(A) The most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, newly revised, shall be the authority on all questions of parliamentary law and procedure not specifically covered by this subchapter. For the purposes of this subchapter, parliamentary law shall mean the enacted rules and recognized usages which govern the procedure of legislative assemblies.
(B) It shall require a majority vote of 5 of the 9 Council members, to pass an ordinance or resolution. Whenever by law it is required that any ordinance or resolution shall be passed by a 2/3 vote, the requirement shall be construed to mean a 2/3 vote of all Council members; i.e., 6 of the 9 members. Whenever by law it is required that any ordinance or resolution shall be passed by a 3/4 vote, the requirement shall be construed to mean a 3/4 vote of all Council members; i.e., 7 of the 9 members.
(C) No one not a member of Council shall be permitted to address the Council except on invitation by the Presiding Officer or by a majority vote of the Council.
(D) No ordinance or resolution shall be received or considered by the Council unless it is presented by some member thereof or as provided by law. Every motion made by any member of the Council and entertained by the Presiding Officer shall be reduced to writing on the demand of any Council member. When a motion has been made, the Presiding Officer shall state it, and it shall then be in the possession of the Council, but may be withdrawn at any time before a decision or amendment.
(E) When, in order to enact an ordinance, resolution or motion, state law requires a majority of the Council to vote “aye”, the following procedures shall be applicable in calculating the majority.
(1) Only Council members who have disqualified themselves on a matter due to a substantial conflict of interest or have disclosed fully the nature of their conflict of interest pursuant to the provisions of this chapter are entitled to an abstention.
(2) Absentations shall not be counted as either an “aye” or “nay” vote.
(F) The Presiding Officer shall decide whether any question is carried by an affirmative or a negative vote, but if he or she is in doubt, a roll call vote shall be asked for.
(G) When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received, but to adjourn, to lay on the table, for the previous questions (which motion shall be decided without debate), to postpone to a day certain, to refer, to amend or to postpone indefinitely, which several motions shall have preference in the order in which they are here arranged.
(1) The motion to adjourn and the motion to fix a time to which the Council shall adjourn shall always be in order, the latter motion taking precedence of the former.
(2) The motion to lay an amendment on the table shall not affect the main question which it is proposed to amend.
(3) The previous question shall be put in this form: "I move for the main question. " It shall only be granted when demanded by a simple majority of the Council; and its effect shall be to put an end to all debate, and until decided, shall preclude all other motions or amendments, except the motion to adjourn. If the motion is sustained, the Presiding Officer shall at once put the question, first on pending amendments and then on the main questions.
(4) The motion to postpone to a day certain can be amended by altering the time.
(5) The motion to commit may be amended by altering the committee or by giving instructions.
(6) A motion to amend and a motion to amend that amendment shall be in order, and it shall also be in order to offer a further amendment by way of substitute to which 1 amendment may be offered, but neither may be withdrawn before amendment or decision is had thereon.
(7) No motion or proposition postponed indefinitely shall be taken up again at the same or next succeeding meeting.
(8) A question shall be divided on the demand of any Council member, if it includes 2 or more distinct propositions.
(9) A motion to strike out and insert shall be indivisible, but a motion to strike out being lost shall neither preclude amendment nor motion to strike out and insert, and no consideration shall be submitted under color of amendment.
(10) When a motion has been made and carried or lost, it shall be in order for any member of the majority at the same or the next regular meeting, to move for the reconsideration thereof. Such a motion on being made may be seconded by any Council member and may be made at any time. It shall be debatable and requires a majority vote to prevail.
(H) When a resolution is offered or a report or other matter presented, the Presiding Officer may take the reception thereof for granted, unless objection is made, when a formal motion shall be required.
(I) Appeals, questions of order, objection to the consideration of a question, the reading of papers, leave to withdraw a motion and suspension of the rules are questions which shall take precedence of and be decided before the question which gave rise to them; which several questions cannot be amended, and all questions of order which may arise pending a question is not debatable must be decided without debate.
(1979 Code, § 30.14) (Ord. 3116, passed 7-2-1979; Am. Ord. 4099, passed 1-25-1993; Am. Ord. 5889, passed 2-14-2022)