(A) Presiding officer.
(1) The presiding officer shall be the Mayor. In the case of the Mayor’s absence, the legislative body member who received the most votes in the most recent general election shall be the presiding officer. In the case of the absence of both, the legislative body will elect a temporary presiding officer for the duration of the meeting or until either the Mayor or the legislative body member who received the most votes in the most recent general election arrive. A legislative body member serving as the presiding officer retains all of his or her legislative powers and duties.
(2) The duties of the presiding officer are as follows:
(a) Call the meeting to order;
(b) Control the general flow of the meeting by announcing, in proper order the business on the agenda;
(c) Recognize members entitled to the floor;
(d) State and put to a vote all motions (questions) that arise during the meeting and announce the results on all votes;
(e) Rule all motions that are improperly made as “out of order;”
(f) Enforce the legislative body’s rule of order and maintain the decorum of the meeting;
(g) Decide all points of order raised by the members;
(h) Expedite business in every way compatible with the rights of the members;
(i) Respond to all requests and inquiries of the members relevant to the business at hand; and
(j) Declare the meeting adjourned.
(B) Legislative body members. Only members of the legislative body may introduce motions, second motions, debate issues, and vote on matters (except the Mayor may vote in the case of a tie on some items). Legislative body members should be knowledgeable about general parliamentary rules and standing rules adopted by the body, address all remarks through the presiding officer, and refrain from disturbing the meeting in any way (including obstructing business or using dilatory parliamentary tactics).
(C) City Clerk-Treasurer.
(1) Listed below are the functions performed by the City Clerk-Treasurer at legislative body meetings. In the absence of the City Clerk-Treasurer, the presiding officer or legislative body must appoint another individual to perform the duties of the City Clerk-Treasurer.
(2) The duties of the City Clerk-Treasurer are as follows:
(a) Call the roll;
(b) Act as timekeeper during debate;
(c) Take minutes of the meeting;
(d) Track the progress of the meeting and the status of the agenda;
(e) Read by title and summary (or in full when necessary) all ordinances, resolutions, orders, and other written items of business introduced for consideration;
(f) Advise the presiding officer when requested to do so;
(g) Record the vote on all matters and inform the presiding officer of the vote count, when applicable; and
(h) Perform any other function required by the rules of the legislative body or requested by the presiding officer.
(D) Parliamentarian. The parliamentarian gives explanations or advice on procedural matters, but he or she does not make rulings. (Only the presiding officer makes rulings on procedural matters.) The City Attorney shall act as the parliamentarian. In his or her absence, the City Clerk-Treasurer shall act as parliamentarian. If both the City Attorney and the City Clerk-Treasurer are absent, the presiding officer may appoint a temporary parliamentarian for the duration of the meeting or until either the City Attorney or the City Clerk-Treasurer arrives.
(Ord. 2021-01, passed 6-25-2021)