§ 5 MEETINGS OF COUNCIL AND COMMITTEES OPEN TO PUBLIC; QUORUM; REGULATIONS OF PROCEEDINGS; COUNCIL TO PROVIDE RULES OF PROCEDURE.

   The City Council shall hold a meeting within the city limits of Fort Worth for the purpose of canvassing the election results. The elected members of the new Council may take the oath of office at the same City Council meeting where the election results are canvassed, but all elected members shall take the oath of office no later than the next City Council meeting after the results are canvassed. Special meetings may be called by the Mayor or by any three (3) Councilmembers. Such call shall be in writing and shall state the object of the meeting, and no business shall be transacted at such meeting other than that specified in the call. The Council shall meet at such times and places as may be prescribed by ordinance or resolution but not less than forty-four (44) regular and special meetings shall be held each calendar year.

   A quorum shall consist of two-thirds (2/3) of the members. All official meetings of the Council and all sessions of the Committees of the Council shall be public except as authorized by law. The ayes and nos shall be taken upon the passage of all ordinances or resolutions and entered upon the minutes of the proceedings of the Council, and every ordinance or resolution shall require on final passage the affirmative vote of a majority of all of the remaining members.

   No member shall be excused from voting except on matters involving the consideration of his own official conduct, or where his financial interests are involved, or unless excused by the Council for other valid reasons by majority vote. The Council shall determine its own rules of procedure, and may punish its members for misconduct, and may compel the attendance of absent members.

(Ord. 16797, § 1(II), (V), 1-24-2006, approved 5-13-2006; Ord. 22081-02-2016, § 2(II), (V), 2-2-2016, approved 5-7-2016)

Editor’s Note:

   Proposition 2 of Ord. 22081-02-2016, adopted 5-7- 2016 increased the number of Councilmembers from nine (9) to eleven (11). This increase will not go into effect until after the 2020 census.

§ 6 MAYOR PRO TEM; DUTIES OF.

   The City Council shall elect one of its members as mayor pro tem, who shall perform the duties of mayor in case of the absence or inability of the mayor to perform the duties of his office, and shall for the time being be vested with all the powers belonging to the mayor. In case of the absence of both the mayor and the mayor pro tem, the remaining councilpersons shall elect one of their members to act in the place of the mayor or mayor pro tem.

§ 7 CITY SECRETARY.

   The City Council shall appoint a city secretary and prescribe the duties and compensation of said officer, and shall provide him with such assistance as it may deem necessary. He shall hold office during the pleasure of the City Council. During his term of office, the city secretary shall be a resident citizen of the City of Fort Worth.

§ 8 RELATING TO CITY COUNCILPERSONS ACCEPTING DIFFERENT OFFICE AND PROVIDING FOR FORFEITURE OF OFFICES AND POSITIONS OF ASPIRANTS FOR COMPENSATED OFFICE.

   No person elected to the City Council shall, during the term for which he/she was elected, be appointed to any office or position in the service of the city. If a member of the council shall become a candidate for nomination or election to any public office, other than that of councilperson, he/she shall forfeit his place in the council; but shall continue to hold the office until a successor is duly qualified in cases in which such holdover is required by state law.

(Ord. 16797, § 1(VI), 1-24-2006, approved 5-13-2006; Ord. 22081-02-2016, § 2(XI), 2-2-2016, approved 5-7-2016)

Editor's note:
   See Texas Local Government Code Chapter 150, Section 150.041, for state legislation affecting the enforceability of this section.