HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 82-04 xr SOLi:'� �G.; :;0 . I�J1� -. �' �--
A RESOLUTIOi� ADOPTING RULES OF PpOCEDURE FOR THE
CITY CGUNCIL r`EETIT�GS Or T?�E CITY OP FRIENDSWOOD,
TE�AS , PURSliANT TO ALTrORITY CONTAII'dED IN ARTICLE
III OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF FRIFNDSla00D ,
TEh.AS .
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BE IT RESOLVED B� THE CITY COL�CIL OF THE CITY OF FRIENDSW0�3D°,
TE3iAS :
, Section l . The follor:ing rules of procedure shall govern
all rneetings and proceedings of the City Council of the Cityo uf
rriendsw�ood, and the conduct of all members and other persons in
attencance at such rneetings :
P.ule 1 . rieetinas , Reat:lar and Special .
(a) The Cit�� Council snall meet in the Council Chambers
of the City Hall on the first and third Mondays of each month,
co�mencing at 7 : 30 o ' ciock P.�i. In the event Monday falls on
a Holiday the meeting for that day shall be rescheduled as deter-
;�=,�d b�� C�unc�1. Any such regular meeting may be recessed from
nour to hour or acijourned from day to day by a majority vote of
the menbers oi Council present at such meeting , and such recessed
or adjourned meeting snall be held without further notice to any
�:e�ber ; provided however , no recess to a time longer than twenty-
rour hours from the hour when the 'recessed ' meeting eommenced
shall be valid , and provided further that while any meeting i>>ay
be adjourned from day to day, any such meeting shall be automa-
tically finally adjourned upon the commencement of the next regu-
lar meeting or upon the co�nencement of any duly called special
meeting prior to the next regular meeting . -
(b) Spec�al Pleetings of the Council shall be held on the
cal� of the i•.avor or o� four (4) or more Council members .
(c) Four Council �e*�bers shall constitute a quorum for
tne transac�ion of business and no action of t:�e Council , except
as provided in Section 3 . 06 of the Charter , shall be valid or
binding unless adopted by the affirmative vote of four or More
r:e.-:�ers of the Council .
Rule 2 . Cnairman anc Cali �o Grder .
The :�'ayor , or in i-�is abs�r:e t'r:e '•:a-:o�- Pro-tem, snall
preside at all �eetings of the City Co�sncil . Ii the i��ayor and
the i�Iayor pro-tem are absent, any council::^an ::�a�j be appointed
by the r:ayor or a �aj o�it�� of the Council to �reside . At the
nour of the r.eeting the i`ayor s�all assu_-;e �he c�:�ir , call the
Council to order and the Secreta�v snall call t�e rol1 .
Rule 3 . Handling of Non-Agenda Subiec*s .
The City Council is the sole judge of �ts o.:n arocedure
and in full control of the business beiore it . i;either the
Mayor, the 2•�ayor Pro-tem, nor any Council�an appointed to preside
� shall have any po:aer to either recess a �ee�ing or adjourn a
r::ceting , or pre�.ent tne City Cc-�nci� =�aT cons�cering 2n agenda
itE� or �a} the s��e o��t tor cor.sideration exce�t ir. strict
accordance with tlze Texas Open :�ee�ings Act , the City Charter ,
and as enacted herein. If, notwithstanding thE positive provi-
sions of this rule , the presiding officer, whetner Mayor , Mayor
Pro-tem or Councilman presiding, shall attenpt to prevent City
Council from taking any action on any agenda item brought before
it, any Council�an present �ay call for a vote of tne City Council
to consider the ��atter.
Rule 4. Conduct of Mayor and Councilmen.
Any member of the City Council , including the Mayor, who
fails to observe� decorous and orderly behavior during a meeting �
and who disturbs such Lneeting o= Council bv such disorderly con-
duct is subject to being expelled =rom suc�, meeting upon motion
passed by 2/3 vote of the Council present at this meeting. Any
member reprimanded by motion or ek-pelled from a meeting by motion
who thereafter co�mmits another bTeach or decorous and orderly
� behavior during a subsequertt �_ee�ing and a�ain cisturbs any neet-
ing of the Council by such d�sorderl� conduct shall be subject to
the same power of Council to reprinand him, expel him rrom the
neeting or subject such memoer to complaint , investigation, and
conviction of official misconduct _
Rule 5 . i:on�interruption.
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Each r�ember of the City Council snall be �e�:-:itted to
address the chair while eitner seated or standing , �nd after
recognition shall not be interrupted cahile speaking �:ithout
his consent , except by a call or order of the chair .
Rule__ 6 . �andl_in� of Q_�est;ons or Order .
