Chapter 2.03
CITY COUNCIL – MEETINGS*

Sections:

2.03.010 Time – Place.

2.03.020 Special meetings.

2.03.030 Open to public.

2.03.035 Notifications of hearings and agenda for council meetings.

2.03.040 Compensation to council members.

2.03.050 Repealed.

2.03.060 Reviewing special property use permits in the D-C district.

*For the statutory provisions regarding council meetings, see RCW 35A.13.170; for the provisions regarding compensation of councilmen, see RCW 35A.13.040; for provisions regarding the power of the council, see RCW 35A.13.230.

2.03.010 Time – Place.

Regular meetings of the city council shall be held in the Council Chamber at the City Hall at 7:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month hereafter; provided, that the city council shall have the right to adjourn the meeting from time to time; provided further, if the regular meeting date falls on a legal holiday, the city council shall have the right at the last meeting preceding the legal holiday to adjourn the meeting to any time not exceeding 30 days or to cancel such regular meeting and conduct a special meeting in lieu thereof; provided further, that notice of adjournment of any meeting to a time other than the regular meeting time or notice of any special meeting shall be given in the manner provided by law. (Ord. 2620 § 1, 1996; Ord. 1554 § 1, 1972; Ord. 1363 § 1, 1968; Ord. 1347 § 1, 1967; Ord. 1117 § 2, 1961).

2.03.020 Special meetings.

The clerk shall call special meetings of the council upon request of the mayor or any three members. Requests for special meetings shall state the subjects to be considered and no other subjects shall be considered at a special meeting. (Ord. 1554 § 1, 1972; Ord. 1363 § 1, 1968; Ord. 1347 § 1, 1967; Ord. 1117 § 2, 1961).

2.03.030 Open to public.

All meetings of the council and of committees thereof shall be open to the public, and the rules of the council shall provide that citizens of the city shall have a reasonable opportunity to be heard at any meetings in regard to any matter being considered thereat. (Ord. 1554 § 1, 1972; Ord. 1363 § 1, 1968; Ord. 1347 § 1, 1967; Ord. 1117 § 2, 1961).

2.03.035 Notifications of hearings and agenda for council meetings.

(1) Notices of Public Hearings. Except where a specific method of giving notice of public hearings is otherwise provided by statute or ordinance, notice of upcoming public hearings to be conducted by the city council shall be given, by delivering to the city’s official newspaper not less than 10 days before the date set for hearing, a notice setting forth the time, place, date and subject member of each such public hearing. In addition, a copy of said notice shall be posted on the bulletin board in the foyer of the City Hall of the city of Longview, not less than 10 days before the date set for the hearing described therein.

(2) Preliminary Agenda of City Council Meeting. The public shall be notified of the preliminary agenda for all forthcoming city council meetings by posting a copy of each preliminary agenda in the following four public places in the city at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting:

(a) Bulletin board in foyer of City Hall, Longview, Washington;

(b) Bulletin board at main entrance to Longview Public Library, Longview, Washington;

(c) Bulletin board at Longview Chamber of Commerce, Longview, Washington;

(d) Bulletin board of main lobby, main U.S. Post Office, Longview, Washington.

In addition to such posting, a copy of such preliminary agenda shall be delivered to the official newspaper of the city not less than 24 hours before the city council meeting to which such preliminary agenda is applicable.

(3) City Clerk to Provide Notice. The city clerk of the city of Longview is hereby directed to post and deliver notices as required by this section. (Res. 1397, 1988).

2.03.040 Compensation to council members.

Each council member shall be paid such compensation as provided in Chapter 2.02 LMC. (Ord. 2938 § 1, 2005; Ord. 2051 § 1, 1981; Ord. 1737 § 1, 1975; Ord. 1666 § 1, 1973; Ord. 1554 § 1, 1972; Ord. 1363 § 1, 1968; Ord. 1347 § 1, 1967; Ord. 1117 § 2, 1961).

2.03.050 Compensation – Commencing January 1, 1988.

Repealed by Ord. 2938. (Ord. 2297 § 1, 1987).

2.03.060 Reviewing special property use permits in the D-C district.

The city council shall review recommendations of the planning commission with regard to the issuance of special property use permits within the downtown commerce (D-C) district, and may approve a recommendation of the planning commission, impose conditions thereon or deny such permit.

(1) In the event that a recommendation of the planning commission for the issuance of such a permit is approved by the city council without the imposition of any additional conditions, the city council may do so by a motion and no public hearing shall be conducted.

(2) In the event that the city council desires to consider the imposition of conditions thereon or to consider the denial of such permit, or to make any change in such permit as recommended by the planning commission, or in the event that the city council desires to consider granting a permit that has been recommended for denial by the planning commission, it shall do so only after conducting a public hearing after appropriate notice. Such hearing shall be conducted within 30 days after the receipt of the planning commission’s recommendation, and not less than 10 days’ notice of such hearing shall be given to the persons and in the manner specified in LMC 19.12.090.

(3) If the city council imposes conditions on any such permit in addition to those recommended by the planning commission, or if it denies a special property use permit that is recommended for approval by the planning commission, or if the city council grants such permit contrary to the recommendation of the planning commission, the city council shall make and adopt findings of fact in support thereof. Any decision of the city council shall be rendered within 30 days after such public hearing.

(4) In the granting, denial, or imposition of conditions upon such special property use permits, the city council shall be guided by the provisions of LMC 19.52.030.

(5) All decisions of the city council hereunder shall be final and binding and not subject to any appeal process except as otherwise provided by law. (Ord. 2799 § 1, 2001).