City Council meetings and perform such other duties
consistent with his/her office as may be imposed by the City Council. The Mayor shall be
entitled to vote, but shall possess no veto power. The Mayor shall be recognized as the
official head of the City for all ceremonial purposes.
The Mayor shall preserve strict order and decorum at all regular and special meetings of
the City Council. The Mayor shall state every question coming before the City Council, call
for the vote, announce the decision of the City Council on all subjects and decide all
questions of order, subject however, to an appeal of the City Council, in which event a
Reso. No. XXX-23, Item X.X, Adopted xx/xx/2023 Page 2 of 8
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majority vote of the City Council shall govern and conclusively determine such question of
order. The Mayor shall sign all Ordinances adopted by the City Council during his/her
presence. In the event of the absence of the Mayor, the Mayor Pro Tempore shall sign
Ordinances and Resolutions as then adopted.
5. CALL TO ORDER
The Mayor, or in his/her absence, the Mayor Pro Tempore, shall take the chair precisely at
the hour appointed for the meeting, and shall immediately call the City Council to order. In
the absence of the Mayor or Mayor Pro Tempore, the City Clerk shall call the City Council
to order, whereupon a temporary chair shall be elected by the members of the City Council
present. Upon the arrival of the Mayor or Mayor Pro Tempore, the temporary chair shall
immediately relinquish the chair upon the conclusion of the business immediately before
the City Council.
6. ATTENDANCE
Before proceeding with the business of the City Council, the City Clerk shall enter into the
minutes, the names of the members present or absent. No formal roll call need be taken.
7. QUORUM
A majority of the members of the City Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
of business, but a lesser number than a quorum may adjourn from time to time. The City
Council may adjourn any regular, adjourned regular, special or adjourned special meeting
to a time and place specified in the order of adjournment. If all members are absent from
any regular or adjourned regular meeting, the City Clerk may declare the meeting
adjourned to a stated time and place. If the City Clerk does, the City Clerk shall cause
written notice of the adjournment to be given in the same manner as provided for special
meetings. A copy of the order or notice of adjournment shall be posted in the Civic Center
Kiosk and other places designated by the City Council within 24 hours after the time of
adjournment. Whenever a regular or adjourned regular meeting is adjourned as provided
in this section, the resulting adjourned regular meeting is a regular meeting for all purposes.
When an order of adjournment of any meeting fails to state the hour at which the
adjournment meeting shall be held, it shall be held at the hour specified for regular
meetings.
8. REMOTE ATTENDANCE
In rare cases and exceptional circumstances, the City Council permits remote attendance
by City Councilmembers at regular and special City Council meetings. Only two
Councilmembers are permitted to attend remotely per meeting. The first two
Councilmembers who notify the City Clerk of his or her intention to do so will be permitted
to attend remotely. Video and audio remote attendance are permitted, video is preferred.
9. ORDER OF BUSINESS
Promptly at the hour set on the day of each regular meeting, the members of the City
Council, City Clerk (or Designee) and City Manager (or Designee) shall take their regular
stations in the City Council Chambers and the business of the City Council shall be taken
Reso. No. XXX-23, Item X.X, Adopted xx/xx/2023 Page 3 of 8
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up for consideration and disposition in the following order except that, with the unanimous
consent of the City Council, matters may be taken up out of order:
Call to Order (Closed Session)
Call to Order & Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
Report on Closed Session Action
Presentations and Proclamations
Public Comment
Consent Calendar
Public Hearings
Unfinished Business
New Business
City Manager and City Council Reports (City Council/Staff Informational Only
Reports/Matters Too Late for the Agenda)
Adjournment
10. MATTERS TOO LATE FOR THE AGENDA
a. No action or discussion shall take place on any item not appearing on the
agenda for a regular meeting as posted, unless one of the three items below, occurs:
(1) The City Council determines by majority vote that an emergency
situation exists, as defined in Government Code Section 54956.5; or
(2) The City Council determines by vote of two-thirds of the members
present (i.e. four votes if five members are present and three votes if four members are
present), or by a unanimous vote of the members of the City Council if only three members
are present, that there is a need to take immediate action and that the need for action came
to the City Council's attention after the agenda was posted; or
(3) The item was included in a posted agenda for a prior meeting held not
more than five calendar days prior to the meeting at which the item is acted upon and at
the prior meeting the item was continued to the meeting at which the action is being taken.
b. When an item not on the agenda is raised by a member of the public, the City
Council may briefly respond, may ask questions for clarification, provide a reference to
Staff or other resources, or request Staff to report back at a subsequent meeting.
