Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 4475CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON RESOLUTION N0. 4475 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, AMENDING COUNCIL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 800-03 AND 800-06. WHEREAS, the Council desires to revise its procedures for order of business for Council meeting agendas and guidelines pertaining to the approval of Council meeting minutes; and rules of debate, decorum, voting requirements and procedures; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RENTON, WASHINGTON, DO RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION I. The Council hereby amends the following City of Renton Policies & Procedures, to read as attached hereto an incorporated herein as if fully set forth: • 800-03, Agenda Order of Business & Approval of Council Meeting Minutes; and • 800-06, Rules of Debate, Decorum, Voting Requirements and Procedures. PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 18th day of July , 2022. 0i /'Z, -/ 1as A. Seth, C y Clerk APPROVED BY THE MAYOR this 18th day of July , 2022. Armon Pavone, Mayor 1 Approved as to form. Shane Moloney, City Attorney RES-COU NCI L:1916:7/1/22 RESOLUTION N0. 4475 p F R F�,T SEAL _ *: ry' = POLICY &PROCEDURE Subject: Index: LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ORDER OF BUSINESS & Number: 800-03 APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Effective Date: Supersedes: Page: Staff Contact: Approved By: TBD 12/10/2018 1 of 2 CAO Resolution 4 on 2022 1.0 PURPOSE: To establish the order of business for Council meeting agendas, and to establish guidelines pertaining to the approval of Council meeting minutes. 2.0 ORGANIZATIONS AFFECTED: City Councilmembers 3.0 REFERENCES: RCW 35A.12.120 RCW 35A.39.010 4.0 POLICY: 4.1 The Council shall establish an order of business to facilitate the organization of Council meetings and expedite proceedings. 4.2 The City Clerk Division shall have exclusive responsibility for the preparation of the agenda and recording of the minutes, and shall be authorized to use audio and/or video recordings at any regular or special meeting of the Council to assist in the preparation of such minutes. 5.0 DEFINITIONS: 5.1 Consent Agenda: For the purpose of this policy, the consent agenda shall consist of a number of items/issues that shall be proposed for adoption in a single motion. AGENDA ORDER OF BUSINESS & APPROVAL OF COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES p. 2 6.0 PROCEDURES: 6.1 At each regular Council meeting, the business of the City Council shall be taken up for consideration and disposition in the following order, which shall not be changed except by majority vote of the Council: 1. Call to Order and Pledge of Allegiance 2. Roll Call 3. Proclamations 4. Special Presentations and Reports 5. Public Meetings/Hearings (public comments limited to three minutes per speaker) 6. Appeals 7. Administrative Report 8. Audience Comment (public comments limited to three minutes per speaker) 9. Consent Agenda 10. Unfinished Business (including Committee reports) 11. Legislation 12, New Business (including upcoming Committee meeting announcements) 13. Executive Session (if any) 14. Adjournment 6.2 Approval of Council meeting minutes: 6.3.1 The previous week's Council meeting minutes should be placed on the following Council meeting consent agenda for approval. 6.3.2 The Council meeting minutes shall not be read aloud unless requested by a majority vote of the Council. 6.3.3 Any corrections to the minutes, with the exception of scrivener's errors, shall be made by a majority vote of the Council. POLICY & PROCEDURE Subject: Index: LEGISLATIVE RULES OF DEBATE, DECORUM, VOTING Number: 800-06 REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES Effective Date: I Supersedes: l Page: Staff Contact: Approved By: TBD 12/10/2018 I 1 of 6 ) CAO I Resolution # on /____/2022 1.0 PURPOSE: To establish voting requirements and procedural guidelines to assist Council as it conducts business in official meetings. 2.0 ORGANIZATIONS AFFECTED: City Councilmembers 3.0 REFERENCES: Robert's Rules RCW 35A.12.100 RCW 35A.12.120 RCW 42.23 RCW 42.36 RMC 1-6 4.0 POLICY: 4.1 Rules adopted to expedite the transaction of the business of the Council are procedural only. Failure to strictly observe such rules shall not affect the jurisdiction of the Council or invalidate any action taken at a meeting that is otherwise held in conformance with the law. 4.2 In the normal course of business and notwithstanding the laws or regulations relating to conflict of interest (RMC 1-6), each Councilmember shall at all times be open-minded, objective, impartial, and make no judgement or engage in any partisan position until all of the evidence pertaining to an issue has been submitted to the Council at a regular public meeting. RULES OF DEBATE, DECORUM, VOTING REQUIREMENT$ AND PROCEDURES p. 2 4.2.1 This language shall not be construed to limit Council committees in reviewing information and developing recommendations for subsequent Council consideration. 