RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, ESTABLISHING RULES OF PROCEDURE AND ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE AND RELATED FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES AND RESCINDING ALL PRIOR ACTIONS TAKEN THERETO, AND REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 24318.
WHEREAS, it is the intent and desire of the City Council to conduct its business in an orderly and fair manner; and WHEREAS, there are certain basic rights of due process and opportunity to address issues with equity, fairness, and equal protection of the law; and WHEREAS, certain parliamentary procedures have been found to be useful in order to assure that the communication and process of government are fair, reasonable, and just; and WHEREAS, the City has a duty to proceed with the business of government in an efficient and orderly fashion; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to establish uniform norms and procedures in order to accomplish these goals.
BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Riverside as follows:
That the following shall be the Rules of Procedure and Order of Business of the City Council and shall govern all proceedings of the City Council therein described, subject to the exceptions and deviations provided for in these rules.
Violation of these rules shall not be construed as a penal offense, excepting that breach of the peace or willful failure to comply with the lawful orders of the City Council or its presiding officer shall be punishable as misdemeanors under applicable law. The City Council retains the authority to take appropriate action to enforce these rules amongst its members including, but not limited to, the inherent power of censure.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. AUTHORITY 4
II. ACT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST 4
III. ADVOCACY 4
IV. DUTIES 4
A. DUTIES OF MAYOR; MAYOR PRO TEMPORE 4
B. DUTIES OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS 6
C. MOTIONS TO BE STATED BY PRESIDING OFFICER 6
D. DECORUM 6
E. VOTES REQUIRED TO TAKE ACTION 6
F. VOTING DISQUALIFICATION 7
G. PARTICIPATION ON NON-PROFIT BOARDS OF DIRECTORS AND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. 7 H. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS TO AVOID IMPROPER CONSIDERATION OF PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED MATTERS 8 V. ROLE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL 9
A. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CONDUCT IN GENERAL 9
B. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CONDUCT WITH ONE ANOTHER 10
C. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER CONDUCT WITH STAFF 10 D. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CONDUCT WITH THE PUBLIC 11
E. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CONDUCT WITH OTHER AGENCIES 11 F. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CONDUCT WITH BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS 12 G. COUNCIL CONDUCT WITH STANDING CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES 12 H. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CONDUCT WITH THE MEDIA 12
I. OBTAINING THE FLOOR 12
VI. ROLE OF CITY STAFF 13
VII. ROLE OF THE PUBLIC 14
VIII. MEETINGS 14
A. CALL TO ORDER - PRESIDING OFFICER 14
B. MEETING ATTENDANCE 14
C. QUORUM CALL 15
D. CITY COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE 15
E. ADJOURNED MEETINGS 15
F. SPECIAL MEETINGS 16
G. CLOSED SESSIONS 16
H. EMERGENCY MEETINGS 16
I. TELECONFERENCED MEETINGS 17
IX. AGENDA 17
A. DECLARATION OF POLICY 17
B. DEFINITIONS 18
C. PROCEDURE FOR BRINGING MATTERS BEFORE CITY COUNCIL 19
1. Persons Who May Place Matters On The Agenda 19
2. Scheduling Public Hearings Mandated By State, Federal or Local Statute 19
3. Submission of Agenda Items 20
4. Preparation of the Packet 20
5. Posting of Agenda 20
6. Distribution of the Packet 20
7. Failure to Meet Deadlines 20
D. AGENDA-SETTING MEETING 21
E. CONSENT CALENDAR 21
F. AGENDA SEQUENCE AND ORDER OF BUSINESS 22
X. CONDUCT OF MEETING 23
A. ORDER OF DISCUSSION 23
1. Generally 23
2. Public Hearings 23
3. Appeals/Quasi-Judicial Hearings 24
B. CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS CALLED UP FOR DISCUSSION 24
C. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE / PUBLIC COMMENT 25 D. PUBLIC HEARINGS 25
E. PUBLIC DISCUSSION 25
F. CONDUCT OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY AT PUBLIC COMMNET, PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND PUBLIC DISCUSSION 26 XI. FACILITIES 27
A. COUNCIL CHAMBER CAPACITY 27
B. ALTERNATE FACILITIES FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS 28
XII. PROCEDURAL MATTERS 28
A. PERSONS AUTHORIZED TO SIT AT TABLES 28
B. DECORUM 28
C. ENFORCEMENT OF DECORUM 29
D. PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS 29
1. Motion To Adjourn 29
2. Motion To Lay On The Table 29
3. Motion to Call for The Question (Close Debate) 30
4. Motion To Postpone To A Certain Time/Day 30
5. Motion to Substitute 30
6. Motion to Amend 30
7. Motion To Reconsider 31
E. RULES OF DISCUSSION 31
1. Presiding Officer May Debate 31
2. Getting the Floor 31
3. Interruptions 31
4. Allotted Time for Debate 32
5. Division of Question 32
6. Withdrawal of Motion 32
7. Voting 32
F. ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL 32
G. ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL AFTER MOTION MADE 33
XIII. CITY COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEES AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATION 33 A. STANDING COMMITTEE NUMBER, NAMES, COMPOSITION, AND APPOINTMENTS AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATION APPOINTMENTS 33 B. REFERRAL OF MATTERS TO CITY COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEES 34 C. REFERRAL OF MATTERS FROM CITY COUNCIL TO BOARDS OR COMMISSIONS 36 XIV. BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES 36
XV. COUNCIL REQUESTS 38
XVI. ADMINISTRATION 38
I. AUTHORITY
The Charter of the City of Riverside, Section 412, provides that the City Council may establish, and uniformly apply rules for the conduct of its proceeds. By accordance with said authority, and when not in conflict with the Charter of the City of Riverside and the Constitution and laws of the State of California, the following set of rules shall be in effect upon adoption by the City Council and until such time as they are amended or new rules adopted in the manner hereinafter provided and shall prevail to govern the conduct of the proceedings and order of business of the City Council of the City of Riverside. The City Attorney, or designee, shall serve in an advisory capacity to procedural rules for the City. Final rulings on parliamentary procedures shall be made by the Presiding Officer and may be appealed to the City Council with a supermajority of at least five affirmative votes.
II. ACT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST
A. The City Council and staff shall recognize that stewardship of the public interest must be the primary concern.
B. The City Council will work for the common good of the people of Riverside.
C. The City Council will assure fair and equal treatment of all persons, claims and transactions coming before the City Council and Boards and Commissions.