Furthermore, a member of the City Council may request that the City Council, and the City
Council may, direct staff to place a matter of business on a future agenda.
11. READING OF MINUTES
Unless the reading of the minutes of a City Council meeting is requested by a majority vote
of the City Council, such minutes may be approved without reading if the City Clerk has
previously furnished each member with a copy thereof.
12. RULES OF DEBATE
a. Presiding Officer may debate The Mayor or such other member of the City
Council as may be presiding may move, second and debate from the chair, subject only to
such limitations of debate as are by these rules imposed upon all members. He/she shall
not be deprived of any of the rights and privileges of a City Councilmember by reason of
his /her acting as the Presiding Officer.
Reso. No. XXX-23, Item X.X, Adopted xx/xx/2023 Page 4 of 8
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b. Getting the floor Every member desiring to speak shall address the Mayor,
and upon recognition by the Mayor, shall confine himself/herself to the question under
debate.
c. Interruptions A member, once recognized, shall not be interrupted when
speaking unless it be to call him/her to order, or as herein otherwise provided. If a member,
while speaking, be called to order, he/she shall cease speaking until the question of order
is determined, and if in order, he/she shall be permitted to proceed.
d. Privilege of closing debate The City Councilmember moving the adoption of
an Ordinance or Resolution shall have the privilege of closing the debate.
e. Motion to reconsider A motion to reconsider any action taken by the City
Council may be made at any time. Such a 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 or while a member has the floor; it shall be debatable.
Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent any member of the City Council from making
or remaking the same or other motion at a subsequent meeting of the City Council.
f. Remarks of City Councilmember A City Councilmember may request,
through the Mayor, the privilege of having an abstract of his /her statement on any subject
under consideration by the City Council entered in the minutes. If the City Council consents
thereto, such statement shall be entered in the minutes.
g. Synopsis of Debate The City Clerk may be directed by the Mayor, with the
consent of the City Council, to enter in the minutes a synopsis of the discussion of any
question coming regularly before the City Council.
h. Rules of Order Except as otherwise provided in this Resolution, the current
edition of "Rosenberg's Rules of Order" shall govern the conduct of the meetings of the
City Council.
13. ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL
Any person desiring to address the City Council at a meeting shall first secure the
permission of the Mayor to do so; provided, however, that under the following headings of
business, members of the public shall have the right to address the City Council upon
obtaining recognition by the Mayor.
a. Addressing the City Council in Writing Interested persons or their authorized
representative may request to address the City Council by written communication on any
matters concerning the City's business, or any matters over which the City Council has
control. Such written communication shall be provided to the City Clerk.
b. Public Comment on Agenda Items The City Council shall provide members
of the public an opportunity to address the City Council before or during its consideration
of the item. Although members of the public may submit comments in writing, the City
Council is not required to read written comments into the record. Such written
communications shall be provided to the City Clerk.
c. Public Comment — Items Not on the Agenda The City Council shall provide
members of the public an opportunity during the "Public Comment" portion of the agenda
to address the City Council on any item of interest to the public that is within the subject
matter jurisdiction of the City Council. Although members of the public may submit
comments in writing, the City Council is not required to read written comments into the
record. Such written communications shall be provided to the City Clerk.
Reso. No. XXX-23, Item X.X, Adopted xx/xx/2023 Page 5 of 8
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14. MANNER OF ADDRESSING CITY COUNCIL
City Council meetings are business meetings, and persons addressing the City Council are
expected to conduct themselves accordingly. Each person addressing the City Council
shall stand at the podium and should give, in an audible tone of voice for the record, his/her
name and his/her address, although providing one's name and address is not required.
Persons desiring to address the City Council shall submit a speaker slip, the purpose of
which is to allow the Mayor to manage the meeting and the City Clerk to produce the
minutes, although the person need not provide his or her name in order to speak. The City
Council expects that remarks will be addressed to the City Council as a body and not to
individuals or the public. No person, other than the City Council and the person having the
floor, shall be permitted to enter into any discussion, either directly or through a member
of the City Council, without the permission of the Mayor. No question shall be asked of a
City Councilmember except through the Mayor.
