CITY OF CONCORD
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CITY COUNCIL MEETING PROCEDURES
1. PURPOSE
2 Council Motion
12-07-70
9-5-17
CM
To provide a procedural guide for the conduct of City Council meetings, including the preparation of agendas and minutes.
2. BACKGROUND
The City Council convenes regular and special meetings to conduct its business in accordance with California's open meeting law (the Brown Act, Government Code Section 54950 et seq.). A range of business matters come regularly before the City Council, including items requiring public discussion or a public hearing, routine items requiring formal action, and information items. To further the public interest, the City Council determines that it must focus its time and attention on the consideration of policy items, delegating to City staff those matters of an administrative nature. The City Council therefore sets forth herein a methodology for the expeditious and proper handling of City Council meetings, and for preparation of agendas and minutes. In the event of any conflict between these local procedures and State law, the provisions of State law shall govern. Except when prohibited by law or by a specific provision of this polfoy requiring a supermajority vote, the City Council by majority vote may waive or modify any of the procedural rules contained herein.
3. CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
All meetings of the City Council shall be open to the public, except as provided by law.
3.1 Regular Meetings. Pursuant to Concord Municipal Code Section 2.05.010, regular meetings of the City Council shall be held in the Farrel A. Stewart Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Drive, Concord, California unless the meeting agenda identifies another location. Regular meetings shall be held on the first, second and fourth Tuesday of each month and shall convene at or around 5:00 p.m. The Council agenda shall reserve around 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for non-hearing items, including closed sessions and study sessions.
No public hearing shall commence before 6:30 p.m. No public hearing shall commence after 10:00 p.m. without a majority vote of the City Council. No new items may be heard after 11 :00 p.m. without a majority vote of the City Council. The City Clerk shall post an agenda, as required by Government Code Section 54954.2, specifying the time and the location of the meeting.
3.2 Special Meetings. The presiding officer or a majority of the City Council may call a special meeting at any time in accordance with Government Code Section 54956.
3.3 Study Sessions. Study sessions may be conducted as part of a regular or special meeting. Study sessions may be scheduled as deemed necessary or desirable for exchanging information and providing direction to City staff prior to final action by the City Council.
3.4 Closed Sessions. The City Council may, from time to time, meet in closed session, not open to the public or the news media, to discuss litigation, real estate negotiations, personnel matters, labor relations, and other matters authorized by the Brown Act. The City Attorney shall prepare the agenda description for each closed session item.
3.5 Emergency Meetings. Emergency meetings may be called without complying with the 24-hour notice requirement in accordance with Government Code Section 54956.5.
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