CITY OF ALAMEDA RESOLUTION NO. ____
AMENDING RESOLUTION NO S. 15382, 15697, 15746, 15772 and 15875 TO AMEND THE RULES OF ORDER GOVERNING CITY
COUNCIL MEETINGS CONCERNING THE CONSENT CALENDAR,
SPEAKING TIMES FOR THE PUBLIC AND REVIEWING, CHANGING
OR RESCINDING PRIOR COUNCIL ACTIONS
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Alameda desires to have all citizens fully participate in the proceedings of the City Council; and
WHEREAS, City Charter Art. I Sec. 2(D), Alameda Municipal Code Secs. 2-1.7 and 2-1.8, and Government Code Sec. 54954.3 gives the City Council discretion to adopt reasonable regulations concerning the proceedings and order of business of City Council meetings; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 2674, adopted at the August 16, 1994 City Council meeting, states that Rules of Order of City Council meetings shall be set by City Council Resolution; and
WHEREAS, Resolution No. 15382 was adopted on May 15, 2018; and
WHEREAS, Resolution No. 15697 was adopted on September 15, 2020; and
WHEREAS, Resolution No. 15746 was adopted on February 16, 2021; and
WHEREAS, Resolution No. 15772 was adopted on May 4, 2021; and
WHEREAS, Resolution No. 15875 was adopted on March 15, 2022;
WHEREAS, an amendment to the Rules of Order is being proposed to revise various sections and add a new Section on Motions to Reconsider;
WHEREAS, the new Section 10 regarding Motion to Reconsider shall be considered declarative and clarification of existing rules.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Alameda that Sections 3, 4, 5, 10 and 11 of Resolution Nos. 15382, 15697, 15746, 15772 and 15875 are amended to:
3. Public Comment on Non-Agenda Matters. Anyone wishing to speak on matters not on the agenda may do so under “Oral Communication, Non -Agenda.” Comments shall be limited to three (3) minutes if there are less than five (5) speakers or limited to two (2) minutes if there are five (5) or more speakers . As required by the Sunshine Ordinance, the meeting agenda shall provide up to fifteen (15) minutes for this use at the beginning of the meeting. Any speakers not called will be called under the later scheduled non-agenda public comment. Speakers may comment only once on the same topic even where multiple meetings are held on the same day. No speaker may cede time to another.
4. Consent Calendar Items. Agenda items listed under the Consent Calendar are considered routine and will be enacted, approved, or adopted by one motion. Members of the public may comment once on the entire Consent Calendar , but each speaker’s comments shall be limited to three (3) minutes if there are less than five (5) speakers or limited to two (2) minutes if there are five (5) or more speakers . No speaker may cede time to another. Without removing/”pulling” an item from the Consent Calendar , Any Councilmember may speak for up to three (3) minutes to ask clarifying questions, make brief comments or record a vote other than aye. If any Councilmember requests to have a presentation and discussion of a Consent Calendar item, it will be heard after regular agenda items and prior to the vote on the item each Councilmember may ask questions and deliberate for up to five (5) minutes on the item .
5. Public Comment on Regular Agenda Items and Council Referrals. Public comment will be allowed on all agenda items at the time each item is called. All speakers, regardless of elected or appointed status, shall limit comments to three (3) minutes if there are less than five (5) speakers or limited to two (2) minutes for items with five (5) or more speakers. No speaker may cede time to another. Public comment is not permitted on motions. Presentations and Council questions precede public comment. Public comment shall not be used to elicit a debate and speakers shall avoid personal attacks of members of the Council, staff or public.
10. Reviewing, Changing or Rescinding Prior Council Actions. A motion to reconsider any action taken by the Council at that meeting may be made only on the date the action was taken. It may be made either immediately during the same session, or at a recessed or adjourned session thereof. Such motion must be made by one (1) of the prevailing side, and may be made at any time and have precedence over all other motions or while a member has the floor; it shall be debatable. A Council motion, direction, or decision to place an item on an agenda at a future meeting to review, change or rescind a prior Council action or decision, or an item that otherwise is placed on a Council meeting agenda to review, change or rescind a prior Council action or decision (for example, by staff or a Council referral), shall not be deemed, interpreted, or construed as reconsideration of the prior action or decision and thus shall not require the passage of a motion for reconsideration by a supermajority vote.
11. Latest Time a New Agenda Item May Be Called. No new Consent Calendar items, regular agenda items, or Council Referrals will be heard after 11:00 p.m.
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I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly adopted and passed by the Council of the City of Alameda in a regular meeting assembled on the 3rd day of October, by the following vote to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of said City this 4th day of October 2023.
____________________
Lara Weisiger, City Clerk
City of Alameda
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
______________________
Yibin Shen, City Attorney
City of Alameda