On each agenda item, each member of the public shall be given a specified amount of time
to address the City Council during the public comment period, and the time limits shall be
reasonably and uniformly applied to all speakers, so far as is possible, with the exception
of formal applicants for approvals from the City who will be allotted additional time. The
time limit shall be three minutes for each speaker.
Any member of the public who wishes to speak shall submit a speaker slip prior to the
conclusion of the oral staff report on the agenda item. The Mayor, Vice Mayor or a member
of Staff will make a statement at the beginning of the meeting reminding the public of this
policy.
15. VOTING
a. Members of the City Council shall vote by a "voice vote" on all Ordinances,
Resolutions and other matters, unless a roll call vote is required by law or is requested by
a City Councilmember. Silence shall be recorded as an affirmative vote. The Mayor shall
announce the result of the vote. As required by Government Code section 54953(c)(2), the
City Clerk shall record in the minutes the vote or abstention of each City Councilmember
present for the action.
b. The vote on any matter being considered by the City Council may be delayed
by the Mayor until all members of the City Council present for a meeting, and not excused
as herein provided, are present at the City Council dais.
c. A member of the City Council who has a conflict of interest regarding any
matter being considered by the City Council shall declare the conflict and excuse
himself/herself from participating in the City Council's deliberations and decisions regarding
that matter.
16. ORDER AND DECORUM
a. By City Councilmembers While the City Council is in session, the members
must preserve order and decorum, and a member shall neither by conversation or
otherwise, delay or interrupt the proceedings or the peace of the City Council nor disturb
any member while speaking or refuse to obey the orders of the City Council or Mayor,
except as otherwise herein provided.
Reso. No. XXX-23, Item X.X, Adopted xx/xx/2023 Page 6 of 8
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b. By Persons Any person making remarks or engaging in conduct which
actually disrupts, disturbs, or impedes the proceedings or the peace of the City Council or
disturbs any member while speaking or refuses to obey the orders of the City Council or
the Mayor shall be forthwith, by the Mayor, barred from further audience before the City
Council, unless permission to continue is granted by a majority vote of the City Council. In
order to maintain the appropriate level of civility in the City Council's business meetings,
persons are expected to refrain from making personal, impertinent, or slanderous remarks
and from becoming boisterous.
c. Enforcement of Order and Decorum A law enforcement officer shall be
designated as Sergeant -at -Arms of the City Council meetings when requested by the
Mayor. He/she shall carry out all orders and instructions given at the City Council meeting.
Upon instruction of the Mayor, it shall be the duty of the Sergeant -at -Arms to remove and
bar such person from the City Council meeting who violates the order and decorum of the
meeting. Violation of the order and decorum of a City Council meeting is a misdemeanor.
d. Smokina Smoking is prohibited at all times in all City -owned facilities.
17. PROHIBITION ON POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
Members of the City Council shall not engage in political activities related to local, state, or
federal elections during Council meetings. For the purposes of this section, the term
"political activity" shall mean an activity directed toward the success or failure of a political
party, a candidate for elected office, a ballot measure, or a political group. Nothing in this
section shall prevent the City Council from considering whether or not to support or oppose
a ballot measure or state or federal legislation.
18. SPECIAL COMMITTEES/TASK FORCES
All special committees/task forces shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to approval of
the City Council.
19. CITY COUNCILMEMBER VACANCIES
When a vacancy occurs on the City Council, in the office of City Councilmember or Mayor,
and the City Council determines to consider filling the vacancy by appointment, the City
Council will make such appointment only at a meeting at which all remaining City
Councilmembers (including the Mayor) are present. This rule shall not preclude the City
Council from calling a special election to fill the vacancy or from adopting an ordinance to
fill the vacancy pursuant to Government Code Section 36512 at a meeting at which one of
the remaining City Councilmembers (including the Mayor) is absent.
20. PROTESTS
Any City Councilmember shall have the right to have the reasons for his/her dissent from,
or protest against, any action of the City Council entered in the minutes.
21. ADJOURNMENT
A motion to adjourn shall always be in order and decided without debate.
