Chapter 2.10
COMMON COUNCIL

Sections:

2.10.010    General provisions.

2.10.020    City Clerk.

2.10.030    Majority and Minority Leader.

2.10.040    Presiding Officer.

2.10.050    Order of business.

2.10.060    Consent agenda.

2.10.070    Motions.

2.10.080    Voting.

2.10.090    Decorum and debate.

2.10.100    Committees.

2.10.110    Committee reports.

2.10.120    Ordinances and resolutions.

2.10.130    Other matters.

2.10.140    Amendments.

2.10.010 General provisions.

(A) The Common Council of the City shall meet at least twice per month on Monday evening. The regular meetings shall begin at 5:30 p.m., or at a time established by the Common Council at its first regular meeting in January of each year.

(B) Meetings of the Common Council of the City of Evansville shall be held in compliance with the Indiana Open Door Law found at IC 5-14-1.5-1.

(1) Emergency meetings and executive sessions may be held pursuant to Indiana law.

(2) An agenda shall be posted at the entrance of the location of the meeting prior to the meeting.

(3) Notice of the time, date, and place of regularly scheduled meetings may be given by the City Clerk once each year to media representatives who request such on or before January 1st.

(4) A meeting may be recessed and reconvened at a later time, date, and place, if such is announced at the original meeting, and if the agenda remains the same, without the necessity of further notice being given.

(C) Special meetings of the Common Council may be called by the Mayor, the Council President, or any three Council members. It shall be the duty of the person or persons calling the special meeting to notify the City Clerk of the meeting, allowing the Clerk reasonable time to prepare and serve notice. It shall be the duty of the Clerk to duly notify all Council members and to serve notice of the time, date, and place of said special meeting in writing 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays) prior to said meeting by posting notice in a public place and mailing, emailing, or faxing notice to media representatives who requested such notice on or before January 1st. No action may be taken on any subject at a special meeting unless that subject was stated in the call for the special meeting.

(D) A quorum of the Council shall be a majority of all elected Council members. A quorum shall be necessary for the transaction of Council business unless otherwise required by statute or this code. No ordinance or resolution shall be passed which shall not have received the votes of a majority of all members of Council.

(E) For purposes of this chapter, “ordinance” means a local law that (1) regulates persons or property and relates to a matter of a general and permanent nature, or (2) regulates persons or property and imposes a fine for violations. No ordinance shall be passed on the same day or at the same meeting that it is introduced, except by a unanimous consent of the Council, and then only if at least two-thirds of the Council members are present and voting. An ordinance is required to amend or repeal an existing ordinance.

(F) For purposes of this chapter, “resolution” means a stated position or policy of the Common Council or the City. A resolution may be passed on the same day or at the same meeting as it is introduced as part of the resolution docket, unless more than one reading is required by law, or if it is requested by one of the resolution’s sponsors that it be treated with the formalities of an ordinance. A resolution passed under this section requires a majority vote of the Council members. A resolution may be passed by a voice vote rather than a roll-call vote, unless a roll-call vote is requested by any member of Council or unless the resolution requires affirmative action on behalf of the City as required by law or it has been requested by a majority of the members of Council that it be treated with the formality of an ordinance.

(G) The Clerk may read an ordinance or resolution by number and title only, unless a Council member requests the item be read in its entirety. No rule, regulation, ordinance, or other final action shall be adopted by reference to agenda or item number alone.

(H) A motion to repeal, amend, or suspend a Council rule, other than subsection (D), (E), (F), (G) or (H) of this section, shall be in order at any time, except after a vote has been ordered. The motion requires the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Council members present and voting. Subsection (D), (E), (F), (G) or (H) of this section shall not be repealed, amended, or suspended except by an ordinance duly enacted in accordance with this section.

(I) A reading in full of the minutes of the previous meeting shall not be necessary unless requested by a member of Council.

