HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. R2024-21RESOLUTION NO. R2024-21
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS, ADOPTING THE CITY COUNCIL RULES OF
PROCEDURE; REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. R2022-25 AND ALL
OTHER RESOLUTIONS OR PARTS OF RESOLUTIONS INCONSISTENT
OR IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Article III, Section 3.10 of the Charter of the City of Friendswood, Texas,
allows the City Council to determine its own rules and order of business under which it will
conduct its meetings; and
WHEREAS, after reviewing its rules, the City Council desires to amend the same;
NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FRIENDSWOOD,
STATE OF TEXAS:
Section 1. That the City Council of the City of Friendswood, Texas, hereby adopts
the "Friendswood City Council Rules of Procedure," attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and made
a part hereof for all purposes.
Section 2. That Resolution No. R2022-25 and all other resolutions or parts of
resolutions inconsistent or in conflict herewith are, to the extent of such inconsistency or
conflict, hereby repealed.
Section 3. That this resolution shall be effective immediately upon its passage and
approval.
INTRODUCED, READ AND PASSED by the affirmative vote of the City Council of the
City of Friendswood on this the I" day of July, 2024.
n
LETICIA BRYSCH, City
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Mayor
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a` •
*i r /yt
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KARM L. HORNER, City Attomey
H:\City Council\Re lutions\2024\07-0I-2024\Resolution- Rules of Procedure.docz
Exhibit "A"
FRIENDSWOOD CITY COUNCIL
RULES OF PROCEDURE
Revised: 07-01-2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.
AUTHORITY.....................................................................................................................
1
1.1 Authority .................................................................................................................1
1.2 Purpose....................................................................................................................1
2.
GENERAL RULES............................................................................................................
1
2.1 Meetings to be Public..............................................................................................
1
2.2 Quorum...................................................................................................................
1
2.3 Compelling Attendance..........................................................................................
1
2.4 Minutes of Meetings...............................................................................................
1
2.5 Questions to Contain One Subject..........................................................................
1
2.6 Right of Floor..........................................................................................................
1
2.7 City Manager..........................................................................................................
2
2.8 City Attorney.........................................................................................................
2
2.9 City Secretary..........................................................................................................
2
2.10 Sergeant at Arms.....................................................................................................
2
2.11 Officers and Employees..........................................................................................
2
2.12 Absences.................................................................................................................
2
2.13 Suspension of Rules................................................................................................
2
2.14 Amendment of Rules..............................................................................................
2
3.
TYPES OF MEETINGS.....................................................................................................
3
3.1 Regular Meetings....................................................................................................3
3.2 Special Meetings.....................................................................................................
3
3.3 Emergency Meetings..............................................................................................
3
4.
PRESIDING OFFICER AND DUTIES.............................................................................
3
4.1 Presiding Officer.....................................................................................................
3
4.2 Call to Order...........................................................................................................
3
4.3 Preservation of Order..............................................................................................
4
4.4 Substitution for Chair..............................................................................................
4
4.5 Points of Order........................................................................................................
4
4.6 Questions to be Stated.............................................................................................
4
4.7 Recess.....................................................................................................................
4
4.8 Votes.......................................................................................................................4
i
5. CODE OF CONDUCT ..................................................
5.1 Councilmembers................................................
5.2 Administrative Staff ...........................................
5.3 Citizens..............................................................
C
VA
,3
a
5.4 In General .............................................
(a)
Rules...........................................................................
(b)
Recognition by Presiding Officer ...............................
(c)
Procedure....................................................................
(d)
Charges against employees .........................................
(e)
Disturbances................................................................
(f)
Communication devices ..............................................
ORDER OF
BUSINESS
............................. 5
................. 5
................ 5
............................. 6
............................. 7
............................... 7
............................... 7
............................... 7
............................... 8
............................... 8
............................... 8
8
6.1
.....................................................................................................
Agenda....................................................................................................................8
6.2
Agenda Order..........................................................................................................
9
CONSIDERATION
OF ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS ...............
12
7.1
Printed or Typewritten Form................................................................................
12
7.2
City Attorney to Approve.....................................................................................
13
7.3
Distribution of Ordinances and Resolutions.........................................................
13
7.4
Discussion, Consideration and Processing of Items .............................................
13
(a) Motion to Table.........................................................................................
13
(c) Closing of Debate.....................................................................................
