DIVISION 1. CITY COUNCIL

SEC. 2-1. MEETINGS; RULES OF PROCEDURE.

   (A)   Regular city council meetings - Unless otherwise approved by city council action, city council shall conduct regular meetings on the first and third Tuesdays of every month in the city council chambers at 305 West Third Street at a time set by resolution of the city council.

   (B)   Rules of procedure -

      (1)   The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the city's legislative bodies in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with any special rules of order the city council may adopt by resolution. The city council may by resolution establish standing rules unrelated to parliamentary procedure.

      (2)   Any violation of such rules shall be deemed to be a violation of this code and shall be punishable as provided in section 1-10 of this code.

   (C)   Notwithstanding Section 9217 of the Cal. Elections Code, the city council may amend subsection (A) of this section without submission to the voters to change the days and location for regular meetings.

(`64 Code, Sec. 2-1) (Ord. No. 483, 1379, 1490, 1615, 1825, 1911, 2356, 2368, 2949, 2992)

SEC. 2-1.1. ESTABLISHMENT OF CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES.

   (A)   The following city council committees shall consist of three city council members per committee, appointed by the mayor and approved by at least four city councilmembers:

      (1)   The finance and governance committee;

      (2)   The public works and transportation committee;

      (3)   The community services, public safety, housing & economic development committee.

   (B)   Regular city council committee meetings- Unless otherwise approved by city council action, the city council committees shall conduct regular meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month in the city council chambers at 305 West Third Street at a time set by resolution of the city council.

   (C)   The city council shall adopt bylaws for each committee setting forth the powers and duties of the city council committees established in this section.

(Ord. No. 2949, 3031)

SEC. 2-1.2. ALLOWABLE MEETING TIMES.

   Meetings of the city's legislative bodies, as defined by and subject to the Ralph M. Brown Act (Cal. Gov’t Code, Sections 54950 et seq.), shall commence no earlier than 5:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. on weekends. Notwithstanding, this requirement shall not apply to purely advisory bodies, emergency meetings, meetings held in closed session, or meetings conducted outside the city's geographical boundaries. Moreover, by a four-fifths vote this requirement may be waived by an advance reasonable determination that extenuating circumstances surrounding the starting time of a particular meeting prevent the legislative body from fulfilling its duties and that such circumstances cannot otherwise be obviated by alternative or additional meeting dates. Actions taken at meetings held in violation of this section shall be deemed invalid.

(Ord. No. 2992)

SEC. 2-1.3. PARLIAMENTARY TRAINING.

   (A)   The city shall provide each member of the city's legislative bodies with a copy of the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised.

   (B)   The city shall make use of the services of a professional registered parliamentarian certified by the National Association of Parliamentarians or a certified parliamentarian credentialed by the American Institute of Parliamentarians to train members of the city's legislative bodies on Robert's Rules.

(Ord. No. 2992)

SEC. 2-1.4. STAFF PRESENTATIONS IN ADVANCE OF MEETINGS.

   To provide the fullest opportunity for public input on all matters coming before the city's legislative bodies, staff presentations for each agenda item shall be videotaped in advance, and then posted on the city's website and made available for viewing on city premises at the time of the posting of the agenda for the meeting. The primary role of staff at meetings is to answer questions posed by the legislative body, not the reenactment of pre-recorded presentations.

(Ord. No. 2992)

SEC. 2-1.5. PUBLIC COMMENT.

   (A)   In addition to opportunities for public comment required by state law, the agenda shall provide an opportunity for members of the public to address the legislative body on any item that has already been considered by a committee composed exclusively of members of the legislative body.

   (B)   Each person shall be allowed no less than three minutes to comment on an agenda item at a meeting.

   (C)   Reasonable accommodations shall be made to facilitate the presentation of videos, PowerPoint or similar presentations during public comments. Presenters shall be required to provide hard copies of presentations to members of the legislative body.

(Ord. No. 2992)

SEC. 2-2. DECLARATION OF PURPOSE REGARDING DISTRICT ELECTIONS.

   The city council of the City of Oxnard hereby declares that the change of method of electing members of this city council is being made in furtherance of the California Voting Rights Act of 2001.

(Ord. No. 2934)