(a) Ordinances. Measures that are of a general or permanent nature shall be enacted by ordinance, which shall be introduced in written or printed form and shall not contain more than one subject or group of related subjects. Each ordinance shall require for its adoption, upon a motion duly made and seconded, the affirmative votes of at least four members of Council, unless a larger number is required by the provisions of the Charter or by the laws of the State. The yes or no vote of each member of Council shall be taken and entered upon the journal of the proceedings of Council.
(b) Three Readings. Each ordinance shall, before its passage, be read by caption only on three separate days, unless the requirement for such reading is dispensed with by the concurrence of at least five members of Council.
(c) Effective Date.
(1) Except as set forth in (2) below, all ordinances shall take effect thirty days after passage by Council, or upon passage by Council after disapproval by the Mayor, as the case may be.
(2) Ordinances that provide for the following shall take effect (unless a later date is specified in the ordinance) upon the signature by the Mayor, or upon the expiration of the time within which it may be disapproved by the Mayor, or upon its passage by Council after disapproval by the Mayor, as the case may be:
A. The appropriation of money;
B. An annual tax levy;
C. Improvements petitioned for by the owners of a majority of the foot frontage of the property benefited and to be specifically assessed therefor;
D. The acquisition of property or the financing or construction of a public improvement when the ordinance is the second or later ordinance of a series of ordinances that is necessary to acquire property or construct or pay for a public improvement;
E. An emergency.
(d) Emergency Measures.
(1) As used in subsection (c)(2)E., an “emergency” shall:
A. Warrant immediate action necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, safety or welfare;
B. Contain a statement of the necessity for such immediate action; and
C. Require the affirmative vote of at least five members of Council for the ordinance to be immediately effective. If an emergency ordinance passes with only four affirmative votes, the ordinance shall take effect thirty days after passage by Council, or upon passage by Council after disapproval by the Mayor, as the case may be.
(2) No declaration of an emergency shall be effective if the ordinance does any of the following:
A. Change the boundaries of the City;
B. Surrender or authorize the joint exercise of any municipal powers;
C. Grant any franchise; or
D. Contract for the supply to the City or its inhabitants of the product or services of any utility, whether municipally owned or not.
(e) Amending Legislation. No ordinance shall be amended unless the amending measure sets forth in full the ordinance or section thereof to be amended and repeals the ordinance or section in effect before the passage of such amendment.
(f) Resolutions and Motions. Measures not of a general or permanent nature may be adopted by a resolution of Council or by a motion made by any member of Council. Such resolutions and motions may be passed, upon a motion duly made and seconded, by the affirmative votes of at least four members of Council. Each such measure shall be entered in full upon the journal, and the subsequent approval by Council of the minutes containing such entry shall be conclusive proof of the correctness of such entry. (Ord. 2012-13. Passed 4-25-12.)