Reso. No. XXX-23, Item X.X, Adopted xx/xx/2023 Page 7 of 8
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22. RULES AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW
A copy of these Rules shall be available at all meetings of the City Council for review by
the public.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 19th day of December 2023, by the following
vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
Reso. No. XXX-23, Item X.X, Adopted xx/xx/2023 Page 8 of 8
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Attachment 2
RESOLUTION NO. xx-23
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF DUBLIN
AMENDING AND RESTATING THE RULES FOR THE CONDUCT OF
MEETINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
WHEREAS, from time to time the City Council amends and restates the Rules of Conduct
of Meetings of the City Council, and the Rules were last restated by Resolution No. 62 17130-21;
and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to amend and restate the Rules in order to to specify
remote 0 endance participation ange the rules of order try Rocenber '
t#eT��ft�,��rR���c��-R,� g e Rules of Order,
and specify the reading of tho minutes and addressing the City Councilchanae the Order of
Business.,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Rules for the Conduct of Meetings of the
City Council are amended to read as follows in their entirety:
1. REGULAR MEETINGS
a. Time Regular meetings of the City Council shall be held on the first and third
Tuesday of each month at the hour of 7:00 p.m., except that Closed Session Items shall
be held at 6:30 p.m. Whenever the day fixed for any regular meeting of the City Council
falls upon a day designated as a holiday, such meeting will be held at the same hour on
the next succeeding day not a holiday.
b. Place All regular meetings of the City Council shall be held at the Civic
Center, as designated by Ordinance.
c. Public All meetings of the City Council shall be open to the public; provided,
however, the City Council may hold closed sessions as provided by the laws of the State
of California.
2. SPECIAL MEETINGS
A special meeting may be ordered at any time by the Mayor whenever in his/her opinion
the public business may require it or upon the written request of any three members of the
City Council. Whenever a special meeting shall be called, written notice of such meeting
shall be delivered personally or by any other means by the City Clerk to each member of
the City Council and to each local newspaper of general circulation and radio/television
station requesting notice in writing. Such notice must be delivered at least 24 hours before
the time of such meeting as specified in the notice. The notice shall specify the time and
place of the special meeting and the business to be transacted or discussed. No other
business shall be considered at such meetings by the City Council.
The agenda for special meetings shall contain the information set forth in Section 3.a. - f.
below. At least 24 hours before each special meeting, the City Clerk shall post a copy of
Reso. No. 130 21 xx 23, Item x.x /1 .10, Adopted 11 /16/2021 xx/xx/2023 Page 1 of 8
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the agenda, including the call and notice of the special meeting at the same location
identified in Section 3 below.
3. AGENDA
The City Clerk shall, in consultation with the City Manager, arrange an agenda of matters
according to the order of business and furnish each member of the City Council, the City
Manager, City Attorney, and City Department Heads with a copy of the agenda packet prior
to the City Council meeting at least 72 hours in advance of a regular meeting, and 24 hours
in advance of a special meeting, as time for preparation will permit.
The agenda prepared by the City Clerk shall, at a minimum, include:
a. The date of the meeting
b. The time of the meeting
c. The location of the meeting
d. A brief general description of each item of business to be transacted or
discussed at the meeting
e. Specified period of time for members of the public to address the City Council
on items of interest to the public that are within the jurisdiction of the City
Council, including a statement that no person may speak longer than three
minutes, and including language that the City Council can only briefly
respond with questions, refer to Staff, or place on a future agenda.
f A specified section under which City Councilmembers and Staff may present
informational only reports.
At least 72 hours before each regular meeting, the City Clerk shall post a copy of the
agenda in the Kiosk in front of the Civic Center located at 100 Civic Plaza, Dublin,
California.
The City Clerk shall execute a declaration of posting which shall be filed in the Office of the
City Clerk.
The City Clerk shall so mark or denote "Consent Calendar" items on the agenda to identify
those items on the agenda which can reasonably be expected to generate no discussion
by members of the City Council, City Staff or interested persons in the audience. The City
Council shall consider all of the items on the Consent Calendar portion of the agenda at
one time by a vote after a motion has been duly made and seconded. If any member of the
City Council, City Staff or interested person in the audience requests that a consent item
be removed from the list, such item shall be taken up for consideration and disposition in
the order listed on the agenda.