4.2.2 It shall be understood that a Councilmember or prospective Councilmember may, in the course of seeking elective office, be asked to state positions on general issues that may eventually come before the Council at a later date. This policy shall in no way impair that individual's right to consider the issue and vote as he/she determines is appropriate. 4.3 In order to avoid an attack on the validity of Council hearings, members of the hearing body shall avoid any private meetings, conferences, or discussions on the merits of the matter or issue before the body, including, but not limited to, specific zoning and related land use proposals, comprehensive planning, and like matters with proponents and opponents of said issues. 4.4 Every Councilmember, unless disqualified by reason of a conflict of interest or otherwise provided by law, shall cast his/her vote upon any matter put to vote by the legislative body. 4.5 Any Councilmember who abstains from voting without a valid reason shall be deemed to have voted with the majority on that particular issue. 4.5.1 A Councilmember who publicly announces that he/she is abstaining from voting or participating in debate on a particular matter for specified reasons shall not subsequently be allowed to withdraw that abstention. 4.6 Tie votes shall be lost motions and may be reconsidered unless the tie is broken by the Presiding Officer's vote, if permitted pursuant to RCW 35A.12.100/120. 4.7 A Councilmember may change his/her vote only if the request to do so immediately follows the last vote cast and is prior to the time that the result of the vote has been announced by the Presiding Officer or the City Clerk. 4.8 A motion to reconsider any action taken by the City Council may be made only on the day the action was taken or at the next regular meeting of the City Council. 4.8.1 A motion to reconsider may be made only by one of the Councilmembers who voted on the prevailing side. 4.8.2 Nothing in this policy shall be construed to prevent any Councilmember from making or remaking the same or any other motion at a subsequent meeting of the Council. RULES OF DEBATE, DECORUM, VOTING REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES p. 3 4.9 Rules of Decorum: 4.9.1 Councilmembers: While the Council is in session, all members must preserve order, decency, and decorum, and no member shall delay or interrupt the proceedings of the Council or disturb any member while speaking, or refuse to obey the order of the Presiding Officer. 4.9.1.1 Discussion by members of the Council shall relate to the subject matter at hand and shall be relevant and pertinent to allow for the expeditious disposition and resolution of the business before the body. 4.9.2 Employees: Members of City staff shall observe the same rules of the order and decorum as applicable to the City Council. 4.9.3 Public Addressing Council: Any person making personal, impertinent, or slanderous remarks or who becomes boisterous or in any way impedes or interrupts the proceedings of the Council may be barred from further audience before the Council by the Presiding Officer. An individual may not return for the remainder of that meeting unless permission is granted by a majority vote of the Council. 4.9.3.1 A commissioned representative of the Police Department shall act as Sergeant at Arms for the purpose of maintaining order, peace, and decorum at Council meetings. 4.9.3.2 Any Councilmembers may move to require the Presiding Officer to enforce the rules, and the affirmative vote of a majority of Council shall require him/her to do so. 5.0 DEFINITIONS: N/A 6.0 PROCEDURES: 6.1 Rules of Debate: 6.1.1 Getting the Floor: Any Councilmember desiring to speak shall first address the Presiding Officer, gain recognition, and shall confine remarks to the question under debate. Members shall not engage in any indecorous, abusive, or inappropriate language and shall avoid personal attacks on any other members of the Council or City officials; or impugn the integrity, honesty, and motives of such officials. RULES OF DEBATE, DECORUM, VOTING REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES p. 4 6.1.2 Interruptions: A Councilmembers, once recognized by the Presiding Officer, shall not be interrupted when speaking unless called to order by the Presiding Officer, or unless a point of order or personal privilege is raised by another Councilmember, or the speaker chooses to yield to a question by another member of the Council. If a Councilmember is called to order, he/she shall cease speaking immediately until the question of order is determined; and, if the determined to be in order, he/she shall proceed. 