(A) Convening the meeting.
(1) Before the presiding officer calls the meeting to order, it is his or her duty to determine, although he or she need not announce, that a quorum is present. If a quorum is not present, the presiding officer waits until a quorum is present. If a quorum has not been obtained after 15 minutes, the presiding officer calls the meeting to order, announces the absence of a quorum, and entertains one of the following motions:
(a) Take measures to obtain a quorum;
(b) Recess; and
(c) Adjourn.
(2) Once a quorum is present, the presiding officer proceeds according to the meeting agenda.
(B) Motions.
(1) Motions are how business is brought before the legislative body and are how business is handled. There are five types of motions:
(a) Main motions;
(b) Subsidiary motions;
(c) Privileged motions;
(d) Incidental motions; and
(e) Motions that bring a question back before the body.
(2) The three steps by which motions are normally brought before the body are as follows:
(a) A legislative body member makes the motion. (The member says “I move to...”; “I move that...”; or “I offer...”);
(b) Another member seconds the motion; and
(c) The presiding officer states the question on the motion. (This should not be confused with putting the question, which is to take a vote.)
(C) Main motions. A main motion is used to begin consideration of an issue. A main motion cannot be made while another motion is being considered. Once it is seconded, it may be debated, amended, adopted, or defeated. All of the subsidiary, privileged, and incidental motions apply to it.
(D) Subsidiary motions. Subsidiary motions assist the legislative body in treating or disposing of a main motion. Each subsidiary motion outranks, or takes precedence over, the subsidiary motion(s) listed before it. The subsidiary motions are as follows.
(1) Postpone indefinitely. This motion postpones action on the proposal indefinitely, effectively killing the motion without actually voting on the main motion itself. It requires a second, is debatable, is not amendable, and requires a majority vote.
(2) Amend. This motion changes the wording of the main motion (or subsequent motions) by adding, removing, or replacing text. It must also be germane to the underlying main motion. It requires a second, is debatable, is amendable (only one additional level of amendment), and requires a majority vote.
(3) Commit or refer to a committee. This motion refers the main motion, and any related amend motions to a committee of the legislative body. It requires a second, is debatable, is amendable, and requires a majority vote.
(4) Postpone definitely or to a certain time. This motion postpones consideration of the main motion and related amend or commit motions to a point later in the meeting or to the next regular meeting. It requires a second, is debatable, is amendable, and requires a majority vote.
(5) Limit or extend limits of debate. This motion either imposes stricter time limits on debate or extends the time limits during debate. It requires a second, is not debatable, is amendable, and requires a two-thirds’ majority vote.
(6) Previous question. This motion stops debate and requires an immediate vote(s). It requires a second, is not debatable, is not amendable, and requires a two-thirds’ majority vote.
(7) Lay on the table. This motion sets aside the main motion and related subsidiary motions for a more pressing matter. It requires a second, is not debatable, is not amendable, and requires a majority vote. (See division (G) below.)
(E) Privileged motions. Privileged motions deal with special matters of immediate importance. Each privileged motion outranks, or takes precedence over, the privileged motions listed before it and all subsidiary motions. The privileged motions are as follows.
(1) Call for the orders of the day (enforce rules). This motion requires the body to take up the regular orders if they have strayed from the agenda. It does not require a second, is not debatable, is not amendable, and requires a ruling from the presiding officer.
(2) Raise and question of privilege. This motion is used when a pressing situation affects the rights of the legislative body members, such as if the room is too hot or loud. It does not require a second, is not debatable, is not amendable, and requires a ruling from the presiding officer.
(3) Recess. This motion is used to get a short intermission of the meeting without calling for adjournment. It requires a second, is not debatable, is amendable (only the time), and requires a majority vote.
(4) Adjourn. This motion is used to end the meeting. It requires a second, is not debatable, is not amendable, and requires a majority vote.
(F) Incidental motions. Incidental motions deal with the main motion or related motions dealing with procedure. These motions are dispensed with immediately and do not outrank each other. Some of the valid incidental motions include the following.
(1) Point of order. This motion is used to point out a breach in proper procedure. The chair must then make a ruling on the point of order, which can be appealed by the legislative body.
(2) Appeal. This motion is used to appeal the ruling of the presiding officer and put the ruling to a vote. This motion requires a second, is usually debatable, is not amendable, and requires a majority vote.
(3) Suspend the rules. This motion can temporarily suspend some of the standing rules of the legislative body, such as time limits used in debate or the order of the agenda. This motion requires a second, is not debatable, is not amendable, and requires a two-thirds’ majority vote.
(4) Parliamentary inquiry. This request asks the presiding officer’s opinion on a matter of parliamentary procedure as it relates to the business at hand. The presiding officer replies, but does not officially issue a ruling.
(5) Point of information. This request is made to find out facts affecting the business at hand. It is directed to the chair or, through the chair, to another member.
(6) Request to withdraw or modify a motion. This motion is used to withdraw or modify a motion. If it has not been stated by the presiding officer, then the maker may withdraw or modify the motion based on another member’s request. If the motion has been stated by the presiding officer, it requires a second if the maker of the original motion makes the request, is not debatable, is not amendable, and requires a majority vote.
(G) Motions to bring a question back. These motions bring a question again before the legislative body. These motions can usually only be made while no other business is pending.
(1) Take from the table. This motion is used to resume consideration of an item of business that was laid on the table (when the motion to “lay on the table” was used earlier in the meeting or at the most recent regular meeting). This motion requires a second, is not debatable, is not amendable, and requires a majority vote.
(2) Amend something previously adopted or repeal. This motion is used to repeal or amend something previously adopted. These motions require a second, are debatable, are amendable, and require a two-thirds’ majority vote unless notice was given at the previous regular meeting or with the agenda (then only a majority vote is necessary).
(3) Discharge a committee. This motion is used to bring an item that was previously referred to a committee back before the entire legislative body. This motion requires a second, is debatable, is amendable, and requires a two-thirds’ majority vote unless notice was given at the previous regular meeting or with the agenda (then only a majority vote is necessary).
(4) Reconsider. This motion is used to vote again on eligible items of business that were adopted earlier in the same meeting. Only a legislative body member who voted with the prevailing side (one who voted “aye” when the motion carried or voted “no” when the motion failed) may move to reconsider. This motion requires a second, is not debatable, is not amendable, and requires a majority vote.
(H) Lack of a quorum during a meeting.
(1) When a member of the legislative body exits the meeting, the meeting shall continue in his or her absence if a quorum remains. If a quorum does not exist, the presiding officer must announce the absence of a quorum and entertain one of the following motions:
(a) Take measures to obtain a quorum;
(b) Recess; and
(c) Adjourn.
(2) If no motions are made at the time a quorum does not exist, the presiding officer may order a recess of no longer than 15 minutes or declare the meeting adjourned. If at the end of the recess ordered by the presiding officer a quorum still does not exist, the presiding officer shall declare the meeting adjourned.
(I) Parliamentary authority. In all cases of meeting procedure not addressed by state statutes, city ordinance, or this municipal order, the governing authority shall be the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised.
(Ord. 2021-01, passed 6-25-2021)