(J) The Sergeant-at-Arms shall be the Chief of Police or his duly appointed designee, who must be a member of the City Police Department. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall preserve order in the lobby outside of the Council chambers and assist the President of Council in doing so within Council chambers. [Ord. G-2017-03 § 1, passed 3-16-17; Ord. G-2001-5, passed 2-1-01; Ord. G-98-3, passed 2-3-98; Ord. G-83-10, passed 8-22-83; Ord. G-73-33, passed 1-20-74. 1962 Code, Art. 1, Ch. 1, § 1; 1982 Code § 31.01; 1983 Code § 3.31.01.]

2.10.020 City Clerk.

(A) The City Clerk shall keep an accurate journal of the proceedings of the Common Council, including those members in attendance, the substance of each motion made, the name of the member making and seconding each motion, the ayes and nays on each roll-call vote taken, and whether each voice is carried.

(B) The Clerk shall keep a permanent file of all original papers, documents, reports, and correspondence filed with or submitted to the Council. The Clerk shall also keep and maintain a separate file of duplicate copies of each ordinance and resolution introduced, in the order of introduction identified by ordinance number, at all times available to the members of the Council.

(C) The Clerk shall be the custodian of all ordinances, resolutions, petitions, memorials, and all other papers pertaining to the business of the Common Council, except when such ordinances, resolutions, petitions, memorials, or other papers are necessarily in the hands of any commission, board, or official for the consideration thereof.

(D) The Clerk shall call the roll of the members of the Common Council in numerical order of districts, then in alphabetical order of Councilmen-at-Large at each meeting, calling upon the Presiding Officer last.

(E) The Clerk shall make available to the chairmen of committees of the Council and to officers, boards, and commissions, within five days after the adjournment of any meeting of the Common Council, all ordinances, resolutions, petitions, memorials, or other papers which shall have been referred to such committees, officers, boards, or commissions at such meeting.

(F) The Clerk shall record in a book of ordinances all ordinances passed by the Common Council. The original shall be filed in the Clerk’s office and a due proof of publication of all ordinances requiring publication by the affidavit of the printer or publisher shall be procured by the Clerk and attached thereto or written and attested thereto or written and attested upon the face of such ordinances.

(G) The City Clerk shall prepare an agenda for the meetings of the Common Council at the direction of the Council President. [Ord. G-2017-03 § 2, passed 3-16-17; Ord. G-83-10, passed 8-22-83. 1982 Code § 31.02; 1983 Code § 3.31.02.]

2.10.030 Majority and Minority Leader.

(A) The majority members of the Council may elect one of their number Majority Leader. The Majority Leader shall be entitled to present the opinion of the majority on any question. The Majority Leader may have other duties as delegated to him by the members of the majority.

(B) The minority members of the Council may elect one of their number Minority Leader. The Minority Leader shall be entitled to present the opinion of the minority. The Minority Leader may have other duties as delegated to him by the minority. [Ord. G-83-10, passed 8-22-83. 1982 Code § 31.03; 1983 Code § 3.31.03.]

2.10.040 Presiding Officer.

(A) At its first regular meeting after a City election, which meeting shall be held at 5:30 p.m. on the second Monday in January, and on the second Monday of each succeeding January, the Council shall elect from its membership a President and a Vice-President. The President shall preside at all meetings, call the meetings to order, preserve order and decorum, decide all questions of order subject to appeal to the Council, and perform all other duties required of the President. He or she shall appoint all standing and special committees and their chairmen and shall fill vacancies on those committees. The President may permit committee chairmen to preside during Council meetings for presentation, discussion, and votes of matters pertaining to such committees. The President shall sign all ordinances and resolutions passed by the Council before their presentation to the Mayor, as well as the minutes of the Council meetings. The President shall vote on all issues before the Council, voting last.

(B) In the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall serve as President Pro Tem. In the absence of the President and the Vice-President, the President may name any Council member to act as the President Pro Tem for one meeting. If the President has not done so, a motion may be made by any member of Council to designate any other member of Council as President Pro Tem for one meeting.