4. PRESIDING OFFICER
The Mayor shall preside at all City Council meetings and perform such other duties
consistent with his/her office as may be imposed by the City Council. The Mayor shall be
entitled to vote, but shall possess no veto power. The Mayor shall be recognized as the
official head of the City for all ceremonial purposes.
Reso. No. 130 21XXX-23, Item X_X'1.10, Adopted 11 /16/2021 xx/xx/2023 Page 2 of 8
12
The Mayor shall preserve strict order and decorum at all regular and special meetings of
the City Council. The Mayor shall state every question coming before the City Council, call
for the vote, announce the decision of the City Council on all subjects and decide all
questions of order, subject however, to an appeal of the City Council, in which event a
majority vote of the City Council shall govern and conclusively determine such question of
order. The Mayor shall sign all Ordinances adopted by the City Council during his/her
presence. In the event of the absence of the Mayor, the Mayor Pro Tempore shall sign
Ordinances and Resolutions as then adopted.
5. CALL TO ORDER
The Mayor, or in his/her absence, the Mayor Pro Tempore, shall take the chair precisely at
the hour appointed for the meeting, and shall immediately call the City Council to order. In
the absence of the Mayor or Mayor Pro Tempore, the City Clerk shall call the City Council
to order, whereupon a temporary chair shall be elected by the members of the City Council
present. Upon the arrival of the Mayor or Mayor Pro Tempore, the temporary chair shall
immediately relinquish the chair upon the conclusion of the business immediately before
the City Council.
6. ATTENDANCE
Before proceeding with the business of the City Council, the City Clerk shall enter into the
minutes, the names of the members present or absent. No formal roll call need be taken.
7. QUORUM
A majority of the members of the City Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction
of business, but a lesser number than a quorum may adjourn from time to time. The City
Council may adjourn any regular, adjourned regular, special or adjourned special meeting
to a time and place specified in the order of adjournment. If all members are absent from
any regular or adjourned regular meeting, the City Clerk may declare the meeting
adjourned to a stated time and place. If the City Clerk does, the City Clerk shall cause
written notice of the adjournment to be given in the same manner as provided for special
meetings. A copy of the order or notice of adjournment shall be posted in the Civic Center
Kiosk and other places designated by the City Council within 24 hours after the time of
adjournment. Whenever a regular or adjourned regular meeting is adjourned as provided
in this section, the resulting adjourned regular meeting is a regular meeting for all purposes.
When an order of adjournment of any meeting fails to state the hour at which the
adjournment meeting shall be held, it shall be held at the hour specified for regular
meetings.
8. REMOTE ATTENDANCE
In rare cases and exceptional circumstances, the City Council permits remote attendance
by City Councilmembers at regular and special City Council meetings. Only two
Councilmembers are permitted to attend remotely per meeting. The first two
Councilmembers who notify the City Clerk of his or her intention to do so will be permitted
to attend remotely. Video and audio remote attendance are permitted, video is preferred.
9. ORDER OF BUSINESS
Reso. No. 130 21XXX-23, Item X_X'1.10, Adopted 11 /16/2021 xx/xx/2023 Page 3 of 8
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Promptly at the hour set on the day of each regular meeting, the members of the City
Council, City Clerk (or Designee) and City Manager (or Designee) shall take their regular
stations in the City Council Chambers and the business of the City Council shall be taken
up for consideration and disposition in the following order except that, with the unanimous
consent of the City Council, matters may be taken up out of order:
Call to Order (Closed Session)
Call to Order & Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
Report on Closed Session Action
Oral Communication: Presentations and Proclamations
Public Comment
Consent Calendar
Written Communications
Public Hearings
Unfinished Business
New Business
Othor Buc:nossCity Manager and City Council Reports (City Council/Staff
Informational Only —Reports/Matters Too Late for the Agenda)
Adjournment
10. MATTERS TOO LATE FOR THE AGENDA
a. No action or discussion shall take place on any item not appearing on the
agenda for a regular meeting as posted, unless one of the three items below, occurs:
(1) The City Council determines by majority vote that an emergency
situation exists, as defined in Government Code Section 54956.5; or
(2) The City Council determines by vote of two-thirds of the members
present (i.e. four votes if five members are present and three votes if four members are
present), or by a unanimous vote of the members of the City Council if only three members
are present, that there is a need to take immediate action and that the need for action came
to the City Council's attention after the agenda was posted; or
(3) The item was included in a posted agenda for a prior meeting held not
more than five calendar days prior to the meeting at which the item is acted upon and at
the prior meeting the item was continued to the meeting at which the action is being taken.
b. When an item not on the agenda is raised by a member of the public, the City
Council may briefly respond, may ask questions for clarification, provide a reference to
Staff or other resources, or request Staff to report back at a subsequent meeting.
