20 Operations protocolsCITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM BRIEFING SHEET
Submittal Date:
Originating Department:
Presented By:
Agenda Item No.:
08/ZO/08
Council Date:
City Council
Kevin Carruth
20•
08/2$/0g
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Move to approve a resolution requiring two readings before adoption of ordinances,
allowing for a supermaj ority vote of five to suspend the rule and allow for one reading,
and establishing a pre-meeting workshop to be held one hour prior to regular council
meetings.
POLICY ISSUE(S):
Operational protocols
BACKGROUND:
At the August 11 meeting the consensus of the Council regarding meeting and legislative
protocols was as follows:
1. Ordinances: Require ordinances to have two readings before adoption and allow for
a supermajority vote of five to suspend the rules and allow only one reading should
Council deterniine that circumstances warrant.
2. Pre-meeting Workshops: Workshops will be held one hour before regular meetings
to allow for questions to be addressed or researched before the regular meeting and
help prevent late night sessions. The workshops, which are still open to the public,
will be held in the council chamber conference room.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
EXHIBITS:
Resolution
ACTION:
BUDGET INFO:
❑ Financial Report ❑ Minute Order
Expense
$
❑ Department Report Z Resolution
gudgeted Amt.
$
❑ Presentation ❑
Ordinance
y'I'D Actual
$
❑ Public Hearing ❑
Other
Acct. Name
Acct. Number
FISCAL NOTES:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Z Administration Z City Clerk ❑ Community Development ❑ EMS/IT ❑ Finance ❑ Fire
❑ Municipal Court 0 Legal ❑ Libtary ❑ Police ❑ Eng./Public Works ❑ Urilities
City of Paris
Revised 2/04/08
- (l00146
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS;
ESTABLISHING PRE-MEETING WORKSHOPS ONE HOUR PRIOR TO REGULAR
COUNCIL MEETINGS; REQUIRING ORDINANCES TO HAVE TWO READINGS
BEFORE ADOPTION; ALLOWING FOR A SUPERMAJORITY VOTE OF FIVE TO
SUSPEND THE TWO READINGS RULE; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND
PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
WHEREAS, in order for the city council to efficiently and effectively conduct business at its meetings
council members need to be as informed as possible about items on the meeting agenda; and;
WHEREAS, council meetings that last an excessive number of hours and/or adjourn late in the evening
are exhausting for council members, staff, and audience members; and,
WHEREAS, conducting a workshop prior to the regular meeting will allow council members to ask
questions and allow staff time to research and answer questions; and,
WHEREAS, ordinances should be thoroughly evaluated and deliberated; and,
WHEREAS, requiring that ordinances have readings at two different meetings will maximize the notice
given to citizens, allowing them additional time for input, and also allow the city council additional time to
consider new or amended laws; and,
WHEREAS, unforeseen and/or unusual circumstances may require passage of ordinances on one
reading;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS,
TEXAS:
Section 1. That the findings set out in the preamble to this resolution are hereby in all things approved.
Section 2. That a workshop shall be conducted one hour prior to the regular city council meeting for
the purpose of reviewing agenda items and asking questions of staff prior to the regular meeting. Workshops
are open to the public and no agenda items will be acted upon during the workshop.
Section 3. That all ordinances shall have readings at two different city council meetings.
Section 4. That a supermajority vote of five council members shall be required to suspend the rule in
Section 3 and allow passage of an ordinance after one reading should city council determine that circumstances
warrant a suspension.
Section 5. That this resolution shall become effective August 25, 2008.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this the 25th day of August, 2008.
Jesse James Freelen, Mayor
ATTEST:
Janice Ellis, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
W. Kent McIlyar, City Attorney
- 000147