(a) In January of each year, Council shall meet and organize. At such organization meeting, or as soon as practicable thereafter, Council shall elect one councilmember as president of Council, one councilmember as president pro tempore of Council, one councilmember as a member of the Planning Commission, and one Councilmember as a member of the Recreation Board, each to serve for the balance of that year and until his or her successor shall have been elected unless he or she shall cease in the meantime to be councilmember. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.8(e) or any other provision of this charter, the councilmember receiving the most affirmative votes for each of these positions shall be elected.
(b) Council shall have a minimum of three standing committees: There shall be a Finance Committee, a Public Safety and Environmental Committee, and a Public Works Committee. Each standing committee shall consist of at least three members of Council. The president of Council shall appoint members of Council to each committee created by Council, each member to serve the balance of that year or until his or her successor shall have been appointed.
(c) It shall be the duty of the president of Council to preside at all meetings of Council and coordinate the work of the various committees appointed by him or her, and perform such other duties as may be imposed by Council upon its presiding officer and such other duties imposed upon him or her by this charter. When a vacancy occurs in the office of president of Council, including vacancy caused by succession to the office of mayor, the president pro tempore shall become the president of Council. When the president of Council is absent from the City, or for any reason unable to perform his or her duties, the president pro tempore shall have all the powers and be required to perform the same duties as president of Council. If both the mayor and the president of Council shall be absent from the City, or for any reason unable to perform their duties, the president pro tempore shall become the acting mayor and during that period shall be vested with all powers and be required to perform the same duties as mayor.