77-44
0
RtSOLUTION
No. 77 - 44
A RESOLUTION ADOPTING A SET OF RULES TO GUIDE;
THE CITY COMMISSION IN CONDUCTING ITS BUSINESS
AND MEETINGS.
f i
??I r
t?:.viw:f
y ?? xt
WHEREAS, the City Commission at the present time does not have
a not of guidelines or rules to guide it in the conduct of its business; and
WHEREAS, the business conducted by the City Commission has grown
to such an extent that a set of guidelines or rules would assist the Commission
in the more orderly conduct of those matters that come before it, and
WHEREAS, the City Commission desires to adopt and implement
such a set of rules or guidelines;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF CLEARWATER, FLORIDA,
IN SESSION DULY AND REGULARLY ASSEMBLED, AS
FOLLOWS:
That the City Commission of the City of Clearwater, Florida.
hereby adopts the following rules to govern it in the consideration and
administration of its affairs and the business presented to it:
r
RULE 1
A quorum for the transaction of business by the City
Commission shall consist of three (3) Commissioners.
Presiding officer of the City Commission shall be the
Mayor-Commissioner. In case of his absence, the Vice
Mayor shall assume those responsibilities, and if both are
absent, the senior Commissioner in years of service shall
preside. The Presiding Officer shall preserve carder. He
may call to order any member of the Commission who shall
violate any of the rules; and, when in the chair, he shall
decide all questions of order, subject to a majority vote on
a motion to appeal. The chair shall recognize all Commissioners
who seek the floor under correct procedure. Normally, members
of the public shall be allowed to speak. All questions shall be
stated and put by him, and he shall declare all votes.
RULE 22
r
The City Clerk shall make correct minutes of the proceedings
of each Commission meeting, and shall furnish copies of the
minutes of each regularly scheduled meeting to the Mayor
Commissioner and to each Commissioner at least twenty-four
(24) hours prior to the next regular meeting. Such minutes
shall stand confirmed at the regular sheeting of the Commission
without the reading thereof in open meeting unless some inaccuracy
or error be pointed out by some member of the Commission present,
and in such event, an appropriate correction shall be shade. Upon
request, the City Manager will cause the City Clerk to provide any
iteso. 077-44 -1? 5/5177
ron?i?r'??1'aF3P•.'?".tia,K"e?'?'K?'"1, ,,' °''!;r ??`Mf.4l?? ,`M'., '.`.?i:L: ??'9;?Z'.?t°,.r?x???`n?2. ... `°.?'`•<'.+ ,
a .. ...`?': _?... ?......•.ry`:.i,>?..'.]'r:"...?.??..._:')'.:.1r?%isleti?;'??-??;*?i?3•?+t1:S;?F.??.t#''.Y.'.3;?S:.e??'??r.?"f?G:?t?
0
S'MI a:'`'
Commissioner with transcribed excerpts of tapes of City
Commission workshop or regular or special meetingo.
RULE 3
All motions shall be made and seconded before debate.
Every ordinance shall be read at two (2) distinct Commission
meetings before it is passed, except when it is designated
an emergency ordinance, containing a declaration describing
the emergency and receiving a 2/3 vote of the Commmission.
Such emergency ordinance shall remain effective for ninety
days after effective date. All resolutions, ordinances and
contracts require three (3) affirmative votes for passage.
RULE 4
A copy of each ordinance when passed shall be furnished
by the City Clerk to the heads of all City departments concerned.
RULE 5
The City Commission shall meet on the first and third Thursdays
of each month at 9:30 A. M. in its chamber. Special meetings
may be held on call of the Mayor-Commissioner, City Manager
or any two of the members and, whenever possible, upon no
leas than twenty-four (24) hours public notice. A work
session shall be held at 9:30 A. M, the first working day of the
Commission meeting week. Work sessions are primarily
designed for information gathering and guidance, and no formal
Commission decision approving or disapproving agenda items or
items scheduled for public hearing may be made. Except for
items advertised for public hearing, items may be removed from
the agenda and additional items may be added. The agenda may be
re-ordered. Minutes shall be taken and distributed by the
City Clerk. Only staff members shall be included in the
work session discussion unless prior arrangements are made
through the City Manager. Town meetings shall be held at 7:30 P. M.
on the fourth Monday of each month (excluding June, July, August
and December). They will be scheduled at City-owned facilities
throughout the corporate limits when possible.
RULE b
The City Commission shall appoint all committees and advisory
boards in accordance with the provisions of the administrative
code. The City Clerk shall furnish each committee or advisory
board with copies of all resolutions relating to the concerns of
said committee or advisory board, which shall be delivered by
the most economical method to the chairman of such committee
or advisory board within four (4) days after the passage of the
same, or as soon thereafter as possible.