III. ADVOCACY
A. The City Council shall represent the official policies or positions of the City Council when designated as delegates for this purpose.
B. When representing their individual opinions and positions, City Council members shall explicitly state they do not represent the City Council of the City, nor will they allow the inference that they do.
IV. DUTIES
A. DUTIES OF MAYOR; MAYOR PRO TEMPORE
The Mayor shall be the presiding officer at all meetings of the City Council and shall have a voice in all its proceedings but shall not vote except for appointments to City Boards & Commissions or to break a City Council tie-vote which exists for any cause. The Mayor shall be the official head of the City for all ceremonial purposes. The Mayor shall have the primary but not exclusive responsibility for interpreting the policies, programs and needs of the city government to the people, and of informing the people of any major change in policy or program. The Mayor shall advise the City Council on all matters of policy and public relations and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the City Charter. At any time before the adjournment of a meeting, the Mayor may, by public declaration spread upon the minutes of the meeting, veto any formal action taken by vote of the City Council including any ordinance or resolution, except an emergency ordinance, the annual budget or an ordinance proposed by initiative petition. Thereupon, pending the vote to override the veto as herein provided, such ordinance, resolution or action shall be deemed neither approved nor adopted. The Mayor shall, no more than twenty days following the veto, provide to Council members, in writing, reasons for the Mayor's veto. If the Mayor fails to provide a written veto message within the time allotted, the original action of the City Council shall stand. At any regular or adjourned meeting held not less than thirty days, nor more than sixty days after veto the City Council shall reconsider such ordinance, resolution or action and vote on the question of overriding the veto. Five affirmative votes shall be required for its adoption or approval. The Mayor shall have no right to veto the veto override of any ordinance, resolution or action.
In the absence of the Mayor, the Mayor Pro Tempore shall assume the duties of the Mayor. The Mayor Pro Tempore shall be appointed from members of the City Council on the following ward rotational basis with each member serving for a term of six months: Ward 7, Ward 6, Ward 5, Ward 4, Ward 3, Ward 2, and Ward 1 or as otherwise determined by the City Council. In the event the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore are absent, the Councilmember last serving as Mayor Pro Tempore shall be assigned said role. The Mayor Pro Tempore shall conduct the City Council meetings and shall vote only as a member of the City Council, not as Mayor Pro Tempore. In the event of a tie-vote, the Mayor Pro Tempore shall not have a tie-breaking vote and the City Council vote shall be recorded as a negative or "nay" vote. The Mayor Pro Tempore shall not have the power to veto acts of the City Council.
In addition to the duties enumerated above, the Mayor Pro Tempore shall be responsible for the coordination of any special or annual evaluation of the City Manager, City Attorney or the City Clerk. Said responsibility may include but not be limited to the distribution, collection and tabulation of any written evaluations; and the calendaring of any closed session during which time the evaluations shall be conducted.
The Mayor Pro Tempore shall also use their best efforts to participate in the agenda- setting meeting, as set forth in Article IX(D) below, preceding each City Council meeting.
B. DUTIES OF MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
Promptly at the hour set by law on the date of each regular meeting, the Mayor and Councilmembers shall take their regular stations in the Art Pick Council Chamber and the business of the City Council shall be taken up for consideration and disposition.
C. MOTIONS TO BE STATED BY PRESIDING OFFICER
When a motion is made, it shall be stated by the presiding officer or the City Clerk before debate.
D. DECORUM
1. While the City Council is in session, the members must preserve order and decorum, and a member shall not, by conversation or otherwise, delay or interrupt the proceedings or the peace of the City Council nor disturb any member while speaking, nor refuse to obey the orders of the City Council, or the presiding officer, except as otherwise herein provided.
2. During City Council and Standing Committee meetings noticed and open to the public pursuant to the Brown Act, the use of Electronic Communication System Devices by members is discouraged with limited access.
3. During City Council and Standing Committee meetings, members are expected to adhere to the City’s Human Resources Policy IV-2 entitled Standards for Dress and Appearance.
E. VOTES REQUIRED TO TAKE ACTION
Unless a higher vote is required by provisions of the City Charter, the affirmative votes of at least four members of the City Council shall be required in order for the City Council to act on an item of business or the adoption of any ordinance or resolution, or for the making or approving of any order for the payment of money.
Any ordinance declared by the City Council to be necessary as an emergency measure as hereinafter defined may be introduced and adopted at one and the same meeting if passed by at least five affirmative votes.
At any meeting after the adoption of the City's budget, the City Council may amend or supplement the budget by motion adopted by the affirmative votes of at least five members so as to authorize the transfer of unused balances appropriated for one purpose to another purpose or to appropriate available funds not included in the budget.
F. VOTING DISQUALIFICATION
Neither the Mayor nor any Council member who is disqualified shall vote upon the matter on which the member is disqualified. Any member shall openly state that they are recusing themselves because of a disqualifying financial or other conflict of interest. The Mayor or any councilmember who is disqualified due to a financial interest shall publicly identify the financial interest in detail sufficient to be understood by the public except that disclosure of the exact street address of a residence is not required. As to any other conflict of interest, the member’s determination may be accompanied by an oral or written disclosure of such conflict of interest. A member who is disqualified by a conflict of interest in any matter shall not remain in the member’s chair during the discussion and vote on such matter unless the matter has been placed on the consent agenda.
G. PARTICIPATION ON NON-PROFIT BOARDS OF DIRECTORS AND CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
It shall be the policy of this Council that the Mayor and members of the City Council should not serve as members of the board of directors of a non-profit corporation which is receiving or will be reasonably likely in the future to seek and/or receive funding from the City of Riverside so as to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest.
In the event that the Mayor and/or a member of the City Council serves as a non-compensated member of the board of directors of a non-profit corporation, then a contract may be made between the City of Riverside and the non-profit corporation provided that:
The public official discloses his/her participation on the non-profit corporation’s board of directors to the City Council at the time the City Council is considering the contract with the non-profit corporation; The public official’s interest as a member of the non-profit corporation’s board of directors is noted in the official minutes of the City Council meeting; and The public official disqualifies themselves from any vote, deliberation or influence on the matter before the City Council.
Furthermore, if it is determined based upon a factual analysis that the Mayor or a City Council member serves as a non-compensated member of the board of director of a non-profit corporation, and that the non-profit supports functions of the City as one of its primary purposes, then the public official is determined to have a “non-interest” and may therefore participate in the deliberation and vote on the matter before it. However, the public official’s interest as a member of the non-profit corporation’s board of directors must be noted in the official minutes of the City Council meeting.