13
(d) Procedure to Debate..................................................................................
14
(e) Amendments.............................................................................................
14
(fl Reducing Motion to Writing.....................................................................
14
(g) Vote Required...........................................................................................
14
CREATION OF COMMITTEES..:..................................................................................
14
8.1
Ad Hoc Committees..............................................................................................
14
8.2
Citizen Boards, Commissions, and Committees ...................................................
14
OATHOF OFFICE...........................................................................................................
15
ii
FRIENDSWOOD CITY COUNCIL RULES OF PROCEDURE
1. AUTHORITY
1.1 Authority
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.10 of the Charter of the City of
Friendswood, the City Council enacts these rules of procedure for all meetings of
the City Council of the City of Friendswood, Texas.
1.2 Purpose
During any regular or special council meeting, a reasonable opportunity shall be
given to the citizens of the City to be heard, including, but not limited to, those
matters under consideration. The rules of procedure are enacted as guidelines to be
followed by all persons in the Council Chamber, including City administrative
staff, news media and visitors.
2. GENERAL RULES
2.1 Meetings to be Public
All meetings of the council shall be open to the public, except as authorized by law.
2.2 Quorum
Four or more members of the Council shall be considered a majority of the
members of the Council and shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business.
2.3 Compelling Attendance
No member shall be excused from attendance at a Council meeting except for good
valid reasons.
2.4 Minutes of Meetings
An account of all proceedings of the Council shall be kept by the City Secretary,
which account shall constitute the official record of the Council.
2.5 Questions to Contain One Subject
All questions submitted for a vote shall contain only one (1) subject.
2.6 Right of Floor
Any member desiring to speak shall be recognized by the Presiding Officer and
shall confine his/her remarks to the subject under consideration or to be considered
and will not be interrupted.
2.7 City Manager
The City Manager or Acting City Manager shall attend all meetings of the Council,
unless excused. He/she may make recommendations to the council and shall have
the right to take part in all discussions of the Council, but shall have no vote.
2.8 City Attorney
The City Attorney shall attend all meetings of the Council unless excused and shall,
upon request, give an opinion, either written or oral, on questions of law. The City
Attorney shall act as the Council's parliamentarian.
2.9 City Secretary
The City Secretary or Acting City Secretary shall attend all meetings of the City
Council unless excused, shall act as the reading and recording secretary of the
Council, shall keep the official minutes, and shall perform such other duties as may
be requested and assigned by the City Manager.
2.10 Sergeant at Arms
The highest-ranking police officer of the Friendswood Police Department in
attendance at any meeting of the City Council shall be, and is hereby designated
and appointed as, the Sergeant at Arms for such meeting.
2.11 Officers and Employees
Any officer or employee of the city, when requested by the City Manager, shall
attend any meeting of the Council and present information relating to matters before
the Council.
2.12 Absences
The City Council hereby delegates its duty to excuse absences of Councilmembers,
the City Manager, the City Secretary, the City Attorney or any other officer or
employee required to attend any meeting of the Council, whether such duty is
imposed by Charter or these rules, to the Mayor.
2.13 Suspension of Rules
Any provision of these rules not governed by the City Charter or Code may be
temporarily suspended by the affirmative vote of four or more members of the
Council present.
2.14 Amendment of Rules
These rules may be amended, or new rules adopted by the affirmative vote of four
or more members of the Council.
2
3. TYPES OF MEETINGS
3.1 Regular Meetings
Per Section 3.09 of the Charter, the City Council shall hold at least one (1) regular
meeting each month_ Effective 2021, one (1) regular meeting shall be held in the
Council Chambers of the City Hall, 910 S. Friendswood Drive, Friendswood,
Texas, on the first Monday of each month, commencing at 5:30 p.m., unless
otherwise directed by the City Manager and/or the Mayor. The regular meeting
shall end no later than 10:30 p.m.; however, its duration may be extended with the
approval of a two-thirds (%) vote of the members of Council present at such
meeting or four members of Council, whichever is greater. In the event that the first
Monday should fall on a holiday, the meeting shall be rescheduled as determined
by the Mayor and/or the City Manager.
3.2 Special Meetings
Special meetings of the Council shall be called by the City Secretary upon the
request of the Mayor, the City Manager, or three (3) members of the Council. In
the event of a special called meeting, the City Secretary shall notify each member
of the Council. Special meetings may be held at City Hall, or another location, in
compliance with Section 3.09 of the Charter.