(C) The Presiding Officer shall decide whether any question subject to a voice vote is carried by an affirmative or a negative vote. If the President or any member of Council is in doubt, a roll-call vote shall be had. [Ord. G-2017-03 § 3, passed 3-16-17; Ord. G-83-10, passed 8-22-83; Ord. G-73-33, passed 1-20-74. 1962 Code, Art. 1, Ch. 1, § 2; 1982 Code § 31.04; 1983 Code § 3.31.04.]

2.10.050 Order of business.

The following order of business shall be observed by the Common Council at its meetings. This order of business may be suspended at any time with the vote of the majority of the Council members present.

(A) Call to order.

(B) Roll call.

(C) Pledge of allegiance.

(D) Moment of silence.

(E) Reading, amending, and approving minutes of previous meetings.

(F) Written reports and other communications from members of the public, including petitions and remonstrances.

(G) Special orders of the day.

(H) First reading of ordinances and resolutions.

(I) Report of standing committees (if any) and second reading of ordinances and resolutions.

(J) Resolution docket.

(K) Miscellaneous business.

(L) Committee reports (if any).

(M) Adjournment. [Ord. G-2017-03 § 4, passed 3-16-17; Ord. G-83-10, passed 8-22-83; Ord. G-73-33, passed 1-20-74; Ord. G-66-1, passed 2-23-66. 1962 Code, Art. 1, Ch. 1, § 3; 1982 Code § 31.05; 1983 Code § 3.31.05.]

2.10.060 Consent agenda.

The Council President may prepare a written consent agenda which shall provide for summary adoption of ordinances on the first reading and summary adoption of ordinances with the report of the standing committees on second reading. The consent agenda shall be distributed to each member of Council. Any Council member may, by request, remove an item from the consent agenda and place it on the regular agenda. The consent agenda shall be considered and voted on by one vote. [Ord. G-83-10, passed 8-22-83; Ord. G-73-33, passed 1-20-74. 1962 Code, Art. 1, Ch. 1, § 4; 1982 Code § 31.06; 1983 Code § 3.31.06.]

2.10.070 Motions.

(A) When any motion is made and seconded, it shall be stated by the Presiding Officer, or, if in writing, it shall be handed to the Clerk and read aloud before debate, and shall be entered upon the journal with the name of the member making it, unless it is withdrawn at the same meeting.

(B) Every motion shall be reduced to writing at the request of any member, except a motion to adjourn, to adjourn to a day certain, to reconsider at the same meeting, to lay on the table, to postpone to a day certain, to postpone indefinitely, for the previous question, to commit, to suspend the rules, to concur, to approve, to make a matter of record, to place on file, to read a second time by title, to refer to committee, and to place on passage.

(C) A motion may be withdrawn at any time unless it has been either amended or voted upon.

(D) A motion to lay on the table or for the previous question shall not be in order if prefaced by any speech or remarks, or after a vote has been ordered or if another member is speaking; provided, however, that when a motion is made to lay on the table any ordinance or resolution, the person introducing such ordinance or resolution, and he only, shall have the right to explain such ordinance or resolution before the motion is put to a vote. A motion to lay on the table is not debatable. A matter which has been tabled may be taken up at any time by majority vote.

(E) Procedure for the Reconsideration of Ordinances and Resolutions.

(1) A resolution once adopted may be rescinded by subsequent resolution, and ordinances once passed may be repealed by subsequent ordinances.

(2) After any question has been decided, any member voting in the prevailing manner may move to reconsider the question utilizing the following procedure:

(a) Written notice that a member intends to make a motion to reconsider a prior ordinance or resolution shall be given to the Council at least one meeting prior to the entry of the motion.

(b) Upon entry of the motion, a two-thirds vote of the elected members of the Common Council shall be required to approve the motion to reconsider.

(c) If the motion to reconsider is approved, the ordinance or resolution shall be returned to second reading.

(d) The hearing on second reading shall be had not less than 25 days from the date of the vote on the motion to reconsider.