Further, the City Manager, City Attorney and City Clerk shall not serve as a member of the board of directors of a non-profit corporation which is receiving or will be reasonably likely in the future to seek and/or receive funding from the City of Riverside so as to avoid any appearance of a conflict of interest.
H. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS TO AVOID IMPROPER CONSIDERATION OF PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED MATTERS Open Mind. The Mayor and Councilmembers will make every effort not to pledge or promise to vote in any particular manner on any matter pending before it.
V. ROLE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
A. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CONDUCT IN GENERAL
1. The Mayor and Councilmembers shall treat everyone with courtesy.
2. Inappropriate behavior is derogatory and damages the perception of the City.
3. While the City Council is in session the Mayor, Councilmembers and City staff shall preserve strict order and decorum. Neither the Mayor nor any Councilmember shall delay or interrupt the proceedings of the City Council or interrupt any member while speaking.
4. Councilmembers should use the speaker sequencing system to indicate to the presiding officer that they want to speak. The presiding officer will acknowledge them before they begin speaking.
5. Any Councilmember shall have the right to express dissent from, or protest to, or comment upon, any action of the City Council.
6. Once a vote is taken on an issue, Councilmembers will support the law made by the City Council. If a Councilmember wants an issue to be reconsidered, he/she will make a motion to reconsider as provided for in Section XII of these Rules of Procedure. When possible, the City Council should attempt to reach consensus on an issue. When this is not possible, the majority vote shall prevail. However, the City Council shall respect the opinion of the minority.
7. The Mayor and City Council shall publicly share substantive information, which they may have received from sources outside the public decision-making process that is relevant to a matter under consideration by the City Council.
8. Allow for everyone’s opinion to be heard and respected, even if they do not win the vote or prevail on the issue. Strive for a win-win situation by respecting diverse opinions.
9. Councilmembers will allow room for dialogue. When discussing an agenda item, the City Council will allow the opportunity to dialogue with each other to build consensus on an item.
10. Any member of the City Council may move to require the presiding officer to enforce the rules and an affirmative vote of a majority of Council members present shall be required to do so.
B. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CONDUCT WITH ONE ANOTHER
1. The Mayor and City Council will value each other’s time.
2. All Councilmembers have the opportunity to speak and agree to disagree.
3. The City Council will avoid negative comments that could offend other Councilmembers during public meetings, in the press, or any other time.
4. The City Council will practice civility and decorum in discussions and debate.
5. The presiding officer has an affirmative duty to maintain order. The City Council will honor the role of the presiding officer in maintaining order.
C. MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER CONDUCT WITH STAFF
1. Mayor and Councilmembers should always feel free to speak directly with the City Manager on matters of interest or concern to them.
2. The Mayor, City Council, City Manager and City Staff shall respect and adhere to the City’s form of government, which is a Charter City operating under a Council-Manager form of government, with the City Council acting as the legislative body of the City. The City Council is the visionary policy maker and the staff is responsible for implementation of City Council policies.
3. The City Council directs the City Manager to implement City Council policy decisions through the administrative functions of the City.
4. The Mayor and City Council shall treat staff professionally.
5. When possible, the Mayor and City Council should attempt to seek answers to questions on an item on the agenda, from the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk or Department/Division Head prior to the meeting.
6. The Mayor and Councilmembers will not get involved in personnel issues except during a closed session where personnel issues may be discussed or as otherwise appropriate concerning the City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk or other staff appointed by the City Council. This includes hiring, firing, promoting, disciplining, and all other forms of personnel matters.
7. If a Councilmember is unhappy about a department or an employee he/she may discuss the situation with the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, or the City Attorney or City Clerk as appropriate.
D. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CONDUCT WITH THE PUBLIC
1. The Mayor and City Council will make the public feel welcome.
2. The Mayor and City Council shall not be partial, prejudiced or disrespectful toward the public.
3. The Mayor and City Council should not make snappy, sarcastic comments to the public or to each other.
4. The Mayor and City Council shall treat members of the public equally.
5. The Mayor and City Council members shall make no promises to the public on behalf of the City Council.
6. The Mayor and City Council shall not argue with members of the public.
7. The Mayor and City Council shall listen courteously and attentively to all public comments before the City Council.
E. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CONDUCT WITH OTHER AGENCIES
1. The Mayor and City Council shall be clear about representing the City or personal interests to members of other agencies.
2. The Mayor and City Council shall project a positive image of the City when dealing with other agencies.
3. The Mayor and individual Councilmembers can lobby or discuss with other legislators, government officials or developers issues that have been adopted by the City Council or are City Council policy; they should not represent themselves as the City if it is only an individual issue.
4. The Mayor and City Council shall show tolerance and respect for other agencies’ opinions and issues and agree to disagree with them when necessary.
F. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CONDUCT WITH BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
1. The Mayor and City Council work through the board/commission chairs.
2. The Mayor and City Council shall treat all members of Boards and Commissions with appreciation and respect.
3. It has been the practice of the Mayor and City Council not to participate in Board and Commission meetings for the purpose of, and to avoid perception of, influencing the outcome of said meetings.
G. COUNCIL CONDUCT WITH STANDING CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES
1. Government Code section 54952.2 defines a meeting of the legislative body of the City of Riverside and provides certain limitations on the attendance of its members.
2. A member of the City Council, who is not a member of the standing committee, may attend an open and noticed meeting of the standing committee of the City Council, provided that they attend only as observers and do not participate in any discussion.
H. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL CONDUCT WITH THE MEDIA
1. The Mayor and City Council shall never go “off the record”, discuss information pertaining to closed sessions, personnel, litigation or acquisition of property items, when dealing with the media. Providing background information is acceptable.
I. OBTAINING THE FLOOR
1. Any member of the City Council wishing to speak must further obtain the floor by being recognized by the presiding officer. The presiding officer must recognize any Councilmember who seeks the floor when appropriately entitled to do so.
2. With the concurrence of the presiding officer, a Councilmember holding the floor may address a question to another Councilmember and that Councilmember may respond while the floor is still held by the Councilmember asking the question. A Councilmember may opt not to answer a question while another Councilmember has the floor.
VI. ROLE OF CITY STAFF
A. City staff will provide written analysis and information on all agenda items prior to the meetings. Additionally, a copy of the materials, including technical reports will be available to the public.