Furthermore, a member of the City Council may request that the City Council, and the City
Council may, direct staff to place a matter of business on a future agenda.
11. READING OF MINUTES
Unless the reading of the minutes of a City Council meeting is requested by a majority vote
of the City Council, such minutes may be approved without reading if the City Clerk has
previously furnished each member with a copy thereof.
12. RULES OF DEBATE
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a. Presiding Officer may debate The Mayor or such other member of the City
Council as may be presiding may move, second and debate from the chair, subject only to
such limitations of debate as are by these rules imposed upon all members. He/she shall
not be deprived of any of the rights and privileges of a City Councilmember by reason of
his /her acting as the Presiding Officer.
b. Getting the floor Every member desiring to speak shall address the Mayor,
and upon recognition by the Mayor, shall confine himself/herself to the question under
debate.
c. Interruptions A member, once recognized, shall not be interrupted when
speaking unless it be to call him/her to order, or as herein otherwise provided. If a member,
while speaking, be called to order, he/she shall cease speaking until the question of order
is determined, and if in order, he/she shall be permitted to proceed.
d. Privilege of closing debate The City Councilmember moving the adoption of
an Ordinance or Resolution shall have the privilege of closing the debate.
e. Motion to reconsider A motion to reconsider any action taken by the City
Council may be made at any time. Such a 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 or while a member has the floor; it shall be debatable.
Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent any member of the City Council from making
or remaking the same or other motion at a subsequent meeting of the City Council.
f. Remarks of City Councilmember A City Councilmember may request,
through the Mayor, the privilege of having an abstract of his /her statement on any subject
under consideration by the City Council entered in the minutes. If the City Council consents
thereto, such statement shall be entered in the minutes.
g. Synopsis of Debate The City Clerk may be directed by the Mayor, with the
consent of the City Council, to enter in the minutes a synopsis of the discussion of any
question coming regularly before the City Council.
h. Rules of Order Except as otherwise provided in this Resolution, the current
edition of "Rosenberg's Rules of Order" shall govern the conduct of the meetings of the
City Council.
13. ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL
Any person desiring to address the City Council at a meeting shall first secure the
permission of the Mayor to do so; provided, however, that under the following headings of
business, members of the public shall have the right to address the City Council upon
obtaining recognition by the Mayor.
a. Addressing the City Council in Writing Interested persons or their authorized
representative may request to address the City Council by written communication on any
matters concerning the City's business, or any matters over which the City Council has
control. Such written communication shall be provided to the City Clerk.
b. Public Comment on Agenda Items The City Council shall provide members
of the public an opportunity to address the City Council before or during its consideration
of the item. Although members of the public may submit comments in writing, the City
Council is not required to read written comments into the record. Such written
communications shall be provided to the City Clerk.
c. Oral CommunicationsPublic Comment — Items Not on the Agenda The City
Council shall provide members of the public an opportunity during the "Oral
GommunicationsPublic Comment" portion of the agenda to address the City Council on
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any item of interest to the public that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City
Council. Although members of the public may submit comments in writing, the City Council
is not required to read written comments into the record. Such written communications shall
be provided to the City Clerk.
14. MANNER OF ADDRESSING CITY COUNCIL
City Council meetings are business meetings, and persons addressing the City Council are
expected to conduct themselves accordingly. Each person addressing the City Council
shall stand at the podium and should give, in an audible tone of voice for the record, his/her
name and his/her address, although providing one's name and address is not required.
Persons desiring to address the City Council shall submit a speaker slip, the purpose of
which is to allow the Mayor to manage the meeting and the City Clerk to produce the
minutes, although the person need not provide his or her name in order to speak. The City
Council expects that remarks will be addressed to the City Council as a body and not to
individuals or the public. No person, other than the City Council and the person having the
floor, shall be permitted to enter into any discussion, either directly or through a member
of the City Council, without the permission of the Mayor. No question shall be asked of a
City Councilmember except through the Mayor.