(e) Notice of the reconsideration of the ordinance or resolution shall be given as follows:

(i) The petitioner, if any, in the ordinance or resolution or the City Clerk if the ordinance or resolution has no petitioner, shall be responsible for issuing notice.

(ii) The notice shall be directed to counsel, if any, of all interested parties, and to all persons who addressed the Common Council, or any committee thereof, at prior hearings on the ordinance or resolution.

(iii) The notice shall state that the ordinance or resolution is being reconsidered and the date of the hearing on second reading of the ordinance or resolution.

(iv) The notice shall be sent certified mail, return receipt requested, not less than 15 days prior to the hearing date.

(v) No newspaper republication shall be required.

(f) This section shall not repeal or alter EMC 18.175.040(C) pertaining to zoning ordinances.

(3) Any previously considered ordinance or resolution shall be subject to not more than one reconsideration.

(F) No motion on a subject not germane to the subject under consideration shall be admitted under color of an amendment.

(G) All motions shall be made in the affirmative, so that an affirmative vote indicates an intent to accept the committee report, move an ordinance or resolution the next reading, adopt the ordinance or resolution or other affirmative action. A motion to adopt or its equivalent is required to pass an ordinance or resolution on second reading or on the resolution docket.

(H) Whenever less than a quorum is present, no motions shall be entertained and no business shall be conducted other than the Clerk taking the roll.

(I) A motion to fix a time at which the Council will adjourn is in order at any time, except after a vote has been ordered, and is debatable, unless made while another question is pending, in which case it is not debatable.

(J) A motion to adjourn is always in order, except after a vote has been ordered and shall not be debated or reconsidered.

(K) When a question is under debate, no motion except the following shall be received:

(1) To adjourn.

(2) To lay on the table.

(3) For the previous question.

(4) To postpone to a day certain.

(5) To postpone indefinitely.

(6) To commit.

(7) To strike the enacting words.

(8) To amend.

These motions shall have precedence in the order in which they are listed. A successful motion to strike out the enacting words of a proposed ordinance or resolution shall be considered its rejection.

(L) The previous question may be put in any form which makes clear that the member putting it is calling for a vote on the main motion pending before the Council.

(1) If the motion for the previous question is carried by a majority of the members voting, its effect shall be to end all debate and bring the Council to a vote on a motion to commit, if such a motion has been made.

(2) If the motion to commit fails, or is not made, votes shall be taken on amendments proposed by a committee, if any, then upon amendments from the Council floor, then upon the main question.

(3) If a motion to postpone is pending, the only effect of the previous question shall be to bring the Council to a vote on the motion to postpone.

(M) There shall be no debate on a motion for the previous question. All incidental questions of order arising while a motion for the previous question is pending shall be decided without debate.

(N) Any member may call for the division of a question before or after the previous question is moved. The question shall be divided if it contains propositions which are so distinct that if one or more of them are removed, a substantive proposition remains for the decision of the Council. A motion to strike out and insert shall be deemed indivisible.

(O) After a vote on any question has been ordered, no debate and no motion shall be in order until the vote is completed. [Ord. G-2023-16 § 1, passed 8-30-23; Ord. G-92-10, passed 6-8-92; Ord. G-83-10, passed 8-22-83; Ord. G-73-33, passed 1-20-74. 1962 Code, Art. 1, Ch. 1, § 5; 1982 Code § 31.07; 1983 Code § 3.31.07.]

2.10.080 Voting.

(A) After the Presiding Officer has stated the question to be voted upon, a vote shall be had either by voice or by roll-call vote. The Presiding Officer shall decide whether any question is carried by affirmative or negative vote. A roll-call vote shall be had upon any matter at the request of any member.

(B) Voting shall be by roll call on:

(1) The passage of ordinances, and the passage of resolutions requiring affirmative action on behalf of the City, or resolutions where it is required by law or requested by a majority of the members of Council that said resolution be treated with the formalities of an ordinance.