B. Staff will be available to answer questions of the City Council prior to and during City Council meetings.
C. Staff will respond to questions from the public during City Council meetings when requested to do so by the Mayor, City Council, or City Manager.
D. Staff will not argue with the public or the City Council.
E. During City Council meetings staff shall turn off or switch any electronic equipment such as pagers and cellular telephones to a silent mode.
F. Councilmembers and staff who participate in meetings with outsiders should be apprised of any follow-up correspondence to that party, particularly if there is some controversy; the City Manager and all Councilmembers should get copied on all correspondence.
G. Staff will remain objective on issues. Staff should not be an advocate for issues unless so directed by the City Council. Rather, they should promote or assist the efforts of the City Council.
H. Staff will inform the City Council as soon as possible of upcoming issues, particularly issues that will impact the City significantly and may be coming before City Council on short notice.
I. Staff will provide each Councilmember with written notification of any meetings or discussions relative to any development project in the Councilmember’s respective ward. Each Councilmember may, at their option, follow up with staff regarding the details of the project and any policy issues that may be coming before the City Council.
J. If only one or two Councilmembers feel something is controversial or a “hot” issue and it may be coming before the City Council, the City Manager will inform the Mayor and the Councilmembers whose ward the issue concerns.
K. The City Manager will advise management to become aware of and sensitive to potentially political or controversial issues coming before the City Council.
L. City staff will implement all City Council policies as directed by the City Manager; staff will not implement any actions for the City without prior approval of the City Council and City Manager.
VII. ROLE OF THE PUBLIC
A. Members of the public attending the City Council meetings are requested to observe the same rules and decorum applicable to the City Council and staff.
B. All speakers must approach the podium when recognized by the presiding officer. Members of the public shall only speak from the podium.
C. Members of the public shall turn off or switch any electronic equipment such as pagers and cellular telephones to a silent mode while attending a City Council meeting.
D. If a member of the public desires to provide written correspondence (11 copies recommended) to the City Council, all such materials shall be given directly to the City Clerk prior to the meeting, or if during the course of the meeting, the materials shall be given to the City staff on the dais. At no time shall the public enter the well to provide the materials directly to members of the City Council.
VIII. MEETINGS
A. CALL TO ORDER - PRESIDING OFFICER
The Mayor, or in the Mayor's absence the Mayor Pro Tempore, shall take the chair at the hour appointed for the meeting and shall immediately call the City Council to order. Upon the arrival of the Mayor, the Mayor Pro Tempore shall immediately relinquish the chair at the conclusion of the business presently before the City Council.
B. MEETING ATTENDANCE
Before the City Council proceeds with the business before it, the City Clerk shall enter into the minutes the names of the Mayor and those Councilmembers present. The later arrival of any absentee shall also be entered into the minutes.
C. QUORUM CALL
During the course of the meeting, should the presiding officer note a City Council quorum is lacking, the presiding officer shall call this fact to the attention of the City Clerk. The presiding officer shall issue a quorum call. If a quorum has not been restored within two minutes of a quorum call, the Chair may declare a recess for a reasonable period of time in order to reestablish a quorum or the meeting shall be deemed automatically adjourned.
D. CITY COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE
Regular meetings of the City Council shall be held in the Art Pick Council Chamber, 3900 Main Street, Riverside, California, on the first four Tuesdays of each month. There shall be no meeting on the fifth Tuesday of the month. As general policy, the City Council will cancel any meetings the Tuesday following a legal Monday holiday, the week of Thanksgiving, and the week of Christmas through the first of the year.
For the months of July and August, meetings shall occur on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.
Regular meetings of the City Council are held in an afternoon session and/or evening session. Afternoon sessions may commence at approximately 1:00 p.m. or 3 p.m. Evening sessions shall begin at approximately 6:15 p.m. One meeting each month shall be reserved for City Council workshops. City Council meetings may be canceled for lack of agenda items.
The appointed hours noted herein are set forth for the convenience of the City Council and are subject to change by the Mayor with the concurrence of the Mayor Pro Tem.
E. ADJOURNED MEETINGS
The City Council may adjourn any regular, adjourned regular, special or adjourned special meeting to a time and place specified in the order of adjournment as permitted by law and in compliance with Chapter 4.05 of the Riverside Municipal Code.
F. SPECIAL MEETINGS
The Mayor or a majority of the City Council may call a special meeting by providing notice five (5) days in advance of the meeting to the Mayor, all members of the City Council, to all media outlets, and to persons having requested notification pursuant to State law.
G. CLOSED SESSIONS
The City Clerk or his/her designee shall attend each closed session of the City Council and keep and enter in a minute log a record of topics discussed and decisions made at the meeting. In the event of a closed session concerning personnel matters conducted in conformance with California Government Code section 54957, the Mayor Pro Tempore or his/her designee shall enter in a minute log a record of the topics discussed and decisions made at the meeting. The minute log is not a public record subject to inspection pursuant to the California Public Records Act (California Government Code section 6250 et seq.), and shall be kept confidential. The minute log/audio shall be available only to members of the legislative body or, if a violation of California Government Code sections 54950 through 54962 is alleged to have occurred at a closed session, to a court of general jurisdiction wherein the local agency lies.
All proper matters discussed during closed sessions shall be private and confidential, and the disclosure by any person of the topics or details of such matters is expressly prohibited. If a Councilmember feels it is necessary, then preliminary notes may be taken which should not be kept as the Councilmembers permanent records. All closed session information, verbal or written, is confidential and private.
H. EMERGENCY MEETINGS
In the case of an emergency situation involving matters upon which prompt action is necessary due to the disruption or threatened disruption of public facilities, the City Council may hold an emergency meeting without complying with either the 24-hour notice requirement or the 24-hour posting requirement of Section 54956 or both of the notice and posting requirement.
Each local newspaper of general circulation and radio or television station that has requested notice of special meetings pursuant to Section 54956 shall be notified by the presiding officer of the legislative body, or designee thereof, one hour prior to the emergency meeting, or, in the case of a dire emergency, at or near the time that the presiding officer or designee notifies the members of the City Council of the emergency meeting. This notice shall be given by telephone and all telephone numbers provided in the most recent request of a newspaper or station for notification of special meetings shall be exhausted. In the event that telephone services are not functioning, the notice requirements of this section shall be deemed waived, and the legislative body, or designee of the legislative body, shall notify those newspapers, radio stations, or television stations of the fact of the holding of the emergency meeting, the purpose of the meeting, and any action taken at the meeting as soon after the meeting as possible.