6.1.3 Limitation of Debate: No Councilmembers shall be allowed to speak more than once upon any particular subject matter until every other Councilmember desiring to do so has spoken. Each Councilmember shall limit his/her remarks on a particular subject matter to not more than ten (10) minutes. 6.1.4 Points of Order: The Presiding Officer shall determine all points of order, subject to the right of any Councilmember to appeal to the City Council. Upon an appeal, a majority vote shall conclusively determine a question of order. 6.1.5 Point of Personal Privilege: The right of a Councilmember to address the Council on a question of personal privilege shall be limited to cases in which his/her integrity, character, or motives are questioned, or where the welfare of the Council is concerned. Any Councilmember raising a point of privilege may interrupt another Councilmember who has the floor only if the Presiding Officer recognizes the privilege. 6.1.6 Privilege of Closing Debate: The Councilmember moving the adoption of an ordinance, resolution or motion shall have the privilege of closing debate. 6.1.7 Synopsis of Debate: Any Councilmember may request, through the Presiding Officer, the privilege of having an abstract of his/her statement on any subject under consideration entered into the minutes by a majority vote of the Council. 6.1.8 Protest Against Council Action: Any Councilmember shall have the right to have the reasons for his/her dissent from or protest against any action of the Council entered in the minutes. Any such protest or dissent must by in summary form to avoid unnecessary delay or interference with Council business. Councilmembers must inform the City Clerk when there is a desire to include such comments in the minutes. RULES OF DEBATE, DECORUM, VOTING REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES P. S 6.2 Addressing the City Council: 6.2.1 Manner of Addressing Council: Each person desiring to address the Council shall proceed to the speaker's podium upon recognition from the Presiding Officer. The speaker shall state for the record his or her name and city of residence. Unless further time is granted by a majority vote of the Council, speakers shall limit remarks to three (3) minutes. Alf remarks shall be pertinent to the subject at hand. All remarks must be addressed to the Council as a whole and not to any member individually. No questions shall be asked of a Councilmember or member of the City staff without permission from the Presiding Officer. If residents would like a response or to be contacted, they should provide their name and address, including email address, on a speaker card or the sign -in sheet and submit it to the City Clerk. This allows for follow-up when a resident desires it, but maintains confidentiality of private information. 6.2.2 Spokesperson for a Group: In order to avoid repetitious presentations and delay in the business of Council, whenever any groups or persons wishes to address the Council on the same subject matter, it shall be proper for the Presiding Officer to request a spokesperson be chosen by the group to represent their position. It is also appropriate for the Presiding Officer to limit the number of persons addressing the Council if additional matters are to be presented by any other member of such group. 6.2.3 After Motion: After a motion has been made or a public hearing has been closed, no member of the public shall address the Council from the audience on the matter under consideration without first securing permission from the Presiding Officer or a majority vote of the Council. 6.3 Voting Procedures: 6.3.1 Question to be Stated: After a motion has been properly offered and a second is acknowledged by the Presiding Officer, the Presiding Officer shall restate each question immediately prior to calling for the vote. Following the vote, the Presiding Officer shall announce whether the question carried or was defeated. In the case of a roll call vote, the City Clerk shall announce the results of the vote. The Presiding Officer, may at his or her discretion, publicly state the effect of the vote for the benefit of the audience before proceeding to the next item of business. RULES OF DEBATE, DECORUM, VOTING REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES p. 6 6.3.2 Roll Call Vote: In the case of a roll call vote, the sequence of the vote shall progress according to the seating arrangement in a clockwise or counter -clockwise order, with the direction alternating each month. Voting shall always begin with the Council President. Should the Council President be serving as the Presiding Officer or be absent, the roll call vote shall begin with the Council President Pro Tempore. 6.3.3 Entry of Ayes and Nays on Record: At any time, at the request of any member of the Council, any question shall be voted upon by roll call and the ayes and nays shall be recorded in the minutes.