13-ORD AMENDING ARTICLE 1 OF CHAPTER TWO OF CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PARISCITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM BRIEFING SHEET
Submittal Date:
12/30/2011
Originating Department:
Ptesented By:
Agenda Item No.:
Council Date:
O 1 /09/2012
City Attorney
W. Kent McIlyar
13.
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
First reading, deliberate and possibly act on an Ordinance Amending Article 1 of Chapter Two of the
Code of Ordinances of the City of Paris, Texas, by Amending Section 2-1, Rules of Order far City
Council Meetings.
POLICY ISSUE(S):
Rules of Order for City Council Meeting
BACKGROUND:
At a recent City Council meeting, Council directed staff to prepare an Ordinance amending the Rules of
Order for City Council Meetings. The majority of the City Council indicated they desired to conduct
City Council meetings in a more cordial and informal fashion moving away from strict adherence to
Robert's Rules of Order.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
EXHIBITS:
Ordinance
ACTION:
BUDGET INFO:
❑ Financial Report ❑ Minute Order
Expense
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❑ Department Report ❑ Resolution
❑ P
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Budgeted Amt.
$
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❑ Public Hearin
❑ O
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Acct. Name
Acct. Number
FISCAL NOTES:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Z Administration 0 City Clerk ❑ Community Development ❑ EMS/IT ❑ Finance ❑ Fire
❑ Municipal Court E Legal ❑ Library ❑ Police ❑ Eng./Public Works ❑ Utilities
City of Paris
Revised 2/04/08
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DRAFT
O1/09/2012
ORDINANCE N0.
A1V ORDIIVANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS,
AMENDING ARTICLE I OF CHAPTER TWO OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES
OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS, BY AMENDING SECTIOIV 2-1, RULES OF
ORDER FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND
PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; PROVIDING A REPEALER
CLAUSE, A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, A SAVINGS CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING
AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the Rules of Procedure for conducting City Council meetings have not
been reviewed or updated since first adopted in 1970; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Council desire to conduct the City Council meetings
in a more cordial and informal fashion; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Paris hereby finds and determines that the
changes to the Rules of Procedure for City Council meetings set out below are in the best
interest of the City of Paris and its citizens and should be adopted.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PARIS, TEXAS:
Section 1. That the findings set out in the preamble to this ordinance are hereby in
all things approved.
Section 2. That Sec. 2-1 of Article I of Chapter Two of the Code of Ordinances of the
City of Paris, Texas, be, and the same is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
" Sec. 2-1. Rules of order for council meetings.
The following rules shall govern the conduct of ineetings of the city council.
Rule 1. The mayor, or in his absence, the mayor pro tem, shall preside at all
meetings of the council.
Rule 2. All meetings shall be either regular or special.
Rule 3. The following order of business shall be observed:
a. Opening Agenda.
b. Consent Agenda.
c. Regular Agenda.
Rule 4. The presiding officer shall preserve order, decide all questions of order,
and perform such other duties as are usually discharged by the presiding
officer of deliberative bodies.
Rule S. Every member prior to his speaking, shall address himself to the
presiding officer, but shall not proceed with his remarks until recognized by
the presiding officer.
Rule 6. When two (2) or more members speak at once, the presiding officer
shall name the member who is entitled to the floor.
Rule 7. Every member, when speaking, shall confine his remarks to the
questions under discussion, and shall avoid personal remarks.
Rule S. No member shall be interrupted while speaking, except by a call to
order by the presiding officer.
Rule 9. No member shall speak more than twice on one item without leave of
the presiding officer, nor more than once in any one case until every member
choosing to speak shall have spoken.
Rule 10. A member called to order by the presiding officer shall immediately
resume his seat unless permitted to explain. If there is no appeal, the decision
of the chair shall be conclusive, but if the member appeals from the decision of
the chair, the council shall decide the case.
Rule 11. Each member present shall vote unless formally excused by the
council.
Rule 12. When considering an item, the item will first be read aloud; a
public hearing will be conducted if required; the presiding officer will call
upon staff for an explanation and/or clarification of the item; the presiding
officer will open the item for discussion; the presiding officer will call for a
motion and second; and the presiding officer will call for a vote by the
council.
Rule 13. Ordinances shall require two readings at two different City Council
meetings before adoption of the Ordinance. An Ordinance may be adopted
on the first reading if the Council votes to suspend the rule by a
supermajority vote (5 or more "ayes").
Rule 14. When a motion and second is made, the names of the council
members moving shall be entered into the minutes. The action taken on an
item shall be entered into the minutes, including the number of ayes and
the number of nays.
Rule 15. When an item is under consideration the only motions shall be:
a.
To approve.
b.
To deny.
c.
To table.
d.
To amend.
e.
To reconsider.
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Rule 16. When an item has been decided by the council, any member who
voted with the majority on the item may move a reconsideration of the
same.
Rule 17. An item may be reconsidered at any time during the same
meeting, or during the first meeting held thereafter.
Rule 18. No item shall be reconsidered more than once, nor shall a vote to
reconsider be reconsidered.
Rule 19. These rules may be temporarily suspended by the unanimous
consent of all the members present, or by a four-fifths vote of all the
members of the Council.
Rule 20. The presiding officer may consult with the City Attorney on any
procedural questions not covered by these rules."
Section 3. That all provisions of the ordinances of the City of Paris, Texas in conflict with
the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed, and all other provisions of the ordinances
of the City of Paris not in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance shall remain in full force
and effect.
Section 4. That the repeal of any ordinance or part of ordinances affected by the
enactment of this ordinance shall not be construed as abandoning any action now pending
under or by virtue of such ordinance or as discontinuing, abating, modifying, or altering any
penalty accruing or to accrue, or as affecting any rights of the municipality under any section or
provisions of any ordinance at the time of passage of this ordinance.
Section 5. That it is the intention of the City Council of the City of Paris that this
ordinance, and every provision hereof, shall be considered severable, and the invalidity or
partial invalidity of any section, clause, or provisions of this ordinance shall not affect the
validity of any other portion of this ordinance.
Section 6. That the City Council voted by a supermajority vote of the entire Council to
suspend the rule requiring two readings before adoption of ordinances _ ayes and _
nays.
Section 7. That this ordinance shall become effective from and after its passage of the
second reading and publication as required by law.
PASSED AND ADOPTED on first and final reading this 9th day of January, 2011.
A.J. Hashmi, M.D., Mayor
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ATTEST:
Janice Ellis, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
W. Kent McIlyar, City Attorney
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