3.3 Emergency Meetings
In case of emergency or urgent public necessity, which shall be expressed in the
notice of the meeting, an emergency meeting may be called by the Mayor, the City
Manager, or three (3) members of the Council, and it shall be sufficient if the notice
is posted in accordance with Chapter 551, Texas Government Code, as amended.
4. PRESIDING OFFICER AND DUTIES
4.1 Presiding Officer
The Mayor, or in his/her absence, the Mayor Pro Tem, shall preside as the Presiding
Officer at all meetings of the Council. In the absence of both the Mayor and Mayor
Pro Tem, and with a quorum being present, any councilmember may be appointed
by four or more members of the City Council present. No Councilmember shall be
required to abstain from voting on the election of a Presiding Officer under this
section.
4.2 Call to Order
The meetings of the Council shall be called to order by the Mayor, or in his/her
absence, the Mayor Pro Tem. In the absence of both the Mayor and the Mayor Pro
Tem, the meeting shall be called to order by the City Manager.
3
4.3 Preservation of Order
The Presiding Officer shall (i) preserve order and decorum, (ii) prevent insulting
references to Councilmembers, impugning of other members' motives, and
repetitious comments and (iii) confine remarks to the question under discussion.
The Presiding Officer shall call upon the Sergeant at Arms as necessary to enforce
compliance with the rules contained therein.
4.4 Substitution for Chair
The Mayor may call upon the Mayor Pro Tem, or if he/she is unavailable, then any
other member, to take his/her place for a portion of a meeting. Such substitution is
not to continue beyond adjournment.
4.5 Points of Order
The Presiding Officer shall determine all points of order, subject to the right of any
member to appeal to the Council. If any appeal is taken, the following question
shall be posed: "Shall the decision of the Presiding Officer be sustained"? If four
or more members present vote "No," the ruling of the Presiding Officer is overruled;
otherwise, it is sustained.
4.6 Questions to be Stated
The Presiding Officer shall state all questions submitted for a vote and announce
the results. A roll call shall be taken upon the request of any member.
4.7 Recess
In addition to recessing for an executive session, the Presiding Officer may recess
a meeting for up to fifteen (15) minutes at regular intervals of approximately one
(1) hour at appropriate points in the meeting agenda.
4.8 Votes
Councilmembers shall clearly indicate their vote on each matter submitted to a vote.
(a) The Presiding Officer may make or second motions, and shall vote on all
matters before the Council, unless otherwise prohibited by law, but shall
have no power of veto.
(b) The Presiding Officer shall have no power to recess a meeting or to adjourn
a meeting to prevent the City Council from considering an agenda item or
lay the same out for consideration except in strict accordance with the Texas
Open Meetings Act, the City Charter, and as enacted herein. If, not
withstanding the positive provisions of this rule, the Presiding Officer,
whether Mayor, Mayor Pro Tern, or Councilmember presiding, shall
attempt to prevent City Council from taking any action on any agenda item
brought before it, any Councilmember present may call for a vote of the
City Council to consider the matter.
(c) Except as otherwise provided by law or these rules, all action required of
the City Council shall be made by a vote of four (4) or more of the members
of the Council.
(d) Excluding conflicts of interest as provided by state law or by City Charter,
all Councilmembers present at each meeting must vote on each subject
presented for Council vote. All votes must be taken in accordance with
Section 3.10 of the Charter.
5. CODE OF CONDUCT
5.1 Councilmembers
(a) During Council meetings, Councilmembers shall preserve order and
decorum and shall neither by conversation or otherwise delay or interrupt
the proceedings nor refuse to observe the rules of the Council.
(b) A Councilmember, once recognized, shall not be interrupted while speaking
unless a point of order is raised by another member or the parliamentarian,
or unless the speaker chooses to yield to questions from another member.
If a Councilmember is called to order while he/she is speaking, he/she shall
cease speaking immediately until the question of order is determined. If
ruled to be in order, he/she shall be permitted to proceed.
(c) Any member of the City Council, including the Mayor, who fails to observe
decorous and orderly behavior during a meeting or who disturbs a meeting
of Council with such disorderly conduct, is subject to being expelled from
such meeting upon motion passed by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Council
present at this meeting or four members of Council, whichever is greater.
