(A) No motion shall be subject to debate until it has been seconded and stated by the President. It shall be reduced to writing upon the demand of the President or any member. After a motion has been stated by the President, it shall be deemed to be in possession of the Council, and it may be withdrawn by the mover at any time before the decision or amendment, with the permission of the Council member who seconded the motion.
(B) It shall not be necessary to have more than one reading of a resolution or other motion, except an ordinance. After the resolution or other motion has been read or made and before a vote has been taken thereon, the President may refer the same to a standing Council committee for its study and recommendation, unless a majority of the Council present determines that action by the Council shall be taken at that meeting. If such a determination is made, then the Council may act upon the resolution or other motion in any manner that it can otherwise act, including but not limited to passing, rejecting, amending, or committing the resolution or other motion. The motion that the Council take action on the resolution or other motion at that meeting is not debatable or referable to committee and must be put to a vote immediately.
(C) Every proposed ordinance shall receive three readings in open Council, each reading being on a different day, unless upon motion the Council determines by unanimous vote, with not less than a majority of the members-elect present and voting, that the rules be suspended for the purpose of taking action on two or three readings at the same meeting.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in these rules, upon the first reading of an ordinance no motion shall be in order except a motion to pass the ordinance on first reading or to reject the ordinance. If the ordinance is passed upon first reading, the President may refer the proposed ordinance to a standing Council committee for its study and recommendation. If the President does not assign the proposed ordinance to a committee, a majority of the Council present may require the President to make such an assignment.
(2) Upon the second reading of any ordinance, the ordinance shall be read by title only, unless a reading in full is requested by a member of the Council. The only motions in order upon a second reading are as follows.
(a) To commit.
(b) To amend.
(c) To lay on the table.
(d) To postpone to a certain time.
(e) To postpone indefinitely (should an ordinance be postponed indefinitely, it shall not be again taken up prior to the next regular Council meeting).
(f) To pass on second reading.
(3) Except as otherwise provided herein, upon the third reading of any ordinance, it shall be read in full. By a unanimous vote of the members present at a meeting of the Council, an ordinance upon first or third reading may be read by title only, and the reading shall be considered to be a full and complete reading of the ordinance. The vote on the third reading of an ordinance shall be by calling the roll and recording the "aye" and "no" votes. Any member or the President may demand a roll call vote be taken on any other question or motion, and when so taken the question or motion shall be so put on the record.
(D) Further action by the Council on any proposed ordinance, resolution, or other matter referred to a committee shall not be taken until the committee reports back to the Council at a regular or special meeting; however, a majority of the Council present may cause the postponed ordinance, resolution, or other matter to be taken from the committee and placed before the Council for its consideration.
(Ord. CO-82-14, passed 8-30-82; Am. Ord. CO-88-2, passed 2-22-88)