HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnactment of Regular Ordinances - Read Ordinance Title withocl- 411ri
76
r
Submitted by
Date Prepared
Subject
GAIL HUTTON'
J an u ary 19
COUNCIL
ACTION
Department
City Attorney's Office
19 79 Backup Material Attached Yes No
ENACTMENT OF REGULAR ORDINANCES
City Administrator's Comments
F Gv
Approve as recommended.
JAI
Statement of Issue, Recommendation, Analysis, Funding Source, Alternative Actions:
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
The new city Charter, Section 500, provides a streamlined method for enacting ordinances
over that provided for in the pre -July 1978 version. It provides that upon introduction
and second reading, a regular ordinance shall be read by title only. It also provides
that regular ordinances shall be finally adopted only at a regular or adjourned regular
meeting held no less than five days after its introduction.
The purpose of delaying the vote to the second reading is to allow for a "cooling off"
period and to allow for public input during the period between introduction and
adoption. If an ordinance is defeated upon its introduction then there is no time for
public input. On occasion, there is sufficient public input generated to cause a change
of attitude on the part of one or more members of the Council and sometimes the mere
passage of time generates sufficient reflection on the part of the individual
councilperson so that he has second thoughts about voting against a given ordinance. In
those cases, the benefit of the five-day waiting provision is lost. ,/The recourse is
then to reintroduce the bill and wait another five day period since the ordinance has
died in process so far as the enacting process is concerned for if the Council votes to
adopt an ordinance after its initial. rejection on introduction, the public will justly
claim it has been misled.
ANALYSIS:
Our suggestion is to introduce the ordinance and have it read .by title without a vote.
If a public hearing is to be held, it can be held at that time. Debate could be at the
introduction or at the second reading as established by rule of the Council. It is felt
that adoption of this procedure would expedite the Council's work, make for a more
definitive legislative process, shorten Council meetings and enhance the effect of the
public's input in ordinance adoption.
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P10 3/78
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Request for Council Action
Enactment of Regular Ordinances
January.19, 1979 Page 2
RECOMMENDATION:
Defer the vote on any regular ordinance until the second reading. Discontinue the
practice of voting upon ordinances when they are introduced.
FUNDING SOURCE:
No funds required to implement.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION:
Take no action. Leave the matter as it is.
GH:cw