(d) Any member of the City Council, including the Mayor, reprimanded by
motion or expelled from a meeting by motion who thereafter commits
another breach of decorous and disorderly behavior during a subsequent
meeting and again disturbs any meeting of the Council by such disorderly
conduct shall be subject to the same power of Council to reprimand him/her,
expel him/her from the meeting, or subject such member to investigation by
the City Council in accordance with Section 3.16 of the Charter.
5.2 Administrative Staff
(a) Members of the Administrative staff and employees of the City shall
observe the same rules of procedure and decorum applicable to members of
the Council and shall have no voice unless and until recognized by the
Mayor or Presiding Officer.
5
(b) While the Presiding Officer shall have the authority to preserve decorum in
meetings as far as staff members and City employees are concerned, the
City Manager also shall be responsible for the orderly conduct and decorum
of all City employees under his/her direction and control.
(c) All remarks and questions addressed to the Council shall be addressed to
the Council as a whole and not to any individual member thereof.
(d) No staff member, other than a staff member having the floor, shall enter into
a discussion either directly or indirectly without permission of the Mayor or
Presiding Officer.
5.3 Citizens
(a) Members of the public are welcome and invited to attend all open meetings
of the Council and will be admitted to the Council Chamber or other room
in which the meeting is held, up to the fire safety capacity of the room and/or
to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.
(b) Persons will refrain from private conversation in the Chamber, or other
room, while the Council meeting is in session.
(c) Persons attending Council meetings shall observe the same rules of
propriety, decorum, and good conduct applicable to the administrative staff.
(d) A member of the public addressing the City Council or in attendance at a
Council meeting shall not engage in any manner which disrupts the orderly
conduct of a City Council Meeting, including, but not limited to,
demonstrations, unauthorized remarks, the carrying of signs or placards,
and/or the display of banners. Recording equipment is permissible to the
extent that such equipment or the use thereof does not (i) interfere with the
meeting, (ii) block means of ingress or egress, (iii) obstruct the view or
interfere with the listening of attendees, and/or (iv) prevent or otherwise
unreasonably impair attendees from participating in the meeting.
(e) The Mayor may rule a member of the public out of order and in violation of
these rules if. (i) the member, after having been given the floor, speaks
beyond the allocated time limit and refuses to yield the floor; (ii) the
person's remarks are not relevant to the agenda item under consideration;
(iii) the person repeatedly interrupts a Councilmember; (iv) the person's
remarks are disruptive so as to disturb the peace and good order of the
meeting, through use of, without limitation, loud, threatening, hostile,
abusive, vulgar or obscene language or any other actions that disturb or are
calculated to disturb the meeting; (v) the person engages in any conduct
with the intent to break up the meeting of the City Council or urges others
to commit acts or engage in conduct to break up the meeting, including
unreasonably loud and prolonged yelling, screaming, clapping or noise -
creating acts which render it impossible or difficult for the City Council to
conduct or continue with the meeting; or (vi) the person willfully refuses or
fails to comply with any Council Rule of Procedure or with any reasonable
order of the Presiding Officer.
(f) Any person while addressing the Council or while attending the Council
meeting violating these rules shall be given one (1) warning. If these rules
continue to be violated after such warning, the person violating the rules
shall be removed from the room if the Sergeant at Arms is so directed by
the Mayor or Presiding Officer, and such person shall be barred from further
audience before the Council during that session of the Council. In case the
Presiding Officer shall fail to act, any member of the Council may move to
require him/her to act to enforce the rules, and the affirmative vote of four
or more members of the Council present shall require the Presiding Officer
to act.
5.4 In General
(a) Rules
Robert's Rules of Order (latest revision) shall be used as a guide, unless
Robert's Rules of Order are in conflict with the City Charter, City
ordinances, or rules of procedure hereby adopted Any one (1) or all of these
rules of procedure may be suspended in order to allow a particular
consideration of a matter, provided that it does not violate the state law or
the Charter, and provided that not less than two-thirds (%) of the
Councilmembers present at the meeting or four (4) members of Council,
whichever is greater, vote in favor of such suspension. Where any rule
embodies a provision of state law, identically or in substance, such rule may
not be suspended.
(b) Recognition by Presiding Officer
No person shall address the Council without first being recognized by the
Presiding Officer.
