3.C.i. Meeting Vocabulary ask CITY COUNCIL PROCEDURES
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gMeeting Vocabulary
1. Motions/Consensus 3. Ordinances
"Consensus"refers to an informal acknowledgment that a Ordinances constitute the City's local laws. Formal action,
majority of the council agree on a particular position. No with adoption by a majority of council is required to enact
formal vote is taken,and the action is not binding, but it an ordinance.The City Recorder reads the number and title
does provide staff with the general direction the council of an ordinance after motions are made,and will conduct a
wishes to proceed with respect to a particular matter. roll call vote.
The council may also express an opinion,adopt or Absent a different effective date,and except for ordinances
establish a policy,or direct further action by motion.A with emergency clauses,an ordinance generally becomes
motion must be adopted by a majority vote,is usually oral, effective by operation of law 30 days after passage by
and the only documentation of the action is by reference in the Council. If the ordinance contains an emergency
the council minutes. Motions are most frequently utilized to clause,it becomes immediately effective upon passage
direct staff to prepare reports or take certain actions. by an affirmative vote of the majority of Council.An
ordinance may also include provision of a specific effective
2. Resolutions date(subject to the limitations noted above)in order to
Resolutions generally deal with matters of a special or implement its provisions at a time certain.
temporary nature and reflect an expression of council An ordinance will be utilized to add,amend,or repeal
opinion or policy. As with motions, resolutions are adopted sections of the City's code(the City's compilation of local
by a majority vote. They are valuable information tools laws),and may also involve any other subject matter where
because they are written documents that can be readily the intent is to establish a permanent or long-term rule,
accessed to confirm the nature of the action taken. policy or procedure. In addition,some state statutes,city
Resolutions often contain findings or recitals that provide charter or code provisions may require that the Council
information. Resolutions may: act by ordinance in specific situations.Some common
examples include:
a. Call public hearings:
a. granting franchises;
b. Adopt specific policies or plans(other than land
use plans) b. withdrawing annexed territories from special
districts(i.e.,water);
c. State an official position on global or statewide
political concerns c. condemning real property;
d. Commend or honor an individual's service to the d. levying assessments;and
city or community
e. amending comprehensive land use plans.
e. Adopt the budget
Unless an ordinance directs a specific action or contains
f. Establish city funds and authorize transfers its own expiration date,it remains in effect until amended
between funds or repealed by another ordinance.Some ordinances will
contain findings that in essence provide a legislative history
g. Form a local improvement district for the action being taken,while others,such as land use
h. Call an election ordinances,are required to contain findings that show
conformance with statewide planning goals.