All questions oL order shall be decided by tne presiding
officer with the rignt of appeal of his decision by tne City
Council , and a �rajority or the C�unci���en present �:ay overrule
the decision of the chair. k�-�en the chair r�akes a ruling on a
point of order and one of the Council�en sta�es "I a��eal the
ruling o� the chair" , or words to such effec� , no ot�.er business
shall be �ransac�ed untii the cuestion "Sr�li ��_e ru1--nc o� tne
chair be sust�ined?" be vo�ed on. The pres;cing ofii�Ar shall
immediately put such ques�ion te vote �•,ithou� cebate , and, if
he fails to do so , i�ediately, any member o� the Ci�_ Council
may put the question to a vote .
Rule 7 . Procedure for Submitting Agenda Items .
Any and aIl ordinances , resolutions , motions or other matters
to be brought before the Cit}� Council for its consideration by
the I�layor or b�� an�,° member oF tne Council shall be sub��ittec� by
the Mayor or by such member of the Council to the CitS� Secretary
not later than noon of the Thursday preceding tne meeting
at which the same is to be considered. Tre Cit�� SecrEtary >hall -
then prepare a written agenda for the �eeting , setting out the
matters so subnitted to her , and shall send a copy of such agenda
b�T mail or other delivery in su�ficient tine to be delivered to
and received by each member of the City Council not later than
12 : 00 o ' clock noon of the Saturdav preceding that upon khich the
regular u:eeting is to be held.
Rule 8 . i�otion to Table.
Since the City Council oi the City of Friendswooc �,�ill al-
ways have meetings , the raotion to table , when carried , does not
permanently defeat an ordinance , resolution or other �easure . If
an ordinance, resolution, notion or other measure is tabled by
a majorit}- vote of the Cit�� CoLncil , such ordinance , resolution ,
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r�otion or other r�,easure s=�all �e cor.si dered al�•:ays to be lying
upon the table and may� be called �ror_: the table at any time by
a ��.ajority vote of the Council�en present , and again considered.
Rule 9 . Procedure to Debate.
t?�n ai:y ordir�ance , resolution or other r-��a�ure �eing laid
out , or any �.�otion beir.g �ade, any Co��ncilran present , oefore
there is anti debate opened on the subject , may Lake a parliamen-
t�rv o:,jec�ion to the cor.sideration o� tne subject ��.hicn need
not be seconded. :3o debate shall t�en be per�it�ed, and the
presicing ofricer shall i�ediately put the ouestion "Shall the
obiect�an be sustained?" If the obiection is sustained by a
�To_E o= �+:o-�~:�c� c= �:^� Counci��::e:. present (four out oi five
Counci��t� e� ��re� c��r ct ro:�r Co�ncilmen) the ordinance , reso-
iutior., motior_ or cther r_<easLre �.s per�anently defeated for that
meeting and shall not be debated (except in accordance with Rule
11) .
Rule 10. Closing of Debate.
If , during debate upon any ordinance , resolution, motion or
other �a�ter before the Council , any member moves that the sub-
ject under discussion be put to a vote without further debate
(and such motion nec�d not be seconded) , the residing officer
shall immediately ask the Council "Is there objection to proceed-
ing to a vote on thc ordinance , resolution, motion or other measure
before the Council being taken ir-::ediately?" If any nenber , ob-
jects , the presiding ofiicer shall immediately and wi�hout debate
put the question "Shall t'tie subject being discussed be put to
a vote without debate?" to a vote of the Counc�l , and if two-
thir�s o� the Counczlmen present (iour out of five Councilmen or
three out o` four Council�:en) vote in favor of ordering the vote ,
debate on the question shall be c�osed and a vote on the ordinance ,
resolution, motion or other reas�re taken imediately.
Rule 11. Reconsideration of a Subject.
kThen an ordinance , resolution , motion or other measure of
any sort has been placed before the City Council and defeated,
the same question shall not aga�n be considered by the City Council
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until a lapse of ninety ( 90 ) days .
Rule 12 . Reducing Motion to Writing.
All oral motions must be seconded before being put to vote
by the chair (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 Rule 10 , to table , or
other such procedural matter) shall reduce the same to writing,
or request the City Secretary to do the same . If a motion be
made by any member of the Council in writing and filed with the
residing officer, it shall still require a second.
Rule 13 . Secretarial Procedure.
The City Secretary shall be the Secretary of the Council
and shall act as reading and recording clerk to the Council. By
his or her signature the S��cretary shall certify the correctness
of the minutes and thejournals , shall record all actions taken
by the Council , shall record the vote upon each measure when taken
by the ayes and nays and shall perform such other duties as may
be required of the City Secretary by the Mayor and City Council.
In the absence of the City Secretary , any suitable person rnay be
appointed by a majority of the Councilmen to serve as Secretary
pro-tem of any meeting.
The Secretary shall keep a copy of these rules in the Council
Chamber, available for reference.
Rule 14 . Voting.