(c) Procedure
Each person addressing the Council shall approach the podium, give his/her
name and address in an audible tone of voice for the record, and state the
subject the person wishes to discuss. All comments shall be addressed to
the Council as a whole and not to any member thereof. No person other
than members of the Council and the person having the floor shall be
permitted to enter into any discussion, directly or through a member of the
Council, without permission of the Presiding Officer. No question may be
7
asked a member of the City staff without the permission of the Presiding
Officer.
(d) Charges against employees
Should any person in a Council meeting charge an employee, other than the
City Manager, the City Attorney, or the Municipal Court Judge, with
improper conduct, malfeasance, nonfeasance, or misfeasance, then in such
event, such person shall be ruled out of order immediately and instructed to
refer his/her complaint to the City Manager.
(e) Disturbances
No person attending any Council meeting shall delay, interrupt, or disrupt
the proceedings or refuse to obey the orders of the Presiding Officer. Any
person making personal, impertinent, and slanderous remarks or who
becomes boisterous while addressing the Council or while attending the
Council meeting shall be removed from the room if the Sergeant at Arms is
so directed by the Presiding Officer.
(f) Communication devices
(1) The use of wireless communication devices to send/receive text
messages, instant messages, and/or emails between members of the
City Council during Council meetings is prohibited.
(2) No person attending any Council meeting shall possess a pager,
cellular telephone, radiotelephone, or other device that is set in a
mode to provide audible notification of an incoming call, text, or
page.
(3) No person attending any Council meeting shall use a cellular
telephone, radiotelephone, or other telecommunication device for
audible communications while the Council meeting is in session.
6. ORDER OF BUSINESS
6.1 Agenda
The order of business of each regular and special meeting shall be as contained in
the agenda prepared by the City Manager. The agenda shall be a listing by topic of
subjects to be considered by the Council. Placement of items on the agenda shall
be governed by this section. Conduct of business at special meetings shall likewise
be governed by an agenda and the rules of procedure contained herein. The
placement of agenda items for each meeting is determined as follows:
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, any and all ordinances,
resolutions, or other matters, including all written data, except emergency
items, to be brought before the City Council for its consideration should be
submitted in writing to the City Secretary and/or City Manager not later
than 2:00 p.m. of the Monday preceding the meeting at which the same is
to be considered.
(b) The City Manager, or the Mayor, or two Councilmembers must grant
approval for an item to be included on the agenda.
(c) Information concerning liaison reports, which do not fall under Section
551.0415 of the Texas Government Code concerning reports about items
of community interest for which no action will be taken, to be brought
before the City Council by the Mayor or by any member of the Council shall
be submitted in writing to the City Secretary and/or City Manager not later
than 2:00 p.m. of the Wednesday preceding the meeting at which the same
will be presented.
(d) When an ordinance, resolution, motion, or other measure of any sort has
been placed before the City Council and defeated, the same identical
question shall not again be considered by the City Council until ninety (90)
days have elapsed, unless the Council, by the vote of at least four (4)
Councilmembers, waives this restriction as to the item.
The agenda order set out is the desired order for conducting the business of the
City Council of the City of Friendswood in regular and special meetings. When
in the best interest of the Council and the citizens of the City require, any item
appearing on the agenda shall be considered out of order as shall be determined by
the Presiding Officer in his/her sole discretion.
6.2 Agenda Order
The order of the agenda shall be as follows unless the Mayor, or City Manager,
determines that a different order is in the best interest of the City Council and/or
the citizens of the City:
(a) Call to Order.
(b) Invocation.
(c) Pledge of Allegiance.
(d) Council Comments and Reports.
(1) Council Comments. Each member of the Council will be given a
five-minute time period to provide continents about items of
community interest, pursuant to Section 551.0415 of the Texas
Government Code, which include:
a. Expressions of thanks, congratulations, or condolences;
b. Information regarding holiday schedules;
C. An honorary or salutatory recognition of a public official,
public employee, or other citizen, except that a discussion
regarding a change in the status of person's public office or
public employment is not an honorary or salutatory
recognition;
d. Reminder about an upcoming event organized or sponsored
by the governing body;
e. Information regarding a social, ceremonial, or community
event organized or sponsored by an entity other than the
governing body that was attended or is scheduled to be
attended by a member of the governing body or an official
of the governing body; and
f. Announcements involving an imminent threat to the public
health and safety of people in the City that have arisen after
the posting of the agenda.