During an emergency meeting, the City Council may meet in closed session pursuant to Section 54957 if agreed to by a two-thirds vote of the members of the City Council present, or, if less than two-thirds of the members are present, by an unanimous vote of the members present.
All special meeting requirements, as prescribed in Section 54956 shall be applicable to an emergency meeting, with the exception of the 24-hour notice requirement.
The minutes of an emergency meeting, a list of persons who the presiding officer of the City Council, or designee of the City Council, notified or attempted to notify, a copy of the roll call vote, and any actions taken at the meeting shall be posted for a minimum of ten days in a public place as soon after the meeting as possible.
I. TELECONFERENCED MEETINGS
The City Council may elect to use teleconferencing for meetings pursuant to Government Code section 54953.
IX. AGENDA
A. DECLARATION OF POLICY
No ordinance, resolution, or item of business shall be introduced or acted upon before the City Council at its meeting without it having been published on the agenda of the meeting and posted in accordance with Riverside Municipal Code Title 4 and California Government Code section 54954.2(a) as the same now exist or hereafter amended. Exceptions to this rule are limited to those provided by State law and matters of business remaining uncompleted from a regular meeting.
B. DEFINITIONS
For purposes of this section, the terms listed herein shall be defined as follows:
1. "Agenda Item" means an item placed on the agenda irrespective of location (save and except for matters raised under Public Comment) to be transacted or discussed by the City Council. For purposes of this Section, any quasi-judicial appeals shall be considered action items in accordance with California Government Code section 54952.6 as the same now exists or hereafter may be amended.
Each agenda item shall contain a brief general description of each item of business to be transacted or discussed at the meeting in accordance with California Government Code section 54954.2 as the same now exists or hereafter may be amended, whether the matter is to be presented in Closed Session, on the Consent Calendar, the Discussion Calendar, the Public Hearing Calendar, or such other time as may be scheduled.
Each agenda item shall be supported by all relevant documentation, which may include but not be limited to the following as applicable:
a. The need therefore and the department or departments involved or affected thereby; b. Recommendation of the City Manager, if applicable;
c. Comments of the City Attorney, if the item involves legal issues; d. Past City Council actions or practices, if any, relating to such matter; e. Past legislative history or hearings, if any;
f. Financial benefits or costs which would accrue to the City as a result of the recommended action; g. For awards of contracts, the contracts shall be prepared and presented; h. If funds are requested, the budgetary source of funds; i. Person or persons to contact for further information; j. Estimated balances shall be included for appropriations from General Fund Contingency Reserve and supplemental appropriations from fund balance.
2. "Agenda" means the compilation of the descriptive titles of agenda items submitted to the City Clerk, arranged in the sequence established in Section IX.E. hereof.
3. "Packet" means the Agenda and all supporting documentation.
4. “Emergency Situation” means both of the following:
a. An emergency, which shall be defined as a work stoppage, crippling activity, or other activity that severely impairs public health, safety, or both, as determined by a majority of the members of the City Council. b. A dire emergency, which shall be defined as a crippling disaster, mass destruction, terrorist act, or threatened terrorist activity that poses peril so immediate and significant that requiring a legislative body to provide one-hour notice before holding an emergency meeting may endanger the public health, safety, or both, as determined by a majority of the members of the City Council.
5. "Continued Items" means items uncompleted from a prior agenda of a City Council meeting.
C. PROCEDURE FOR BRINGING MATTERS BEFORE CITY COUNCIL
1. Persons Who May Place Matters On The Agenda
Except for matters pending before any committee, commission or other advisory body of the City or the City Council, matters pertinent to and within the jurisdiction of the City may be placed on the agenda by the Mayor, any Councilmember, the City Manager, City Attorney or City Clerk.
2. Scheduling Public Hearings Mandated By State, Federal or Local Statute The City Clerk may schedule a public hearing at any available time and date in those cases where State, Federal or local statute mandates the City Council hold a public hearing.
3. Submission of Agenda Items
Except for Continued Items, as a condition to placing an item on the Council’s agenda, by the Mayor, any Councilmember, the City Manager, the City Attorney or the City Clerk, a City Council report should be prepared and submitted to the City Clerk not later than 12:00 p.m. of the fifteenth (15th) day prior to each regular City Council meeting at which the item shall be heard.
4. Preparation of the Packet
Not later than twelve (12) days prior to each regular City Council meeting, the City Clerk shall prepare the packet. No item shall be considered by the City Council if not included in the packet, except as provided in section 4.05.050 of the Riverside Municipal Code.
5. Posting of Agenda
The City Clerk shall post the agenda of each City Council Regular or Adjourned Regular Meeting at least twelve (12) days in advance of said meeting in a location that is freely accessible to members of the public. The City Clerk shall maintain an affidavit indicating the location, date and time of posting each agenda.
6. Distribution of the Packet
Not later than noon eleven (11) days prior to each regular City Council meeting, the City Clerk shall distribute the paper packet to the Mayor, each member of the City Council, the City Manager and the City Attorney. Eleven (11) days prior to each regular City Council meeting, the City Clerk shall distribute the paper packet to the designated department directors, and such other persons or institutions as the City Clerk shall deem necessary or appropriate. Paper or electronic copies of the packet shall be made for the news media and such other organizations, agencies, institutions or persons as may wish to subscribe to receipt thereof, and the City Clerk will make the packet available electronically on the City’s webpage.
7. Failure to Meet Deadlines
Refer to Title 4 of the Riverside Municipal Code.
D. AGENDA-SETTING MEETING
1. The City Council agenda-setting meeting normally takes place on Wednesdays, and sets the following two City Council agendas, but can be rescheduled, if necessary.
2. The members include the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem, City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, and Assistant City Managers. In the event that any of these representatives cannot attend the meeting, they may send a representative in their place.
3. The City Clerk, as the City official who manages and publishes the agenda, shall serve as the chairperson.
4. The role of the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem, in addition to collaborating as team members with executive management to set the agenda, is to track City Councilmembers’ referred items and ensure they are placed on the agenda. If an item is not addressed in the timeframe noted, the Mayor Pro Tem will provide written notification to the City Councilmember(s) who made the referral. The City Clerk’s Master Meeting Calendar will be used as the tracking tool.
5. When a City Councilmember refers an item to be placed on the agenda, a timeframe must be included. It will include the Councilmember’s name, and the specific type of item requested (action vs. discussion). City Council items should always be considered a priority for scheduling.