On each agenda item, each member of the public shall be given a specified amount of time
to address the City Council during the public comment period, and the time limits shall be
reasonably and uniformly applied to all speakers, so far as is possible, with the exception
of formal applicants for approvals from the City who will be allotted additional time. The
time limit shall be three minutes for each speaker.
Any member of the public who wishes to speak shall submit a speaker slip prior to the
conclusion of the oral staff report on the agenda item. The Mayor, Vice Mayor or a member
of Staff will make a statement at the beginning of the meeting reminding the public of this
policy.
15. VOTING
a. Members of the City Council shall vote by a "voice vote" on all Ordinances,
Resolutions and other matters, unless a roll call vote is required by law or is requested by
a City Councilmember. Silence shall be recorded as an affirmative vote. The Mayor shall
announce the result of the vote. As required by Government Code section 54953(c)(2), the
City Clerk shall record in the minutes the vote or abstention of each City Councilmember
present for the action.
b. The vote on any matter being considered by the City Council may be delayed
by the Mayor until all members of the City Council present for a meeting, and not excused
as herein provided, are present at the City Council dais.
c. A member of the City Council who has a conflict of interest regarding any
matter being considered by the City Council shall declare the conflict and excuse
himself/herself from participating in the City Council's deliberations and decisions regarding
that matter.
16. ORDER AND DECORUM
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a. Bv City Councilmembers While the City Council is in session, the members
must preserve order and decorum, and a member shall neither by conversation or
otherwise, delay or interrupt the proceedings or the peace of the City Council nor disturb
any member while speaking or refuse to obey the orders of the City Council or Mayor,
except as otherwise herein provided.
b. Bv Persons Any person making remarks or engaging in conduct which
actually disrupts, disturbs, or impedes the proceedings or the peace of the City Council or
disturbs any member while speaking or refuses to obey the orders of the City Council or
the Mayor shall be forthwith, by the Mayor, barred from further audience before the City
Council, unless permission to continue is granted by a majority vote of the City Council. In
order to maintain the appropriate level of civility in the City Council's business meetings,
persons are expected to refrain from making personal, impertinent, or slanderous remarks
and from becoming boisterous.
c. Enforcement of Order and Decorum A law enforcement officer shall be
designated as Sergeant -at -Arms of the City Council meetings when requested by the
Mayor. He/she shall carry out all orders and instructions given at the City Council meeting.
Upon instruction of the Mayor, it shall be the duty of the Sergeant -at -Arms to remove and
bar such person from the City Council meeting who violates the order and decorum of the
meeting. Violation of the order and decorum of a City Council meeting is a misdemeanor.
d. Smoking Smoking is prohibited at all times in all City -owned facilities.
17. PROHIBITION ON POLITICAL ACTIVITIES
Members of the City Council shall not engage in political activities related to local, state, or
federal elections during Council meetings. For the purposes of this section, the term
"political activity" shall mean an activity directed toward the success or failure of a political
party, a candidate for elected office, a ballot measure, or a political group. Nothing in this
section shall prevent the City Council from considering whether or not to support or oppose
a ballot measure or state or federal legislation.
18. SPECIAL COMMITTEES/TASK FORCES
All special committees/task forces shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to approval of
the City Council.
19. CITY COUNCILMEMBER VACANCIES
When a vacancy occurs on the City Council, in the office of City Councilmember or Mayor,
and the City Council determines to consider filling the vacancy by appointment, the City
Council will make such appointment only at a meeting at which all remaining City
Councilmembers (including the Mayor) are present. This rule shall not preclude the City
Council from calling a special election to fill the vacancy or from adopting an ordinance to
fill the vacancy pursuant to Government Code Section 36512 at a meeting at which one of
the remaining City Councilmembers (including the Mayor) is absent.
20. PROTESTS
Any City Councilmember shall have the right to have the reasons for his/her dissent from,
or protest against, any action of the City Council entered in the minutes.
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21. ADJOURNMENT
A motion to adjourn shall always be in order and decided without debate.
22. RULES AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW
A copy of these Rules shall be available at all meetings of the City Council for review by
the public.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 16t-19th day of November 2021 December
2023, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
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