(A) Certain motions allowed. In addition to substantive proposals, only the following procedural motions, and no others, are in order. Unless otherwise noted, each motion is debatable, may be amended, and requires a majority of the votes cast, a quorum being present, for adoption. Procedural motions are in order while a substantive motion is pending and at other times, except as otherwise noted.
(B) Order of priority of motions. In order of priority (if applicable), the procedural motions are:
(1) Motion 1. To appeal a procedural ruling of the presiding officer. A decision of the presiding officer ruling a motion in or out of order, determining whether a speaker has gone beyond reasonable standards of courtesy in his or her remarks, or entertaining and answering a question of parliamentary law or procedure may be appealed to the Council, as specified in Rule 7. This appeal is in order immediately after such a decision is announced and at no other time. The member making the motion need not he recognized by the presiding officer and the motion, if timely made, may not be ruled out of order.
(2) Motion 2. To adjourn. This motion may be made only at the conclusion of Council consideration of a pending substantive matter: it may not interrupt deliberation of a pending matter. A motion to recess to a time and place certain shall also comply with the requirements of Rule 2(C).
(3) Motion 3. To take a brief recess.
(4) Motion 4. Call to follow the agenda. The motion must be made at the first reasonable opportunity, or the right to make it. is waived for the out-of-order item in question.
(5) Motion 5. To suspend the rules. The Council may not suspend provisions of the rules that state requirements imposed by law on the Council. For adoption, the motion requires a vote equal to two-thirds of the actual membership of the Council, excluding the Mayor, unless he or she may vote in all cases, and vacant seats.
(6) Motion 6. To go into closed session. The Council may go into closed session only for one or more of the permissible purposes listed in G.S. § 143-318.11(a). The motion to go into closed session shall cite one or more of these purposes and shall be adopted at an open meeting. A motion based on G.S. § 143-318.11(a)(1) shall also state the name or citation of the law that renders the information to be discussed privileged or confidential. A motion based on G.S. § 143-318(a)(3) shall identify the parties in each existing lawsuit concerning which the Council expects to receive advice during the closed session, if in fact such advice is to be received.
(7) Motion 7. To leave closed session.
(8) Motion 8. To divide a complex motion and consider it by paragraph. The motion is in order whenever a member wishes to consider and vote on subparts of a complex motion separately.
(9) Motion 9. To defer consideration. The Council may defer a substantive motion for later consideration at an unspecified time. A substantive motion the consideration of which has been deferred expires 100 days thereafter unless a motion to revive consideration is adopted. If consideration of a motion has been deferred, a new motion with the same effect cannot be introduced while the deferred motion remains pending (has not expired). A member who wishes to revisit the matter during that time must take action to revive consideration of the original motion, or else move to suspend the rules.
(10) Motion 10. Motion for the previous question. The motion is not in order until there have been at least 20 minutes of debate, and every member has had an opportunity to speak once.
(11) Motion 11. To postpone to a certain time or day. If consideration of a motion lias been postponed, a new motion with the same effect cannot be introduced while the postponed motion remains pending. A member who wishes to revisit the matter must either wait until the specified time, or move to suspend the rules.
(12) Motion 12. To refer a motion to a committee. The Council may vote to refer a substantive motion to a committee for its study and recommendations. Sixty days or more after a substantive motion has been referred to a committee, the introducer of the substantive motion may compel consideration of the measure by the entire Council, whether or not the committee has reported the matter to the Council.
(13) Motion 13. To amend.
(a) An amendment to a motion must be pertinent to the subject matter of the motion. An amendment is improper if adoption of the motion with that amendment added would have the same effect as rejection of the original motion. A proposal to substitute completely different wording for a motion or an amendment shall be treated as a motion to amend.
(b) A motion may be amended, and that amendment may be amended, but no further amendments may be made until the last-offered amendment is disposed of by a vote.
(c) Any amendment to a proposed ordinance shall be reduced to writing before the vote on the amendment.
(14) Motion 14. To revive consideration. The Board may vote to revive consideration of any substantive motion earlier deferred by adoption of Motion 9 of Rule 18(b). The motion is in order at any time within 100 days after the day of a vote to defer consideration. A substantive motion on which consideration has been deferred expires 100 days after the deferral unless a motion to revive consideration is adopted.
(15) Motion 15. To reconsider. The Council may vote to reconsider its action on a matter. The motion to do so must be made by a member who voted with the prevailing side (the majority side except in the case of a tie; in that case the “nos” prevail) and at the meeting during which the original vote was taken, including any continuation of that meeting through recess to a time and place certain. The motion cannot interrupt deliberation on a pending matter, but is in order at any time before final adjournment of the meeting.
(16) Motion 16. To rescind or repeal. The Council may vote to rescind actions it has previously taken or to repeal items that it has previously adopted. The motion is not in order if rescission or repeal of an action is forbidden by law.
(17) Motion 17. To prevent reintroduction for six months. The motion shall be in order immediately following the defeat of a substantive motion and at no other time. The motion requires for adoption a vote equal to two-thirds of the actual membership of the Council excluding the Mayor, unless he or she may vote in all cases, and vacant seats. If adopted, the restriction imposed by the motion remains in effect for six months or until the next organizational meeting of the Council, whichever occurs first.
(Ord. passed 6-8-10)