(2) The repeal, amendment, or suspension of the rules.

(3) Motion to reconsider.

(C) On any reading, an ordinance or resolution may be amended by a vote of a majority of elected Council members.

(D) A majority vote shall be required to pass any ordinance or resolution unless a greater vote is required by State law or these Council rules.

(E) Every Council member shall be required to vote when a question is put, unless for good cause shown by announcing for the record the intent to abstain and the conflict of interest supporting the abstention.

(F) No member shall cast the vote of another member. No person not a member shall cast the vote of any member.

(G) No member may change his vote after the Presiding Officer has announced the vote on the question.

(H) A member may, simultaneous with the casting of his vote, using not more than one minute, explain his vote on any issue. [Ord. G-2023-16 § 2, passed 8-30-23; Ord. G-2017-03 § 5, passed 3-16-17; Ord. G-96-2, passed 3-4-96; Ord. G-83-10, passed 8-22-83; Ord. G-73-33, passed 1-20-74. 1962 Code, Art. 1, Ch. 1, § 6; 1982 Code § 31.08; 1983 Code § 3.31.08.]

2.10.090 Decorum and debate.

(A) Any member desiring to speak shall address himself to the Presiding Officer. He shall confine his remarks to the question under consideration. He shall avoid personalities and shall not impugn the motive of any member’s vote or argument.

(B) When two or more members wish to speak at the same time, the Presiding Officer shall recognize the member first to seek recognition.

(C) If any member violates the rules of the Council, the Presiding Officer or any member may call him to order. A member called to order shall immediately be silent unless permitted to explain. The member called to order may appeal the calling to order to the Council. If the appeal is unsuccessful or if no appeal is taken, and any member objects to the offending member’s continuing to speak, the offending member may not proceed without the permission of the Council. If the situation calls for it, the member shall be liable to the censure of the Council.

(D) No member shall leave or cross the Council chamber or engage in any private conversation while the Presiding Officer is putting any question to a vote or addressing the Council. No member shall walk between a speaking member and the Presiding Officer.

(E) No member shall speak more than twice on the same question without leave of the Council, and no more than once until every member choosing to speak shall have spoken. All speeches shall be limited to five minutes unless further time is granted by the Presiding Officer. Time consumed in answering questions shall not be considered as a part of the speaker’s time.

(F) No person other than a member or officer of Council shall be permitted to address Council during its meetings except as provided in this rule as follows:

(1) The Presiding Officer will recognize a period of time for all present at Council meetings to provide a report. Prior to any such comments, the Presiding Officer may set a time limit allowed for each individual. Any member of Council desiring that someone be heard that is denied the floor by these rules, other than those rules outlined in subsection (F)(3) of this section, may move to allow such person to address the Council. The motion shall state the person to be heard and the time to be granted. The motion shall be carried if it receives a majority vote. If the motion is carried, the person shall be permitted to address the Council in accordance with the motion.

(2) When giving a report, all present at Council meetings shall state their name and address for the record. All reports shall be made from the podium; those present at the Council meeting may not approach the Council members beyond the podium without permission from the Presiding Officer. Those present at Council meetings are not permitted to donate time to someone else.

(3) Anyone providing comments at Council meetings shall refrain from:

(a) Profanity, vulgar language or gestures, or language which would incite an immediate breach of the peace;

(b) Undue repetition, extended discussion of irrelevancies, obscenity, and personal attacks against private individuals;

(c) Campaigning for public office; and

(d) Interrupting others or engaging in behavior that disrupts the meeting.

(4) Any city or county officer or employee may address the Council in response to a question or request for information by a member of the Council.

(5) If an item of business before the Council is one for which a notice of public hearing has been given and public hearing is required by law, the Presiding Officer shall inquire before calling for a vote whether members of the public desire to be heard on that item. If any person indicates a desire to be heard, the Presiding Officer shall recognize such person. The Presiding Officer may set reasonable limits upon the time and number of persons to be allowed to speak, but any member of Council desiring that someone be heard that is denied the floor by these rules, other than those rules outlined in subsection (F)(3) of this section, may move to allow such person to address the Council. The motion shall state the person to be heard and the time to be granted. The motion shall be carried if it receives a majority vote. If the motion is carried, the person shall be permitted to address the Council in accordance with the motion.

