Section
220.01 Meetings
220.02 Attendance of certain department officials
220.03 Powers and duties
220.04 Council President
220.05 Standing committees
220.06 Special committees
220.07 Committee meetings
220.08 Reference to more than one committee
220.09 Committee reports
220.10 Agenda
220.11 Order of business
220.12 Rules of the floor and debate
220.13 Motions
220.14 Seconds
220.15 Order of precedence of motions
220.16 Introduction of ordinances and resolutions
220.17 Three readings
220.18 Passage or adoption
220.19 Voting
220.20 General consent
220.21 Audience participation and public input
220.22 Resignation
220.23 Parliamentary authority
220.24 Suspension of the rules
220.25 Amendment of the rules
220.26 Subpoenas
Editor’s note:
This chapter, formerly a codification of Ordinance 28-90, passed February 19, 1990, together with any amendments thereto, was reenacted in its entirety by Ordinance 61-02, passed March 11, 2002, codified herein.
(a) Regular meetings. The regular meetings of Council shall be held at 7:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, with the exceptions of the months of July and August, when Council shall meet on the second Monday of July and on the fourth Monday of August and the month of December, when Council shall meet on the second and third Mondays. As a further exception, when a day fixed for any regular meeting falls upon a day designated by law as a legal or national holiday or the day preceding a day designated by law as a legal or national holiday, such meeting shall be held at the same hour within the preceding or succeeding seven days, on a date to be selected by a majority vote of Council. As a final exception, when a day fixed for any regular meeting falls upon a day observed by residents of the city as a holiday or the day preceding a day observed by residents of the city as a holiday, such meeting may be held at the same hour within the preceding or succeeding seven days on a date to be selected by a majority vote of Council.
(b) Special meetings. Special meetings of Council may be called in the following manner:
(1) By a majority vote of a quorum present at any regular or special meeting;
(2) By a call of the Clerk of Council, upon written request of either the Mayor or the President of Council; or
(3) By a call of the Clerk of Council, upon written request of three members of Council, as provided by Section 8B. of the City Charter.
However, if the call for a special meeting is under the authority of division (b)(2) or (b)(3) of this section, then 24 hours’ notice, in writing, of such special meeting shall be given to each member of Council and the Mayor by personal service or by leaving such written notice at their usual places of residence, except that such notice shall be held to have been waived by attendance at the special meeting.
(c) Collective committee meetings.
(1) For purposes of the exchange of information, to review Council Committee items, and to formulate the regular meeting agenda, collective committee meetings will be held on the Monday prior to the regular Council meeting (if needed), in accordance with the collective committee meeting policy implemented on November 3, 1998. All requests for legislation shall be presented at collective committee meetings. Written notice of collective committee meetings shall be given by the Clerk of Council at least 72 hours prior to the date and time of the collective committee meeting.
(2) A written record of the items covered and discussed at the collective committee meeting shall be kept by the Clerk of Council.
(d) Work session meetings.
(1) For purposes of providing detailed information on a topic of interest or importance to the residents of the city, members of Council or the Mayor may request a work session of Council. Written notice of the same shall be given by the Clerk of Council at least 72 hours prior to the date and time of the work session.
(2) A written record of the items covered and discussed at the work session shall be kept by the Clerk of Council.
(e) Executive sessions. Council, at the request of the Mayor or any member of Council, and upon an affirmative majority roll call vote of at least four members, may meet in executive session immediately before, during or immediately following any regular meeting, special meeting or work session meeting of Council, with or without any party or parties deemed necessary, for any purpose permitted by the laws of the state as were enacted and as are in full force and effect on the date this section becomes effective.
(f) Quorum.
(1) A majority of Council members shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a lesser number may adjourn from day to day and may compel the attendance of absent members in the manner and under such penalties as may be prescribed by ordinance.
(2) No member of Council or ex officio member thereof shall leave the Council Chamber or its immediate environs without the general consent of Council as provided in § 220.20, subject to censure at its discretion.
(3) When a quorum is not present, no member shall be required to remain in the Council Chambers longer than one-half hour after the appointed time set for the meeting.
(g) Advance notification of time, place and agenda of regular and special meetings.
(1) Any person may be notified of the time and place of all regularly scheduled meetings, and the time, place and purpose of all special meetings, upon written request to the Clerk of Council, which written request shall include delivery to the Clerk of a self-addressed, stamped envelope, to be provided by the person so requesting for the purpose of mailing notices to such person, and a list of the said meetings for which such reasonable advance notification is being sought.