6. Any City Councilmember may attend at the invitation of the Mayor Pro Tem (provided it does not violate quorum rules).
7. During the agenda setting meeting, the Mayor, with the concurrence of the Mayor Pro Tem, may adjust the agenda sequence and order of business, provided for in section F of this Article, for any agenda that has not yet been published.
E. CONSENT CALENDAR
There shall be a consent calendar on all regular meeting agendas on which shall be included those matters which the Mayor, Councilmembers, and City Manager deem to be routine in nature and not likely to be subject to debate or inquiry.
All items for presentation on the consent calendar shall conform to the format, guidelines and deadlines set out in Section B, above. On any matter not requiring immediate action, Councilmembers are encouraged to utilize a Motion to Postpone to a Time/Date Certain, as opposed to a Motion to Table the matter, in order to have substantive issues addressed further.
It is the policy of the City Council that Councilmembers wishing to ask questions concerning consent calendar items should ask questions of the City Manager or staff person who submitted the report prior to the City Council meeting so that the need for discussion of consent calendar items can be minimized.
F. AGENDA SEQUENCE AND ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. The City Council agenda is to be arranged in the following order and sections:
a. Public Comments from the audience regarding consent calendar items or matters within the jurisdiction of the City. Public comment for afternoon sessions starting at 1:00 p.m. may occur at any time after 1:00 p.m. Public comment for afternoon sessions starting at 3:00 p.m. may occur at any time after 3:00 p.m. Public Comment during an evening session may commence at any time after 6:15 p.m. To the extent the agenda states a specific time for public comment, the times are approximate and may be adjusted by the presiding officer to ensure an effective and efficient business meeting of the City Council. Public Comment may be provided in-person/telephonically or prior to the meeting by email/e-comment and shall conform to the provisions of Article X of this Resolution. b. Brief reports on conferences, seminars and regional events; Ward updates; Council comments; and announcements of upcoming events. c. Ceremonial Matters shall be limited to no more than three presentations during a City Council meeting. d. Workshops or Discussion Calendar.
e. Joint session of the City Council and all other related agencies meeting to receive public comment from the public regarding closed session agenda items, or matters within the jurisdiction of any such governing bodies. f. Legislative report.
g. Closed Sessions.
h. Public Hearings/Land Use Appeals.
i. Consent Calendar.
Removal of items from the Consent Calendar, shall be followed by one motion for action on uncontested Consent Calendar Items. Removed consent items will be discussed immediately after the Discussion Calendar. j. Discussion Calendar.
k. Pulled consent calendar items, if any.
l. Mayor/Councilmember Communications.
m. Adjournment.
2. The sequence set forth in this section is subject to change as provided in section D of this Article.
X. CONDUCT OF MEETING
A. ORDER OF DISCUSSION
The order of discussion after introduction of an item by the presiding officer will be as follows:
1. Generally
a. Staff comments, information and reports, followed by questions from the Mayor and Councilmembers. b. Public comments and information followed by questions from the Mayor and Councilmembers. c. City Council discussion, motion and action.
2. Public Hearings
a. Staff comments, information and reports, followed by questions from the Mayor and Councilmembers. b. Public comments and information followed by questions from the Mayor and Councilmembers. c. Closure of public hearing.
d. Mayor and Council discussion, motion and action.
3. Appeals/Quasi-Judicial Hearings
a. Staff comments, information and reports followed by questions from the Mayor and Councilmembers. b. Appellant/proponent comments, information and reports followed by questions from the Mayor and Councilmembers. c. Public comments, information and reports from others wishing to speak on the item followed by questions from the Mayor and Councilmembers. d. Closing statements by appellant/proponent limited to addressing comments made in opposition. e. Closure of public testimony.
f. Mayor and City Council discussion, motion and action.
Once the agenda item is placed before the City Council for discussion, motion and action, no staff member nor member of the public shall be allowed to address the City Council without the consent of the City Council.
B. CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS CALLED UP FOR DISCUSSION
The Mayor, any Councilmember, or the City Manager may request that any matter be removed from the Consent Calendar. If a matter placed on a Consent Calendar at a regular business meeting is removed, it will be discussed immediately after adoption of the Discussion Calendar. All matters remaining on the Consent Calendar and which have not been removed shall be approved by a single action, such single action to have the legal effect of individual action on each matter. The presiding officer or City Clerk shall read into the record each item on the Consent Calendar which has been removed.
C. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE / PUBLIC COMMENT
A portion of each agenda of a regular meeting of the City Council shall provide an opportunity to members of the public to address the City Council on any issue concerning City business, including closed session, consent calendar items, or item of interest that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the City (“Public Comment”).
The Mayor and members of the City Council may:
1. Briefly respond to statements made or questions posed by members of the public.
2. Ask questions for clarification.
3. Provide a reference to staff or other resources for factual information.
4. Request staff to report back to the City Council at a subsequent meeting on any matter.
5. Take action to direct staff to place a matter of business on a future agenda.
Public Comment shall follow the procedures detailed in Section F of this Article.
D. PUBLIC HEARINGS
The City Council or City Clerk shall set the time and place for each public hearing. In the conduct of the public hearing, the presiding officer will direct those making presentations to avoid repetition in order to permit maximum information to be provided the City Council within the time allotted to the hearing. Presentations and public testimony at public hearings will otherwise follow the procedures detailed in section F of this Article.
E. PUBLIC DISCUSSION
The City Council may, from time to time, schedule a matter for a public meeting. At the scheduled time for public discussion, the City Council may state the amount of time to be allotted for testimony from the public. Public testimony shall follow the procedures detailed in section F of this Article.
F. CONDUCT OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY AT PUBLIC COMMENT, PUBLIC HEARINGS, AND PUBLIC DISCUSSION
1. Each person desiring to address the City Council during Public Comment, City Council Discussion Items, Workshops, or Public Hearings is strongly encouraged to fill out and file a form provided by the City Clerk. Requests to be heard may be submitted to the City Clerk any time prior to the conclusion of public comment on the agenda item.
2. Each person addressing the City Council shall step up before the City Council and may give their name and neighborhood in an audible tone of voice for the record. All remarks shall be addressed to the City Council as a body and not to any Councilmember, Mayor or staff member thereof.
3. Allotted Time. The City Council may limit the total amount of time of testimony on particular issues and for each individual speaker. Unless otherwise provided herein, each person speaking shall limit his/her remarks to three (3) minutes. Speakers may not concede any part of their allotted time to another speaker.
