(a) Regular Introduction. Ordinances and resolutions may be introduced only by the Mayor or any member of Council present at the meeting at which they are introduced. No second is required.
(Ord. 33-71. Passed 7-27-71.)
(b) Legislation Committee. The Legislation Committee may propose legislation to be introduced in accordance with the Charter and may review properly introduced ordinances and resolutions as it deems appropriate. The Presiding Officer may refer any properly introduced resolution or ordinance to the Committee for the purpose of comparing it with existing ordinances to eliminate conflict or duplication, to correct errors in form and to number various sections in accordance with these Codified Ordinances. The Committee shall report its recommendations upon any such referral at the next regularly scheduled meeting of Council. In addition, requests to the Committee for review or initiation of legislation may be made by the Mayor, Council members or Council committees. Requests for legislation by directors or chiefs should be made through the proper Council committee. The committee reserves the right to make recommendations on proposed legislation or properly introduced ordinances and resolutions. All proposed legislation shall be reviewed as to form by the Law Director.
(Ord. 64-82. Passed 9-13-82.)
(c) Other Committees. The Presiding Officer may, prior to final passage of any ordinance or resolution properly introduced, in addition to and simultaneously with or following the reference to the Legislation Committee, or in lieu thereof, refer any ordinance or resolution to any standing committee appropriate for the consideration of such measure, or to a special committee appointed for such purpose. Such committee shall conduct such investigations, hearings and debates as it deems proper and shall report its recommendations to Council without unreasonable delay. A majority of the members of Council then in office may at any time take the matter from the hands of the committee and return the measure to the floor for consideration.
(Ord. 33-71. Passed 7-27-71. )
(d) Debate. No ordinance or resolution shall be open to debate unless it is properly introduced. Even when properly introduced, no ordinance or resolution shall be open to debate unless it is on its second reading or unless passage may be accomplished without further reading by Council or report from any committee to which it has been referred. This section notwithstanding, amendments may be offered, debated and acted upon at any reading. Such rule may be suspended by two-thirds of the members present. Except when such rule is suspended, discussion, comments, questions and suggestions shall be referred to the Legislation Committee outside the Council meeting. Debate shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order.
(Ord. 17-78. Passed 3-28-78.)
(e) Voting. After the requirements regarding reading have been accomplished, and after any committee to which the measure is referred has reported on it or has had the matter removed from its hands by Council, the resolution or ordinance shall be voted upon without further delay, unless tabled by a vote of two-thirds of the members of Council then in office. Voting on a resolution or ordinance shall be by roll call by the Clerk of Council or acting Clerk of Council, and each member shall cast his vote by "yes" or "no" without further debate or discussion, unless such debate or discussion is in the form of an explanation of the member's vote under point of personal privilege sought and obtained from the Presiding Officer. The Clerk of Council shall record each member's vote on the Journal of the proceedings. Members may abstain from voting, in which case their vote shall be counted as being with the vote of the majority of those who do vote.
(f) Posting and Codification. As soon as practicable after passage of an ordinance or resolution, the Clerk of Council shall cause true and exact copies of the measure to be posted as required by the City Charter. The Law Director shall decide whether the measure shall be codified in accordance with the requirements of the Codified Ordinances and shall, if proper to do so, cause the ordinance or resolution to be numbered accordingly and shall submit such numbered copy to the Clerk of Council for maintenance in accordance with Section 202.07.
(Ord. 33-71. Passed 7-27-71.)