(G) In order to prevent obstructed views, distractions, and safety hazards, no person shall be permitted to bring signs, placards, or posters of any design in council chambers during the course of Council meetings; provided, however, that approved presentation materials for scheduled presenters may be permitted by Council. Council chambers attendance shall be limited to the posted seating capacity as determined by the State Fire Marshal. [Ord. G-2017-03 § 6, passed 3-16-17; Ord. G-83-10, passed 8-22-83; Ord. G-73-33, passed 1-20-74. 1962 Code, Art. 1, Ch. 1, § 7; 1982 Code § 31.09; 1983 Code § 3.31.09.]

2.10.100 Committees.

(A) Committees shall be appointed by the Council President at the beginning of his term and shall serve until the end of his term. The Council President shall designate a chairman for each committee and shall fill vacancies on said committee.

(B) There shall be three standing committees composed of not less than three members each with the exception of the Finance Committee, which shall be composed of not less than five members. The three committees shall be as follows:

(1) Finance Committee.

(2) Administration, Safety, and Development Committee.

(3) Public Works Committee.

(C) There may be study committees.

(D) All committees shall have minority representation if a minority exists.

(E) Every proposed ordinance or resolution introduced may, after its introduction, be referred by any Council member to a committee to consider and report thereon. When a subject is referred to a standing committee or to a study committee, the member introducing the same shall be a member of such committee during its deliberation thereof, but as such, shall have no right to vote, except if he or she is already a member of such committee. He or she shall be notified by the chairman of the time and place of meeting of such committee.

(F) Any matter coming before the Council which does not fall within the specific province of a standing committee may be assigned to such of the committees as the Council may determine.

(G) Committees may hold meetings at any time following proper notice. Notice of the time and place of committee meetings may be given by the committee chairman during a duly convened Council meeting. If this is not done, the committee chairman calling the meeting shall notify the City Clerk who shall promptly notify each Council member.

(H) The Presiding Officer may form a committee of the whole Council to take up any matter. The Presiding Officer shall then leave the chair and appoint a chairman to preside. The rules of proceeding in the Council shall be observed in a committee of the whole Council so far as they may be applicable. The question may be further amended and debated when presented to the Council in regular session. [Ord. G-2023-16 § 3, passed 8-30-23; Ord. G-2017-03 §§ 7 – 9, passed 3-16-17; Ord. G-83-10, passed 8-22-83; Ord. G-73-33, passed 1-20-74; Ord. G-68-2, passed 2-8-68. 1962 Code, Art. 1, Ch. 1, § 8; 1982 Code § 31.10; 1983 Code § 3.31.10.]

2.10.110 Committee reports.

(A) On second reading, if a committee report is available, the committee chairman shall make a committee report in full and without interruption and a vote on whether to accept the committee report shall be taken before further discussion.

(B) The acceptance of a committee report containing amendments to the ordinance shall automatically amend the ordinance without further motion.

(C) After the committee report (if any) is accepted, the committee report may be discussed and further amended on the Council floor. If further amendments are made to the committee report on Council floor, at the end of said amendments, a motion to move the ordinance or resolution to second reading will be required. If the committee report is not further amended after acceptance, the ordinance or resolution shall be automatically moved to second reading without further motion.

(D) If an ordinance or resolution comes from a committee with a report indicating that a majority of the committee members are either for or against the ordinance, a motion to accept the committee report will be in order. If less than a majority of the members of the committee report that they are for or against an ordinance, the committee report is a “no action” report and a motion to move the ordinance or resolution to second reading is necessary. [Ord. G-2023-16 § 4, passed 8-30-23; Ord. G-83-10, passed 8-22-83. 1982 Code § 31.11; 1983 Code § 3.31.11.]

