WS - D - Council Procedure Rules - DRAFT

Tiffin City Council Procedural Rules (adopted in Resolution No. ______) Section I. General Provisions Rule 1. Scope of Rules. These rules shall govern the conduct of the Council and shall be interpreted to ensure fair and open deliberations and decision making. Rule 2. Robert’s Rules of Order Adopted. The rules of parliamentary practices comprised in the current edition of "Robert's Rules of Order", as amended, shall govern the sessions of the City Council in all cases in which they are applicable and where they are not inconsistent with the standing rules of the City Council or the laws of the State. Tiffin City Code 5.03 Powers and Duties. Per City Charter Section 2.04, the Council and Mayor and other City officers have such powers and shall perform such duties as are authorized or required by State Law and by the ordinances, resolutions, rules, and regulations of the City. Rule 3. Matters Not Covered. Any matter or order or procedure not covered by these rules shall be referred to the Presiding Officer (typically the Mayor or Mayor Pro Tem), who shall decide the matter with the assistance and advice of the City Attorney or his or her representative in conformity with the purpose of these rules in a fair and expeditious manner. The decision of the Presiding Officer may be reversed only by a majority vote of the Council. Rule 4. Interpretation. These rules are intended to supplement and shall be interpreted to conform with the statutes of the State of Iowa and the ordinances of the City of Tiffin. Section II. Time and Place of Meeting Rule 5. Regular Meetings. Formal Council meetings shall be held on the first and third Tuesday of each month excluding holidays, in Tiffin City Hall Council Chambers in Tiffin, Iowa starting at 7:00 o'clock p.m., Central Standard Time, or Central Daylight Time, whichever is in effect in the City of Tiffin at the time of said meeting. Work Session meetings are held on the same day as Formal meetings, generally starting at 6:00 o’clock p.m. Work Session meetings are for discussion and direction by Council and guidance to City staff, but no formal votes or actions are taken. Meeting dates, times, and locations may be changed, or the meeting waived, by the Mayor. Decisions regarding scheduling of meetings may be reversed by a majority vote of the Council. Rule 6. Special Meetings. Special meetings (Formal or Work Session) may be called by the Mayor, City Administrator or by any three Council Members. A call for a special meeting shall be communicated to the City Clerk in writing unless the announcement of the special meeting is made at a regular meeting. If the call for the meeting was not made at a regular meeting, the following shall apply: • Notice of the calling of a special Council meeting shall be in writing and shall include the time and place of said meeting, the business to be conducted at said meeting, and the person or persons calling said meeting. • Notice shall be served to each Council Member at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the time of said meeting by delivering a copy thereof to the Council Member 1