(2) The Clerk of Council shall post the agenda of all regularly scheduled meetings, and the time, place and purpose of all special meetings, not later than 75 hours immediately preceding such scheduled meetings, on a public bulletin board located at the City Hall, whereby any person may opt to determine such information as is contained in such posted agenda, in lieu of the means provided in division (f)(1) of this section, during the normal business hours set for the City Hall.
(3) Additionally, any person may, upon request and payment of the fee set forth in § 208.01(d)(5), obtain reasonable advance notification of all meetings at which any specific type of public business is to be discussed.
(Ord. 145-06, passed 12-18-2006; Ord. 1-09, passed 1-12-2009; Ord. 61-02, passed 3-11-2002; Ord. 21-92, passed 7-12-2021)
Statutory reference:
Public meetings - exceptions, see R.C. § 121.22
The Mayor, the Law Director, the Public Works Director, the Finance Director and the Clerk of Council shall be seated at the Council table at designated positions and shall attend all meetings of Council unless excused. Their attendance shall be recorded in the initial roll call taken for attendance purposes and they shall be entitled to speak on matters affecting their respective departments.
(Ord. 61-02, passed 3-11-2002; Ord. 43-2014, passed 4-14-2014)
The Mayor, members of Council, the Law Director, the Finance Director, the Public Works Director, the Clerk of Council, and all other elected or appointed officers of the city shall exercise the powers and perform the functions, with respect to the proceedings of Council, that are vested in or enjoined upon them by either the City Charter, the ordinances of the city or the general laws of the state.
(Ord. 61-02, passed 3-11-2002; Ord. 43-2014, passed 4-14-2014)
(a) Not later than 30 days after the general election in November, the President of Council shall call a meeting with the Council-elect for the sole purpose of electing a President of Council for the new term.
(b) The President of Council shall act as presiding officer at all regular meetings, special meetings, collective committee meetings and work sessions of Council and shall be responsible for the orderly function and coordination of all Council activities.
(c) (1) In the absence of the Council President, the President Pro Tem shall call meetings to order and preside at said meetings. The President Pro Tem shall be elected by the Council at its organizational meeting and shall continue to be the President Pro Tem throughout the term of said Council.
(2) In the absence of the Council President and the President Pro Tem, the Secretary or any member of Council should call the meeting to order and Council, by motion, should immediately elect a Chairperson to preside at said meeting.
(Ord. 61-02, passed 3-11-2002; Ord. 39-04, passed 2-23-2004)
Within 21 days following the President of Council’s election, the Council-elect shall meet again to discuss committee assignments, with Chairpersons recommended by the Council President-elect. Such assignments shall be confirmed by a majority of Council at its organizational meeting.
The following standing committees shall perform the duties prescribed in this section.
(a) Economic Development Committee. All ordinances, resolutions and other matters relating to economic development and involving the office of Economic Development, including, but not limited to, retaining existing businesses and attracting new businesses to Avon Lake shall be referred to the Economic Development Committee for study, investigation and recommendation to Council, except that such referral on a particular matter may be waived by the President of Council upon the Mayor’s request and advise that timely consideration of such matter by Council is necessary or appropriate. Work with the Community Improvement Corporation Board.
(b) Finance Committee. All ordinances, resolutions, and other matters relating to finances, indebtedness, appropriations, payment of moneys and taxation, and all matters involving the office of the Finance Director and insurance and pensions of employees, shall be referred to the Finance Committee for study, investigation, and reporting to Council. As provided in Chapter 296, members of the Finance Committee shall also serve as members of the Audit Committee. Ongoing review of city budget, annual appropriations, bond issues, levies, and possible legal issues affecting the city. The committee should review the goals and objectives of the Finance Department.
(c) Human Resources Committee.
(1) All ordinances, resolutions and other matters relating to the hiring or promotion of new or existing employees, the grade and step increases of qualifying city employees, the determination of grades and steps for newly created positions, the writing or amending of job descriptions and other matters involving the office of Human Resources pertaining to Chapter 258 shall be referred to the Human Resources Committee for a recommendation to Council.
(2) All ordinances, resolutions and other matters relating to negotiations of wage and salary increases for municipal employees, and the provision of fringe benefits for such employees and special programs, shall be considered and recommended by the Human Resources Committee to Council.