The presiding officer may exercise discretion in curtailing the duration of all speakers’ comments based upon factors including, but not limited to, the length of the agenda or the number of public comment speaker cards submitted.
Presentations for other than quasi-judicial hearings, are to be limited to no more than one 3-minute presentation. More or less time may be authorized by a majority of the City Council. For quasi-judicial hearings, presentations are to be limited as follows: an appellant or applicant may be allowed one ten minute presentation and an additional five (5) minutes for surrebuttal. A designated representative of an organization in opposition thereof may be allowed a ten (10) minute presentation.
For each and every public speaker, the presiding officer shall be required to utilize the timing system which provides them with notice of their remaining time to complete their presentations. A green light on the timing system will be activated at the start of a presentation; a yellow light will be activated as a warning that one minute remains; when the red light is activated, the speaker shall cease speaking.
In the further interest of time, speakers will be asked to limit their comments to new materials and not repeat what a prior speaker said. Organized groups may choose a single spokesperson who may speak for the group. Speakers may not concede any part of their allotted time to another speaker.
3. Public Hearings. Interested persons or their authorized representatives may address the City Council by reading protests, petitions, or communications relating to matters then under consideration, subject to the time limitations imposed by the City Council.
4. Public Comment. Interested persons may address the City Council on any issue concerning City business during the period assigned to Public Comment, except that comments relating to appeals before the City Council where the City Council must make its decision based on the written record or set the matter for public hearing must be made when the appeal is heard in order to be included as part of the administrative record.
5. Use Of Audio Video Technology By The Public. Members of the public are prohibited from using any technology to amplify sound or project/display still or moving images during public comments. Members of the public may use the available projector to enlarge printed materials used during their allotted time to speak. These restrictions do not apply to presentations by project applicants and appellants relevant to an application or appeal.
XI. FACILITIES
A. COUNCIL CHAMBER CAPACITY
Council Chamber attendance shall be limited to the posted seating capacity thereof. Entrance to the Council Chamber will be appropriately regulated by the City Manager on occasions when the Council Chamber capacity is likely to be exceeded. While the City Council is in session, members of the public shall not remain standing in the seating area or aisles of the Council Chamber except to address the City Council, and sitting on the floor shall not be permitted.
B. ALTERNATE FACILITIES FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
If the City Manager has reason to anticipate that the attendance for a meeting will be substantially greater than the capacity of the City Council Chamber and insufficient time exists to secure the approval of the City Council to hold the meeting at an alternate facility, the City Manager, or his or her designee, shall make arrangements for the use of a suitable alternate facility to which such meeting may be moved.
Furthermore, if, because of fire, flood, earthquake or other emergency, it would be unsafe to meet in the customary location, the meetings may be held for the duration of the emergency at some other place specified by the City Manager or his or her designee. The change of meeting site shall be announced, by the most rapid means of communication available at the time, in a notice to media organizations who have requested written notice of meetings.
XII. PROCEDURAL MATTERS
A. PERSONS AUTHORIZED TO SIT AT TABLES
No person, except officials, officers, employees and agents of the City shall be permitted to sit at the tables in front of the City Council without the consent of the City Council.
B. DECORUM
It is the policy of the City Council that the right to express one’s views at a City Council meeting is fundamental to a free society; however, it is not absolute and is subject to valid regulations. The public has a right to address the City Council at any meeting on any subject that is within the City Council’s subject matter jurisdiction and further, the public has the right to express its criticism of the policies, procedures, programs or services of the City or its acts or omissions. We must balance the right of the public to address the City Council with the need to ensure that public comment does not hinder the smooth and efficient legislative function of the City Council.
No member of the public shall approach the speaker’s podium while the City Council is in session, unless specifically requested to do so by the presiding officer. Unruly conduct, such as undue noise, hissing, profanity, insult or physical disturbance which disrupts, disturbs or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of the Council meeting shall not be permitted. Any person making personal, impertinent, slanderous or profane remarks to any member of the Council, staff or general public which disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of any Council meeting shall, at the discretion of the presiding officer or a majority of the Council, be barred from further audience before the City Council at said meeting, unless permission to continue be granted by a majority vote of the Council.
C. ENFORCEMENT OF DECORUM
Any law enforcement or security officers on duty or whose services are commanded by the presiding officer shall be Sergeant-at-Arms of the City Council meetings. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall carry out all orders and instructions given by the presiding officer for the purpose of maintaining order and decorum at the City Council's meetings. Upon instructions of the presiding officer, it shall be the duty of the Sergeant-of-Arms, or any of them present, to place any person who violates the order and decorum of the meeting under arrest, and cause the person to be prosecuted under the provisions of applicable law, the complaint to be signed by the presiding officer.
D. PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS
When a question is before the City Council, no motion shall be entertained except:
1. Motion To Adjourn
A motion to adjourn requires a second and is not debatable except to set the date and time to which the meeting is adjourned to consider the unfinished business. The purpose of a motion to adjourn is to terminate the meeting forthwith, notwithstanding that the business on the agenda has not been completed, and notwithstanding a time fixed for adjournment has not yet arrived. A motion to adjourn shall be in order at any time, except as follows: (i) When repeated without intervening business or discussion; (ii) when made as an interruption of a Councilmember while speaking; (iii) when the previous question has been moved; and (iv) while a vote is being taken.
2. Motion To Lay On The Table
The purpose of the motion is to terminate further consideration of the subject being discussed, without qualification. The effect of the motion, if approved, is to not only end discussion on any other motion being considered, but to preclude any other motion being made. A motion to table requires a second, is not amendable, and is not debatable. The foregoing shall not preclude any Councilmember from placing the subject on an agenda for a later City Council meeting.
3. Motion to Call for The Question (Close Debate)
The Councilmember moving any item before the City Council, including, the adoption of an ordinance or resolution, or the Mayor Pro Tem, shall have the privilege of moving to close the debate and at once to take the vote on the immediately pending question. Such a motion requires a second and is not debatable, and is not amendable, and shall require a two-thirds vote of Councilmembers present and voting for adoption. Such a motion also requires that each Councilmember be afforded at least one opportunity to speak on the item before closing the debate. The making of the motion shall not constitute a violation of Section V of these rules.
4. Motion To Postpone To A Certain Time/Day
A motion to postpone to a time certain is amendable and is debatable as to the propriety of postponement and as to time set in the motion. The purpose of the motion is to postpone the subject under discussion to another specified time.
