HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 2008-06-01 Rules of Procedure of Conducting council meetings.pdfCITY OF ANNA, TEXAS
RESOLUTION NO. 200Y•04-oi
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF ANNA, TEXAS APPROVING RULES OF
PROCEDURE GOVERNING CERTAIN ASPECTS OF CONDUCTING COUNCIL
MEETINGS
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Anna, Texas ("City Council"), recognizes that
it is desirable for there to be a uniform set of rules of procedure for conducting City
Council meetings and the business of the City Council in a sound and efficient manner;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ANNA, TEXAS, THAT:
Section 1. The recital set forth above is incorporated herein for all purposes as if set
forth in full.
Section 2. The City Council hereby adopts the following rules of procedure.
2.01 Role of the Presiding Officer. The presiding officer, normally the Mayor or
Mayor Pro Tem in the Mayor's absence, shall fulfill the following duties:
(a) Opens the meeting on time, announces the presence of a quorum, and
sees to it that the meeting follows the agenda, and all discussions are focused on
agenda items.
(b) Keeps discussions focused on the matter at hand.
(c) Sees to it that all major issues are brought to the floor in the form of a
motion. The presiding officer shall allow additional discussion on a motion once made
only after a motion is seconded. If no one seconds a motion made during a meeting, it
dies for lack of support.
(d) Uses reasonable measures to keep meetings from becoming
unreasonably long.
(e) If discussion wanders or becomes confused, the presiding officer calls
people's attention to the motion on the floor as a way of refocusing discussion. If it is
clear from the discussion that a decision will not be made within a reasonable period of
time during the meeting, the presiding officer may ask for a motion to table the issue to
a later meeting.
City of Anna, Texas RESOLUTION NO. W 06 -01 Page 1 of 4
(f) The presiding officer may authorize a member of the public to speak
regarding a duly noticed agenda item under appropriate circumstances, and shall ask
the speaker to limit remarks to 3 minutes.
2.02 Rules for Discussion and Debate.
(a) Direct all remarks to the presiding officer, and only after being recognized
by the presiding officer. Only one member may speak at a time and must do so at a
volume that is audible to the other members and other attendees of the meeting. There
shall be no side discussion or debate during a meeting.
(b) A City Council member shall stop speaking when the presiding officer
finds it necessary to speak, but may seek to be recognized to continue to speak.
(c) City Council members shall confine remarks to the issue being discussed
and shall not communicate with members of the audience unless: (1) it is during a
public hearing and the Council member is addressing an audience member who has
been duly authorized to speak; or (2) the presiding officer has recognized an audience
member to speak and the Council member has also been recognized to speak.
(d) City Council members should avoid using other members' names when
referring to issues and positions under debate and should avoid attacking other
members' motives.
(e) City Council members should avoid personal attacks and offensive
comments and shall not use obscene language.
(1) The presiding officer should warn a member about a serious offense the
first time it happens (for example—personal attacks, use of obscene language, etc.).
(g) Any type of recording device, whether audio or video, even if turned off,
may not be taken into a room or area where any part of an executive session discussion
is being held.
2.03 Rules for Motions.
(a) Making Motions
(1) Maker must be recognized by the presiding officer before making a
motion.
(2) Maker then states, "I move..."
(3) A second to the motion is required.
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(4) The maker of the motion has the right to speak first during the
discussion.
(5) The maker also has the privilege of speaking last before the vote.
(6) The presiding officer recognizes each person before he or she
speaks.
(b) Amending Motions
(1) Maker must be recognized by the presiding officer before making a
motion to amend.
(2) To Amend a Motion:
a. Requires a second from the Council member who seconded the
original motion.
b. Motion is considered amended upon a second from the Council
member who seconded the original motion.
(c) Tabled Motions
(1) Maker must be recognized by the presiding officer before making a
motion to table.
(2) To Table a Motion:
a. Requires a second.
b. No debate is allowed.
C. No amendments to the tabling motion can be made.
d. Majority vote is required to pass the tabling motion.
e. A motion to table must set a definite date for reconsideration to take
place at a duly noticed public meeting.
f. City Manager shall place item on future agenda in accordance with
motion that tabled item. At the future meeting upon which the tabled
item is placed, the item shall automatically be taken from the table
for consideration in accordance with said future agenda.
(d) Motion to Take No Action.
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(1) Maker must be recognized by the presiding officer before making a
APPROVED: ATTEST
Mayor
City of Anna, Texas
_
Wilkison
Uti�y' qN�P Cat Secretary
o„�TEX P`�o"•
RESOLUTION NO. aed-W-vJ
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motion to take no action.
(2)
Taking No Action:
a.
Requires a second.
b.
The maker of the motion has the right to speak first during the
discussion.
C.
The maker also has the privilege of speaking last before the vote.
d.
The presiding officer recognizes each person before he or she
speaks.
(e) Motion to Adjourn
(1)
Maker must be recognized by chairperson before making a motion
to adjourn.
(2)
To Adjourn a Meeting:
a.
Requires a second.
b.
Not debatable.
C.
Cannot be amended.
d.
Majority vote is needed to pass.
2.04 Open
Meetings Act. Notwithstanding any provision of these rules, all City
Council meetings shall comply with the Open Meetings Act,
PASSED AND APPROVED by a majority
of the full membership of the City Council of
the City of Anna,
Texas this the Ake—day of J -u my— 2008.
APPROVED: ATTEST
Mayor
City of Anna, Texas
_
Wilkison
Uti�y' qN�P Cat Secretary
o„�TEX P`�o"•
RESOLUTION NO. aed-W-vJ
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