(2) Council Reports. The members of the Council may provide
Liaison Reports that are items of community interest or that are
posted in accordance with Section 551.041 of the Texas
Government Code.
(e) Public Comment.
(1) Any citizen shall have a reasonable opportunity to be heard at any
and all regular or special meetings of the City Council in regard to
any and all matters to be considered at any such meetings, or such
other matters as citizens may wish to bring to Council's attention.
Any matter not posted on the agenda may not be discussed by
Council, nor shall any action be taken by Council, except to indicate
that the matter may be placed on a later agenda.
(2) Each speaker shall submit a card requesting the right to address the
Council to the City Secretary prior to the commencement of the
meeting.
10
(3) Each speaker shall be granted a three -minute time period to speak
before the Council, and the Mayor or Presiding Officer shall retain
the discretion to further limit or increase this time as he/she deems
appropriate. Speakers may not pass their time.
(4) No electronic media is allowed for presentation during the public
comment period. Information being presented to the Council should
be in paper format, and ten (10) copies should be provided to the
City Secretary for distribution to the Council and staff.
(f) Special Recognition and Acknowledgments.
(g) Committee or Special Reports.
(h) Work Session Topics.
(i) Public Hearings — as called.
(1) Sign in procedure. Prior to the start of the public hearing, the
Presiding Officer shall require that all persons desiring to be heard
sign in with the City Secretary, giving their names and addresses.
At any public hearing, persons who have signed in and wish to be
heard shall be given an opportunity to be heard. Any person who
fails to sign in may be permitted to speak if recognized by the
Presiding Officer once all those who signed in have spoken.
(2) Each speaker that requests to speak at a public hearing shall be
granted a five-minute time period to speak before the Council, and
the Mayor or Presiding Officer shall retain the discretion to further
limit or increase this time as he/she deems appropriate. Speakers
may not pass their time.
(3) Presentations.
a. Staff will present the Council with an overview of the public
hearing.
b. The applicant of the item at hand shall be granted a 15-
minute time period to give the Council a presentation. The
Mayor or Presiding Officer shall retain the discretion to
further limit or increase this time as he/she deems
appropriate.
1. Any PowerPoint presentation must be received by
the City Secretary not later than 5:00 p.m. of the
Friday preceding the meeting at which the same is to
be considered.
2. Information being presented to the Council should be
in paper format, and ten (10) copies should be
provided to the City Secretary for distribution to the
Council and staff.
(4) No member of the Council, including the Mayor, shall be permitted
to address the Council during a public hearing held by the Council
or to address any board or commission of the City during a public
hearing held by such board or commission.
0) City Manager's Report.
(k) Business Items.
(1) Appointments;
(2) Services Agreements;
(3) Contracts; and
(4) Other as deemed appropriate by staff.
(1) Ordinances and/or Resolutions to be considered.
(m) Consent Agenda.
The consent agenda may include routine matters which require no
discussion (any member of the Council may remove an item from the
consent agenda for discussion and possible action).
(n) Executive Session.
The Council may retire into executive session as authorized by Chapter 551,
Texas Government Code, as amended. Matters discussed during each
Executive Session shall be identified by certified agenda or tape recorded,
prepared, and retained as required by law.
(o) Action Related to Executive Session.
(p) Adjournment.
7. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND MOTIONS
7.1 Printed or Typewritten Form
All ordinances and resolutions shall be provided to the Council in printed or
electronic form. The Council may, by proper motion, amend any ordinance or
resolution presented to it and direct that the amended ordinance or resolution be
adopted, except as otherwise provided by the Charter or state law.
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7.2 City Attorney to Approve
All ordinances, resolutions, and contracts and amendments thereto shall be
approved as to form by the City Attorney.
7.3 Distribution of Ordinances and Resolutions
The City Manager or his/her designee shall provide electronic or paper copies of
all proposed ordinances and resolutions to all members of the Council before or at
the meeting at which the ordinance or resolution is to be considered.
7.4 Discussion, Consideration and Processing of Items
(a) Motion to Table
Since the City Council of the City of Friendswood will always have
regularly scheduled meetings, a motion to table, when carried, does not
permanently defeat an ordinance, resolution, motion, or other measure. If
such ordinance, resolution, motion, or other measure is tabled by a majority
vote of the City Council, such ordinance, resolution, motion, or other
measure, if not sooner removed from the table, must be removed at the third
meeting, and acted upon, even if only to place the item on the table again.