Unless otherwise required by State law or the Charter of the
City of Friendswood or this Resolution, all action required of the
City Council shall be made by a majority vote of the members of the
Council present at such Council meeting. All Councilmen present at
each meeting must vote on each subject presented for council vote .
All votes must be taken in accordance with Section 3 . 10 , Article III ,
of the City Charter. The Mayor shall vate after the roll call vote
of the Council.
Rule 15 . Citizens ' Right to be Heard.
Any citizen shall have a reasonable opportunity to be heard
at any and all regular and special meetings of the City Council
in regard to any and all matters to be considered at any such
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�::eeti;lg , A ti�r;e shall be se* aside during each Co��ncil �eeting
� for the Council to hear fro� the public . No r:e^:ber of t:�e public
shall be Y;eard unless reccgnized by tne presiding officer . Any
�::eTM��er of the Fublic .:'�o interrupts the Council proceedir.gs and
iails to abide by these rules o£ procedure in addressing the
Council shall be dee�ed guilty of disorderly conduct nnd at the
direction of the Council shall be escorted from Council Cha�*�bers
by the seY�eant at ar:-:s . �=.r.y citizen shall be entitled to visit
City Hall and inspect a11 past Council �eeting minutes , city
audits , and the agenda to be considered by the Council in advance
� of the meeting anc inior� hiL:self or herself as to the �atters
to be co:�s_�ered.
Rule i6 . Orc�r o= Business .
Unless agreed to otherwise by �ajority vote of Council , the
normal order of business before the City Council in any Regular
meeting shall be as follows :
(�� 1:VOCGt-Oi�
(2 ) T?-�e Ci�y Sec�^�t�ry 3n_l� c�i� �'�e role and mark
�'�e absence �f the i�aycr or any member o� the Council.
. (3) The City Secretary shall test and attest to the satis-
factory operation of the tape recorder, and maintain proper
functioning and tape changes as needed throughout the meeting.
(L) The Council s'r�a11 correct and adopt or table the min- -
utes of the previous �eeting(s) .
(5) Communications from the Mayor shall be presented.
(6) Reports from the members of the Council shall be pre�
sented.
( 7) Any bids called for at such �eeting shall be opened and
read.
( �) The Council shall receive petitions and hear any menber
of the public as provided in Rule 15 ; and any appeal or other
�:atter specially set ror public hearing shall then be heard by
the City Council.
(?) The Council shall then receive reports of special
co�u?!ittees .
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( ��� ) The Council shall then recei-�e reports of st��ding
cor;rnittees ; and reports of the various City dep�rt�::ents .
('�) Unfinished business shall then be considered .
(-�� ) Then the Council shall consider any or�inances and/or
resolvtior.s that are currently berore them.
(��) i,ew b�:siness shall then be considered.
(l�+ ) The Council shail consider , for approval , warrants
authorizing monies for disburse�ent .
Rule 17 . Order of Business for Saecial Meetir.gs .
Ur.less agreed to otherwise by majority vote of Council , the
� norrral order of bLSiness before the City Council in any Special
-ieeting s::ali be as iollows :
(1} Tr:e �residing officer shall ca�l the roll and the
City Secretary shall mark the absence of tne Nlavor or any member
of the Council.
(2) The City Secretary shall test , and attest to the satis-
f actory operation of the tape recorder , and maintain proper
functioning and tape changes as needed throughout each meeting
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� if so required by Council .
(3) The presiding officer shail state the purpose (sZ of
the meeting.
(4) There shall be no business other tfian that stated
above discussed or acted upon at such �eeLino unless the subject �
has been duly posted in accordance with the Texas Open :��eetings Act .
The foregoing order of business shall not be suspended e�-
cept upon a majority vote of the Councilrien present .
P.ule 18 . Suspension of Rules of Procedure.
Any one or all of these rules of procedure �ay be sus�ended
in order to allo�: a par*icular consideration of a matter , pro�
vided that it does not violate the Texas Open 2reetings Act and
not less than four Councilmen vote in favor of sucIi suspension,
k'here any rule e�bodies a provision of State law, identically
or in substance, such rule may not be suspended . The requirement
of two-thirds to suspend a rule shall not apply to Rules 16 and 17 ,
but the order of business �-,a� be suspe�aed b_y a najoritv vote .
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P.ule 19 . F.ules o� Procedure .
E�:cept where in conflict with �ny State lac:, city ordinance
or the rules of procedure �dopted by tnis resolution, the rules
of procedure Iaid do�� in Robert ' s Ruies of Grder , 75th Anniver-
sary Edition, shall go���rn t'.;e �roceedings oi tre Citv Council .
ADOPT�D by t?�e City Cauncil of the City o� �rienesz�:ood
on this the %�Zi� day o� %�� , 19$�,.
riayor
.�_i�r.ST :
City Secretary
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