(a) Appointment of Standing Committee. At the organization meeting of Council in each term, the Mayor shall appoint the following standing committees of Council for the ensuing term, subject, however, to the approval of a majority of the members of Council. Council may, by a majority vote of all its members, change the personnel of any committee appointed by the Mayor. The Mayor shall appoint a chairman and two members to each standing committee.
(1) Finance - to which shall be referred all matters pertaining to finances, appropriations, budget requests, salaries, wages and benefits, indebtedness, taxation, payment of moneys, damages and claims and similar matters.
(2) Service - to which shall be referred all matters pertaining to public rights of way such as streets, sidewalks, alleys, curbs, bridges, drainage ditches, storm sewers, wharves, docks, landings and tree lawns; refuse collection and disposal; railroad crossings; and similar matters.
(3) Safety and Health - to which shall be referred all matters pertaining to public safety and health within the City.
(4) Planning - to which shall be referred all matters pertaining to planning and development within the City.
(5) Public Utilities - to which shall be referred all matters pertaining to water, sanitary sewers, electric power, gas and franchises.
(6) Buildings and Grounds - to which shall be referred all matters pertaining to the buildings, grounds and equipment of the City.
(7) Parks and Recreation - to which shall be referred all matters pertaining to parks and recreation within the City.
(8) Transportation - to which shall be referred all matters pertaining to public transportation within the City.
(9) Economic Development - to which shall be referred all matters pertaining to economic development within the City.
(10) Pride - to which shall be referred all matters pertaining to maintaining property within the City. (Ord. 1994-73. Passed 8-23-94.)
(b) Jurisdiction of Standing Committees. The Mayor may assign, or upon motion adopted by Council, any matter may be referred to any one or more of the standing committees, which shall make such study and investigation thereof as it deems necessary, and as expeditiously as possible make its recommendations to Council. If any member of a committee does not agree with the recommendation and report of the majority of the committee, he may submit a minority report.
(c) Appointment of Special Committees. The chair may, at its discretion, or upon action of Council, establish special committees of Council for a temporary time period. Special committees shall consist of not more than three members of Council and may be established for any purpose not in conflict with the responsibilities of standing committees.
A special committee when directed to examine the charges against any officer or employee of the City, shall have power, through the Chief of Police or other police officer to summon and compel the attendance of witnesses and examine them under oath. For the purposes of securing witnesses, testimony or evidence, any such committee shall have the power and authority to issue subpoenas or attachments to compel the attendance of witnesses and/or produce any documents or evidence deemed necessary by such committee.
(e) Meetings of Committees.
(1) Meetings of any committee may be called by the chairman thereof or by a majority of the members of such committee.
(2) Joint committees. Upon motion adopted by Council any matter may be referred to two or more standing committees, the members of which shall for the purposes of considering the matters so referred to them be and act as a joint committee. The Councilperson senior in service shall call meetings of and preside at joint committee meetings. The joint committee
shall act as a single committee and as expeditiously as possible make its report to Council of its recommendations. Any one or more members disagreeing with the recommendations of the majority may present a minority report.
(3) Committee of the Whole. Upon motion adopted by Council it may go into a Committee of the Whole, in which event the Mayor shall preside at such Committee meeting unless the Committee of the Whole shall select some other member to preside thereat. As far as practicable, the rules of Council shall govern the meetings when Council deliberates as a Committee of the Whole.
(4) A majority of the members of a committee shall constitute a quorum.
(5) In the absence of the chairman, the member named next shall act as temporary chairman.
(f) Relieving from Further Consideration. Upon motion, Council may, by a majority vote, relieve a standing or special committee of further consideration of a matter referred to it, and order the same placed on the agenda.