§ 2.30.080. Conduct of debate and discussion.  


Latest version.
  • A.

    The mayor or any assembly member, when desiring to speak at an assembly meeting, shall respectfully address the chair as "Chair," and shall refrain from speaking until recognized.

    B.

    When two or more members request recognition at the same time, the chair shall determine which one shall speak first.

    C.

    The chair shall be charged with the responsibility of maintaining order and decorum at all times. The chair shall make such rulings as deemed necessary concerning points of order or concerning spectators. The chair shall instruct the members of the public to be as brief as possible and, when speaking as an individual or for a group, to contain their remarks to three minutes. The chair may, at the chair's discretion, extend the time for remarks beyond three minutes when the speaker is representing a group.

    D.

    Any assembly member may challenge a ruling of the chair by motion, and, if duly seconded, the chair's ruling shall stand unless disapproved by a majority vote of the assembly.

    E.

    Every member, while speaking, shall confine the member to the subject under debate, and shall not refer to any other member except in a respectful manner.

    F.

    Debate on any question before the assembly may be initiated by any member, but the moving party shall be given first opportunity to do so. Total debate on any question before the assembly shall not be permitted to exceed one hour unless such time is extended by a majority vote of the assembly.

    G.

    A motion to reconsider a vote may be made only by a member who voted with the prevailing side and seconded by any other member of the assembly. The motion must be made and seconded during the meeting at which the action to be reconsidered was taken, or by written notification to the municipal clerk within 24 hours of the adjournment of the meeting by the moving party and second.

    Any member of the assembly may call up a motion to reconsider which has been duly made and seconded at any time during the meeting at which made, or at the next regular meeting of the assembly; a motion to reconsider and enter on minutes may be called up only at the next regular meeting of the assembly.

    A proper motion to reconsider, once seconded, suspends implementation and effect of the decision for which reconsideration is sought, until the next regular meeting or until the assembly takes action on that motion, whichever occurs first.

    H.

    Motion to rescind or amend something previously adopted. A motion to rescind or to amend something previously adopted may be moved by any member, but must be seconded. An ordinance, resolution or memorandum may not be rescinded or amended by motion after the effective date of the ordinance, resolution, or memorandum. Other actions that cannot be rescinded or amended by motion to amend something previously adopted are as defined in Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised.

    1.

    Approval. A motion to rescind or to amend something previously adopted requires the approval of two-thirds of the entire assembly unless previous notice of the motion has been given at the regular meeting immediately preceding that meeting during which the motion is to be considered. If previous notice of the motion has been given, only a majority of the assembly is required for approval.

    2.

    Further motions if motion fails. Upon failure of a motion to rescind for which previous notice has once been given, no further motions or notices of intent to rescind the same action are in order. Upon failure of a motion to amend something previously adopted for which no previous notice has been given, no further motions or notices of intent to amend the same action, substantially similar in substance to the failed motion to amend, are in order.

    3.

    Time limit and suspension. There is no time limit on making either a motion to rescind or to amend something previously adopted. The making of either motion or the notice of intent to do so does not operate to suspend the implementation or effect of any prior Assembly action, in contrast to a proper motion to reconsider, and the effective date of action is not delayed.

    I.

    In all matters not covered by this chapter, Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern.

(AO No. 13-75; AO No. 78-49; AO No. 91-178(S); AO No. 2017-53 , § 14, 4-11-17)