RULE 7
No Commissioner shall abstain from voting on any matter.
Any Commissioner who votes in his official capacity on a
matter in which that Commissioner has a direct or indirect
personal or financial interest, must, within fifteen (I5) days
after the Commission meeting file with the City Clerk a
memorandum explaining that interest in the matter. The
memorandum shall be received by the City Clerk and incorporated
into the minutes of the meeting.
ftaao. #77-44
-2-
'Nj
5/5/77
I
5
L
!- - .f • ._.J-• •i' ?y.?,ll:.jti;s.i?'???'?5?,??Yja'f''.q-'"?sr.`
A
kv
0
RULE 8
The City officials whose regular attendance shall be required
during the sittings of the Commission shall be the City Clark,
City Manager and City Attorney or their substitutes; but all or
any other officers of the City shall be bound to attend any
meetings upon direction of the City Manager or by special
request of any Commissioner to the City Manager.
RULE 9
No citizen, except those determined to be out of order and
subject to removal by the Chief of Police, shall be excluded
from any meeting of the Commission whether it be regularly
scheduled or specially called.
RULE 20
The order of business shall ordinarily be:
1. Special recognitions and awards
2. Minutes of previous meetings
3. Citizens to be heard re items not on agenda
4. City Manager reports
5. Public hearings (12; 34 P. M. )
b. City Attorney reports
7. Other Commission action
RULE 11
-1 7
Any member of the Commission who voted with the prevailing
side may move a reconsideration of any action of the whole
Commission; provided that the motion be made at the same meeting
at which the action was taken. A motion to reconsider shall be
in order at any time (during the meeting at which the action was
taken) except when a motion on some other subject is pending.
No motion to reconsider shall be made more than once on any
subject or matter at the same meeting. Commission action may
be rescinded by a 4/5 vote. The motion may be made by any
Commis sioner.
RULE 12
The City Manager, City Attorney, or any Commissioner may
agenda an item. Any citizen may request to be agendaed, even
though staff has assured petitioner that adverse action may result.
The Chair cannot depart from the prescribed agenda but the
Commission may do so by a 4/5 vote or by consensus in response
to a suggestion from the Chair.
RULE 13
These rules, or any of them, witli the exception of Charter
provisions, may be amended or temporarily suspended at any
meeting of the Commission by an affirmative vote of four (4).
members thereof. These rules are for the efficient and orderly
conduct of the business of the Commission only, and no violation
of such rules shall invalidate any action of the Coirimission when
approved by the majority votes required by the Charter.
Reaa.11077-44
yu Y ? ?e??•,.•4 i???`:`?#?:4sis;r? ,i}?:"?4'',?,'!ti>'ii: ,{ :'i: ••"sc .,
?L?-?WN?'A.:?{Y"iCiw ?Jr.di.w? •f. tf.? ter.- ... _ . a _ . _ __-
•
±p!M.a. ?ryy.,?:?'. .3. ,c ?f"'!•.'b'`?!?n=rT%`3?t=.Y?' ,y?",?."?' ?'',;#.•?. ,a• ?•k ;.
;.v'. •f. .? a " r rii 1: - .r .t;. r:?;f';', s:. ,far ,a`•.• R L.y 'y.r'?.;
,'a, ",4 r •ray:?p,, „';,,+sts4;y A 'X
..l
} a
r??ix' ?'k?:wT.-'`'' •??.e?•?t-?'.?j•.f, alf?,t+?Y?7•{K?{?7`;tjf? 'iE ??sy„rp ?. ".'?i e
? ? ?'?. t????•? ?? JJ?•k??;
o' 1:'? '.Y1 ????? j 21?1i3';?y.Yy,? n;, ;,? ?'`31',??'????? ?S'7?• L{ n`?'y- s? ? . t
?f£ r ??3 ? v't, t4•"' ?r p' t ir?Y'? ?• +Fij yf',,. .'ip
r?r ?ij''?'yie,? "'ir.l?.. :`r?y,?#Y?aw ??:?,?F.??' F't.,a ?'•t• CIS.. f F.
yy° 4<.^f !a.??,r„a:'?%'?.''"r?''"?:'Wi` ?.s,`'19'';c?' 14 ?•?( .a`lf ,
?e i"R .f,, t ? ?'?' r-,s?f ti•'x?' K s''?? +??.:.i? r'.'9?tr' w g '?y, ?6 ! ?r
jr-4
r`t •fi? ?'- ,'r?`.4(.•Y IS.1 ¢ ri, .yt? ,. ii F"? yet S. xG ria ?'S,ili?. ?•.