(b) Objection to Consideration
Upon any ordinance, resolution or other measure being laid out, or any
motion being made, any Councilmember present, before there is any debate
opened on the subject, may make a parliamentary objection to the
consideration of the subject which need not be seconded. No debate shall
then be permitted, and the Presiding Officer shall immediately put the
question, "shall the objection be sustained"? If the objection is sustained by
a vote of two-thirds (%) of the Councilmembers present or four (4) members
of Council, whichever is greater, the ordinance, resolution, motion, or other
measure is permanently defeated for that meeting and shall not be debated
unless reconsidered under Section 6. Lb of these rules.
(c) Closing of Debate
If, during debate upon any ordinance, resolution, motion or other matter
before the Council, any member moves that the subject under discussion be
put to a vote without further debate (and such a motion need not be
seconded), the Presiding Officer shall immediately ask the Council, "is there
any objection to proceeding to a vote on the ordinance, resolution, motion,
or other measure before the Council being taken immediately?" If any
member objects, the Presiding Officer shall immediately and without debate
put the question, "shall the subject being discussed be put to a vote, without
debate?' to a vote of the Council, and if two-thirds (1/3) of the
Councilmembers present or four (4) members of Council, whichever is
greater, vote in favor of ordering the vote, debate on the question shall be
closed and a vote on the ordinance, resolution, motion, or other measure
taken immediately.
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(d) Procedure to Debate
(1) The Mayor or Presiding Officer shall have the right to participate in
debate of issues pending before the Council.
(2) Prior to a motion concerning an item on the agenda, the Mayor or
Presiding Officer may (i) call upon the City Manager or his designee
to provide an overview of the item, and/or (ii) allow the members of
the City Council to discuss the matter.
(e) Amendments
A motion may be amended without a formal vote as a "friendly amendment"
if both the first and second of the main motion agree to the amended
language. If they do not, the amended motion is voted on and then the
Council shall return to the main motion.
(f) Reducing Motion to Writing
All oral motions must be seconded before being put to vote by the Presiding
Officer (except where otherwise provided in these rules), and upon request
of any other member of the Council, or Mayor, the party making any such
oral motion (except a motion to order a vote on a subject being considered
per 7.4.c, or other such procedural matter) shall reduce the same to writing,
or request the City Secretary to do the same.
(g) Vote Required
An affirmative vote of four (4) or more members of the Councilmembers
present is necessary to adopt or approve any ordinance, resolution or take
any official action in the name of the City except as otherwise provided in
the Charter or by state law. Should the Charter or state law require more
than four (4) Councilmembers to pass an item, the City Manager or the City
Attorney shall notify the Council of such requirement prior to the vote.
8. CREATION OF COMMITTEES
8.1 Ad Hoe Committees
The Mayor may appoint special "ad hod' committees, as (i) as the Mayor deems
advisable and/or (ii) instructed by the City Council. However, nothing contained
in these rules shall preclude the Mayor from seeking confirmation from the City
Council of any such appointment. Any committee so created shall cease to exist
upon the accomplishment of the special purpose for which it was created or when
abolished by a majority of the Council.
8.2 Citizen Boards, Commissions, and Committees
The Council may create other committees, boards and commissions to assist in the
conduct of the operation of the City government with such duties as the Council
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may specify not inconsistent with the City Charter, Code or state law. Memberships
and selection of members shall be as provided by the Council if not specified by
the City Charter, Code or state law. Any committee, board, or commission so
created shall cease to exist upon the accomplishment of the special purpose for
which it was created, or when abolished by a vote of four (4) members of the
Council. No committee so appointed shall have powers other than advisory to the
Council or to the City Manager, except as otherwise specified by the Charter, Code
or state law.
9. OATH OF OFFICE
The Councilmembers elected to office shall take their oaths of office at the following
meetings or as soon thereafter as possible:
(a) At the Council meeting when the votes are canvassed for the general or special
election, held on the election date on which the Councilmember ran or was to run
(if unopposed); or
(b) At the next regularly scheduled Council meeting if all Councilmembers running for
office were unopposed and there was no special election.
HACity Council\Rules of Pmcedure\Rules of Procedure - 07-01-2024.docz
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