(3) The Committee shall include among its members the Chairpersons of the Finance and Safety Committees. A member of the Board of Municipal Utilities and a member of the Civil Service Commission shall serve as ex officio members, without a vote. The Committee should review the goals and objectives of the Human Resources Department.
(d) Communications, Environmental, and Recreational Programming Committee.
(1) All ordinances, resolutions and other matters relating to natural resources and environmental protection shall be referred to the Communications, Environmental, and Recreational Programming Committee for investigation and recommendation to Council.
(2) All ordinances, resolutions and other matters relating to the Digital Media Department, the municipally-owned television station, including telephones, computer hardware or software, social media, city website, marketing and community outreach.
(3) One member of the Communications, Environmental, and Recreational Programming Committee shall serve as an ex officio member of the Environmental Affairs Advisory Board.
(4) One member of the Communications, Environmental, and Recreational Programming Committee shall serve as an ex officio member of the Avon Lake Digital Media Commission.
(5) City website and all forms of social media communications and community outreach and noted technology.
(6) Review the Recreation Department objectives and goals along with recreational programming (includes youth and senior services and other recreational activities).
(7) Green renewable energy and alternative energies.
(8) Issues of informational technology within Council Chamber and the city including network security, radios and all other communications.
(9) Continue review and lobbying to protect the shores of Lake Erie.
(10) Arts and humanities programming.
(e) Public Service Committee.
(1) All ordinances, resolutions and other matters relating to the construction, maintenance and acquisition of facilities, buildings, infrastructure, lands, shoreline, trees, and other vegetation owned by the city or proposed to be acquired by it, the lease or sale of facilities, buildings, infrastructure and lands not needed for municipal purposes, and matters relating to streets, bike paths, sidewalks, planning, zoning and city buildings and lands including parks shall be referred to the Public Service Committee for study, investigation and report to Council.
(2) The Committee is in charge of all matters pertaining to the construction, repair, maintenance and inspection of streets, bike paths and sidewalks, together with street cleaning, waste collection and disposal, street and highway improvements, grades, assessments, and other matters relating to that area within the right-of-way.
(3) The Committee is in charge of operations relating to public services, including an inventory of Brownfields, historic properties, historic districts, and it shall recommend the obtaining and replacing of equipment, vehicles and materials used by the Public Works Department, Recreation Department, Municipal Engineer, Code Administrator and Building Department. The Committee is responsible for the maintenance of public parks, playgrounds, and beaches.
(4) Review Planning, Zoning, Engineering and Public Works Departments regarding objectives and goals.
(5) Housing inspection and enforcement.
(6) Arts and humanities (infrastructure/facilities).
(f) Public Safety and Health Committee. All ordinances, resolutions and other matters relating to the Police Department, the Fire Department including, but not limited to, inspections, traffic regulations, pedestrian safety, nuisances and safety in the city shall be referred to the Public Safety and Health Committee for investigation. In addition, review of the noted departments’ objectives and goals. Includes Homeland Security, emergency community preparedness, school safety, bike safety, and works with the County Board of Health on services and health related issues in the community. All emergency vehicles, emergency communication matters, emergency response apparatus, and special task forces will be reviewed and studied through this Committee.
(g) Building and Utilities Committee. All ordinances, resolutions and other matters relating to water, storm, sanitary, and combined sewers, additions, repairs, and improvements of storm, sanitary, and combined sewers, hydrants, electrical lines, gas lines, index of line breaks, installations of sewers to enclose open ditches, and sewage disposal, sewer assessments and such matters referred to the Building and Utilities Committee under the jurisdiction of the city and Avon Lake Regional Water, are the responsibility of the Building and Utilities Committee for study and report to Council. The Chair of the Committee will attend Avon Lake Regional Water public meetings when possible.
Review of the Building Department objectives and goals, public transportation, railroad crossings, issues pertaining to water, gas, shoreline protection. In addition, maintenance of ditches catch basins, electrical light and power matters shall be considered and recommended. Review city utility contracts with power distribution including street lights. Work with other committees related to renewable energy.
(Ord. 21-2010, passed 2-22-2010; Ord. 43-2014, passed 4-14-2014; Ord. 196-2017, passed 12-18-2017; Ord. 21-07, passed 1-25-2021)
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