(A) Workshop meetings may be called from time to time as necessary and held at times scheduled and approved by the City Commission. The Commission, by majority vote, may schedule subjects for discussion at the workshop meeting. Appropriate public notices of the workshop meeting shall be made in accordance with state law. The City Manager may request a City Commission workshop at a regular or special meeting of the City Commission, subject to the approval of a majority of the City Commission, or at the behest of a majority of the City Commission.
(B) If a workshop is scheduled immediately preceding a regular meeting of the City Commission, then an item shall be placed on that regular meeting agenda for the purpose of voting on all items discussed at the workshop meeting. If there is not a regular meeting scheduled immediately following a Commission workshop, then a special meeting of the City Commission shall be convened immediately following the workshop for the purpose of voting on all items discussed at the workshop meeting.
(C) In the event of an emergency threatening the health, safety or welfare of the citizens and residents of the City, the Mayor, in his or her sole discretion, may call an emergency workshop of the City Commission. A special meeting of the City Commission shall be convened immediately following the emergency workshop for the purpose of voting on all items discussed at the workshop meeting. All discussion at an emergency workshop meeting shall be limited to the subject matter of the emergency.
(D) Parliamentary procedure, as set forth in § 30.12, shall not apply to workshops of the City Commission. Discussion and debate at City Commission workshops shall be organized, but informal, with the mayor serving as the presiding officer. Each member of the City Commission shall be afforded an opportunity to participate in the matter being discussed. Discussion and debate shall be limited to the subject matter of the workshop.
(E) Public participation shall not be permitted at workshop meetings of the City Commission. Members of the public shall be afforded an opportunity to provide public comment during the regular or special City Commission meeting immediately following the workshop meeting when the matter that was the subject of the workshop meeting is presented to the City Commission for formal consideration and a vote. This division shall not prohibit the participation of experts who may be asked by the City Commission, or any member thereof, or any Charter officer to participate in a workshop meeting for the purpose of offering information related to the subject matter being discussed.
(F) To the extent possible, City Commission workshop meetings shall be scheduled to accommodate the schedules of the members of the City Commission to ensure attendance either in person or by remote participation. Whenever possible, City Commission workshops shall be scheduled during a regular meeting of the City Commission.
(`69 Code, § 2-30(h)) (Ord. 520, passed 9-17-79; Am. Ord. 562, passed 3-18-81; Am. Ord. 573, passed 8-19-81; Am. Ord. 586, passed 1-7-82; Am. Ord. 1266, passed 6-17-98; Am. Ord. 1717, passed 5-16-12)