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HomeMy WebLinkAbout13-86 e e RESOLUTION NO. J 3.~ cy & A RESOLUTION of the City Council of the City of Port Angeles establishing rules and procedures to be followed in conducting City Council meetings, and superseding Resolution No. 21-84. WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Port Angeles, Washington, desires to establish uniform rules of procedure for the conduct of its meetings, and WHEREAS, an established order of procedure for City Council meetings is the most expedient means of conducting Council meetings, and WHEREAS, uniform rules of procedure will help to ensure that each matter or individual appearing before the City Council is treated in a consistent manner, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ANGELES, WASHINGTON, as follows: Section 1. The attached rules of procedure are hereby adopted as the official rules of procedure for the City of Port Angeles and shall be adhered to by the City Council, City staff and members of the public appearing before the City Council in the conduct of City Business. Section 2. This Resolution shall supersede Resolution No. 21-84. PASSED by the City Council of the City of Port Angeles, Washington, at a regular meeting of the Council held on the ~ day of ~ ' 1986. ATT.EST: 0~~~ JJ. tLt~~~ MAY 0 R ...... .- I i1o~ gtWO~ Str€!ri L. Anderson, Acting City Clerk Attorney COUNCIL RULES OF PROCEDURE Section 1 Rules. These rules shall govern the procedures followed by the City Council of Port Angeles, Washington, for the . conduct of Council meetings and the maintenance of order, pursuant to RCW 35A.12.170. Section 2 Open Public Meetings Act. The Council shall comply with the provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act, Chapter 43.20 RCW, in the conduct of all meetings to which said Act is applicable. Section 3 Executive Sessions. The Council may discuss topics in executive session, which topics are specified in RCW 42.30.110 or relate to potential or pending litigation and are subject to attorney-client privilege. The City Attorney shall inform the Council whenever any proposed discussion in executive session is not legally allowed. No member of the City Council, employee of the City, or any other person present during executive session of the City Council shall disclose to any person the content or substance of any discussion or action which took place during said executive session, unless a majority of the City Council shall authorize such disclosure. Section 4 Work Sessions. Special meetings designated as work sessions shall be advertised and conducted in the same manner as special meetings. Work sessions are for the purpose of _ in-depth review and discussion of specified issues. Final disposition shall not be taken at designated work sessions. -1- . e Section 5 Quorum. At all meetings of the Council a majority of the Councilmembers shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but a less number may adjourn from time to time and may compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as may be prescribed by ordi- nance. The passage of any ordinance, grant or revocation of franchise or license, and any resolution for the payment of money shall require the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the whole membership of the Council. RCW 35A.12.120. Section 6 Chair of the Council. The Mayor shall be the Chair of the Council and shall preside at all Council meetings. In the absence of the Mayor, the Mayor Pro Tempore, who shall be the most senior member of the Council other than the Mayor, shall preside. If neither the Mayor nor the Mayor Pro Tempore is present at a meeting, the presiding officer for that meeting shall be elected by a majority of the vote of those Councilmem- bers present, provided that there is a quorum. The Chair of the Council may vote on all matters coming before the Council' however, the Chair of the Council shall not be required to vote except in the event of a tie. The Chair of the Council shall state all questions coming before the Council, provide opportunity for discussion from the floor, and announce the decision of the Council on all subjects. Procedural decisions shall be made by the Chair of the Council, who may request advice on such matters from the City -2- . . Attorney. Procedural decisions made by the Chair of the Council may be overruled by a majority vote of the Council. Section 7 Agenda. The City Manager shall prepare the agenda of business for all regular Council meetings. Any Councilmember, Department head or citizen desiring to place a matter on the agenda shall notify the City Manager by 12:00 noon on the wednesday preceding the Council meeting. Every agenda item must be supported by a written explanation informing the Council and staff of the issue, background and/or analysis, and recommendation and/or conclusion, unless the item is self- explanatory. All written materials for the agenda shall be delivered to the City Manager by 12: 00 noon on the Friday preceding the Council meeting. Except for announcements, late items that the City Manager does not receive by the stated deadlines shall not be considered by the Council except upon the majority vote of the members present. Section 8 Order of Business. The order of business for regular Council meetings shall be as follows: 1. Call to Order. 2. Roll Call. 3. Approval of Minutes. 4. Finance. 5. Consent Agenda. 6. Items from Public. 7. Legislation. 8. Announcements from Council and Manager. -3- . - 9. Executive Session. 10. Return to Open Session. 11. Adjournment. Section 9 Voting. Each Councilmember shall vote on all questions put to the Council unless a contlict of interest or appearance of fairness problem requires a Councilmember to excuse him/herself. If a Councilmember or the Mayor does not vote when such vote is required, such member shall be determined to have voted "yes" at the time the vote is taken. Section 10 Decorum and Debate. When a measure is presented for consideration to the Council, the Chair of the Council shall recognize the appropriate individual to present the matter. When two or more members wish to speak, the Chair of the Council shall name the member who is to speak first. No member of the Council shall interrupt another while speaking except to make a point of order or privilege. No Councilmember shall be permitted to indulge in personalities, use language personally offensive, or use language tending to hold a member of the Council up to contempt. If a member is speaking or otherwise transgressing the Rules of the Council, the Chair of the Council shall or any Councilmember may call him/her to order, in which case he/she shall inunediately be quiet 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 -4- . e shall be at liberty to proceed, but not otherwise. A Councilmem- ber transgressing this Rule shall be liable to censure or other such punishment as the Council may deem proper. Section 10 Questions of Parliamentary Procedure. Questions of parliamentary procedure not covered by these Rules shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order, Revised (1979 Edition). -5-