2.10.120 Ordinances and resolutions.

(A) All ordinances and resolutions introduced before the Common Council shall be in writing and filed with the Clerk of the Council with copies in such numbers as the Clerk of the Council shall set by policy, unless a specific provision of law requires otherwise.

(1) Any ordinance or resolution requiring publication which is introduced at the special request and for the special benefit of any person and groups of persons, firm or corporation must be accompanied with a certified check or money order sufficient to cover the cost of legal publication.

(2) An ordinance shall indicate on its face which Council person is introducing the ordinance; if referred to a committee, an ordinance shall indicate which committee the ordinance will be referred to.

(3) No proposed ordinance shall be considered by Council unless introduced (sponsored) by a member of Council.

(4) No proposed resolution shall be considered by Council unless introduced (sponsored) by three members of Council.

(B) At or before the time of filing, an ordinance or resolution shall be submitted to the Council Attorney for approval of form and legality. No ordinance shall be placed on the Council agenda that has not been approved by the Law Department.

(C) All ordinances and resolutions shall be filed in the City Clerk’s office by noon at least four business days prior to the meeting at which first reading of such ordinance or resolution will be held; provided, however, for clarification that Federal holidays shall not be considered business days for purposes of this section. The City Clerk or his agent will see that a copy of such introduced ordinance or resolution is placed in each Council member’s packet and received by him prior to the Council meeting at which the ordinance or resolution is to be considered.

(D) Immediately prior to introduction, each ordinance and resolution shall have assigned to it by the City Clerk a number. This number shall consist of a letter prefix, as hereinafter described, followed by the last two digits of the calendar year in which introduced, and followed by the number in the sequence of introduction within each particular year. All ordinances, regardless of subject matter, shall be numbered in the same sequence for the year. Resolutions shall be numbered in a separate sequence beginning with the number “1.” The prefix for finance ordinances shall be the letter “F.” The prefix for zoning ordinances shall be the letter “R.” The prefix for general ordinances, including annexation ordinances, shall be the letter “G.” The prefix for resolutions shall be the letter “C.”

(E) Upon a finding by the Council that an emergency exists, the Mayor may introduce a proposed ordinance or resolution directly to the Common Council without the previous filing of the ordinance with the City Clerk.

(F) The requested withdrawal of an ordinance or resolution by a member of Council, petitioner, or other proponent for withdrawal shall not be effective until voted on by the Common Council. [Ord. G-2023-16 § 6, passed 8-30-23; Ord. G-2021-12 § 1, passed 9-15-21; Ord. G-2020-11 § 1, passed 9-30-20; Ord. G-2017-03 § 10, passed 3-16-17; Ord. G-2001-26, passed 10-8-01; Ord. G-89-26, passed 8-14-89; Ord. G-83-10, passed 8-22-83; Ord. G-73-33, passed 1-20-74. 1962 Code, Art. 1, Ch. 1, § 9; 1982 Code § 31.12; 1983 Code § 3.31.12.]

2.10.130 Other matters.

Any matters not addressed by these Council rules shall be resolved by reference to Robert’s Rules of Order Revised which are hereby adopted by the Common Council, except where those rules are in conflict with the rules of the Common Council, in which case the rules of the Common Council shall prevail. [Ord. G-83-10, passed 8-22-83. 1982 Code § 31.13; 1983 Code § 3.31.13.]

2.10.140 Amendments.

These rules provided in this chapter may be amended by ordinance by a majority vote of all members of the Common Council; provided, however, that no final vote on any amendment shall be taken until at least two weeks’ notice shall be given to Council of such intended action. Both the old rule and the proposed rule amendment shall be set out in writing at the time of the two weeks’ notice. [Ord. G-2017-03 § 11, passed 3-16-17; Ord. G-83-10, passed 8-22-83. 1982 Code § 31.14; 1983 Code § 3.31.14.]