„(F5 5.;?7ti5:'l a t ^} ti:.' rE;?•?:(,.3 'T't,{ ? t.1:i •zt.. .+yN ??; a r, ?'.s ??;`;' i,
'r.9s'k1.+':?~•?n ...?.?.i.. Y.._ .loM...:.1?• .aN+'S>•.-? ! .,_ ?•J r;?._ Ca j
{y?
RULE 14
Any member of the Commission making a motion of"second
shall address the Chairman and await recognition before
speaking. The Chair must recognize any person who seeks the
floor while entitled to it. The person making the motion is entitled
to the floor first for debate. No one is entitled to the floor a
second time on the same motion as long as any other member
who has not spoken on the issue desires the floor. When a motion
is made and seconded, it shall be stated by the Chairman before
any debate shall be in order. Upon presentation of agenda Items,
members may ask questions and request additional information
prior to making motions. For a member to discuss a matter
while no motion is pending requires permission from the Com-
mission. Motions and any amendments can be withdrawn or
modified by the maker at any time prior to the Chair stating the
question on the motion; after that time, the permission of the
Commission majority must be obtained. The Chair cannot
close debate as long as any member who has not exhausted his
right to debate desires the floor except by an affirmative vote
of four (4) members. A tie vote shall constitute a continuance
to the next regularly scheduled meeting.
RULE 15
The following motions are not debatable:
To adjourn
To lay on the table
To take from the table
For the previous question c : .
RULE lb ,1 t• .. ,, ' f
Individuals speaking an non-agenda items shall be limited to
five minutes.
RULE 17
The Commission shall, at the direction of the Chair, take a
ten minute break approximately every two hours, and shall recess
at 11:30 A. M. for lunch, unless by unanimous vote it is agreed
to continue.
RULE 18
All material prepared by the City Manager for the Commission
shall be provided to the press and to the public via a special box
in the City Clerk's office. Reports shall be made available in the
Clerk's office for the public to check out and study at leisure.
RULE 19
All mail to the Mayor-Commissioner and the Commissioners
arriving at City Hall received pursuant to law or in. connection
with the transaction of official business by the City of Clearwater
shall be copied immediately and provided to the other Commissioners
and to the press with the following exceptions:
t
-4-
'Reso. f77-44 5/5/,77
.'? :$. a: ':L'.':jt ;IC stxl'f.Y °µ"f, .??..+' ,, i`, '???,?°,l. r, .. ., a'T+•: }s''?;, ?.? ,.? ,?., f
•?!;€•?,S?i,3? ? 'r?r.. `}ri ,ti?r? :if_'?'j ,• ! . 'i'1. `f ??: '??.'t.f?`ra
:
pp ? .. .. ... ? ? ? -- -- - -- -- -. --.r.r.`- - '-?1i???,??irr?tirWi?M??YWI?IYIY? r
.M , ., 1
Q
(a) Mail from governmental agencies, addressed to the
Mayor, clearly intended for the Chief Administrative
Officer of the City which requires administrative action
or staff action, will be delivered to the City Manager
with informational copy to the Mayor.
(b) Anonymous letters will not be distributed.
(c) Publications and lengthy agenda materials for other
boards upon which the Commissioners serve will not
be copied. Only the agendas will be circulated. Items
of considerable length (such as petitions) will not be
i
copied, but instead a memo will be distributed announcing
the availability of the item in the office.
(d) Mail with the words similar to "Personal", "Confidential",
or "For the Addressee Only" will be delivered unopened
to the addressee.
(e) The Mayor-Commissioner and Commissioners receiving
individually addressed mail will be responsible for replying,
asking the City Manager or City Attorney to reply, or
placing the matter on the agenda for formal Commission
consideration.
(f) The City Manager will be responsible for seeing that mail
addressed to the Mayor and other City Commissioners
is properly answered or placed on the agenda.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 5th day of May, A. D. 1977.
Att ;
Ci Clerk
Mayor-Commis o er
G ?• '??1 r.?,?Z!{t-iY /,?Z:, C'.?;'t:?f ^`dY-?;Ji• a:?•{(".'-t :'.' a:,•sl d{°i s? ? I•. ; ?!. iA' f•.... `"r 1t'. ,'lr sr ?iri.. ?4.?i' ;? ??°?,:. ? .?
WE l
ll`'
iitl'4u::fnA•w:?.ir: ?r.9tr?r.' ': •' E. ; ? . `' ... ...' - . - , . .., . .., ?.