5. Motion to Substitute
A motion to substitute the motion under consideration with another motion requires a second, is not amendable and is debatable. A motion to substitute must be germane to the subject and compatible with the underlying purpose of the motion under consideration; and if passed, the substitute motion will, by its own action, eliminate the necessity to vote on the motion being substituted. If the substitute motion fails to pass, debate will resume on the motion previously being contested. Only two substitute motions shall be on the floor at any time.
6. Motion to Amend
A motion to amend the motion under consideration requires a second, but the proposed amendment must be germane, or related, to the main motion, and is debatable. A motion to amend is defined as amending a motion that is on the floor and has been seconded, by inserting or adding, striking out, or striking out and inserting words within the main motion. The proposed amendment is voted on first, and if adopted, there is a vote on the main motion as amended. If the motion fails, debate will resume on the main motion.
7. Motion To Reconsider
A motion to reconsider any action taken by the City Council must be made not later than the third succeeding official regular meeting of the City Council. Such a motion can only be made by a member who voted with the majority. The motion to reconsider must be specifically agendized as a motion for reconsideration and cannot be acted upon under Future Agenda Items. However, if the motion to reconsider is made at the same Council meeting when the motion was originally adopted, it does not have to be included on the agenda. At the time such reconsideration is heard by the City Council, testimony shall be limited to debate in support of the motion. No question shall be twice reconsidered, except by unanimous consent of the City Council, except that action relating to any contract may be reconsidered at any time before the final execution thereof.
These motions shall have precedence in the order indicated. Any such motion, except to adjourn, amend, or substitute, shall be put to a vote without discussion.
E. RULES OF DISCUSSION
1. Presiding Officer May Debate
The presiding officer may debate from the chair, subject only to such limitations of debate as are by these rules imposed on all members, and shall not be deprived of any of the rights and privileges as a member of the City Council by reason of acting as the presiding officer.
2. Getting the Floor
Improper References to be Avoided: Every member desiring to speak shall utilize the electronic call device to gain the attention and priority of the presiding officer, and upon recognition by the presiding officer, shall confine him/herself to the question under debate, avoiding all personalities and indecorous language.
3. Interruptions
A Councilmember, once recognized, shall not be interrupted when speaking unless it be to call the person to order, or as herein otherwise provided. If a Councilmember, while speaking, be called to order, the Councilmember shall cease speaking until the question of order is determined, and, if in order, shall be permitted to proceed.
4. Allotted Time for Debate
Unless waived by a majority of the City Council, each member may speak on an item for up to fifteen (15) minutes as provided in this paragraph. The first time a member is recognized to speak on an item, the member shall limit his/her remarks to ten (10) minutes. Subsequent opportunities to speak shall be no more than five (5) minutes. The presiding officer shall be responsible for tracking time and shall utilize the timing system for this purpose.
5. Division of Question
If the question contains two or more divisional propositions, each of which is capable of standing as a complete proposition if the others are removed, the presiding officer may, and upon request of a Councilmember shall (unless appealed), divide the question.
6. Withdrawal of Motion
A motion may not be withdrawn by the mover without the consent of the Councilmember seconding it.
7. Voting
On the passage of every motion, the vote shall be taken by electronic voting device and entered in full upon the record. If the device is inoperable, the vote shall be taken by roll call voice vote recorded by the City Clerk. The presiding officer or City Clerk shall announce the result of the vote. No Councilmember shall be excused from voting except on matters involving the consideration of the Councilmembers’ own official conduct, or where a conflict of interest exists. Abstaining votes consent with the majority. An explanation of the reason for abstentions is encouraged.
F. ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL
Any person desiring to address the City Council shall first secure the permission of the presiding officer to do so. Under the following headings of business, unless the presiding officer rules otherwise, any interested person shall have the right to address the City Council in accordance with the following conditions and upon obtaining recognition by the presiding officer:
1. Speakers.
Any person desiring to provide public comment or public testimony, shall do so in accordance with Article X.
2. Written Communications. Interested parties or their authorized representatives may address the City Council by written communications in regard to matters of concern to them. Communications received by the City Clerk prior to close of business on the day prior to a City Council meeting shall be submitted to the City Council at the meeting if related to an item which is on the agenda for that meeting.
G. ADDRESSING THE CITY COUNCIL AFTER MOTION MADE
When a motion is pending before the City Council, no person other than a Councilmember shall address the City Council without first securing the permission of the presiding officer or City Council to do so.
XIII. CITY COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEES AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATION A. STANDING COMMITTEE NUMBER, NAMES, COMPOSITION, AND APPOINTMENTS AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATION APPOINTMENTS There shall be eight Standing Committees of the City Council entitled Economic Development, Finance, Housing and Homelessness, Governmental Processes, Mayor’s Nominating and Screening, Mobility and Infrastructure, and Safety, Wellness, and Youth.
Regional organizations are external organizations where the City Council directly appoints a person to represent the City’s interests in that organization. The provisions of this section shall not apply to organizations where the City Council is not the appointing authority. When possible, appointments to regional organizations should be limited to elected officials.
Following each election and/or appointment to fill a City Council vacancy, reorganization of City Council Standing Committee and regional organizational assignments shall be considered by the Mayor’s Nominating and Screening Committee for a recommendation to the City Council.
Each Standing Committee shall be comprised of three members. Each Councilmember shall serve as Chair, Vice-Chair, and Member of three Committees, respectively.
The Mayor’s Nominating and Screening Committee shall be comprised of the Mayor who shall serve as Chair and the members of the Governmental Processes Committee. The Mayor’s Nominating and Screening Committee shall assist in the board/commission appointment process as provided in Section XIV of this resolution, recommend to the City Council (a) nominees for the annual City Spirit Award, (b) structure and/or appointments to ad hoc resident committees as requested by the City Council, and (c) any other matters referred by the City Council or board/commission.
For Standing Committee and regional organization appointments, preferences of senior elected officials shall be honored. However, with five (5) affirmative votes, the City Council may appoint a non-senior member. The Mayor and Councilmembers shall forward preferences on Standing Committee assignments to the City Clerk to be shared at the Mayor’s Nominating and Screening Committee Meeting.
Initially, each elected official shall be limited to two (2) regional organizational appointments. Remaining vacant positions and any appointment declined by an elected official shall be filled by seniority of elected officials desiring such appointments. There shall be no limitation to the number of appointments as “Alternate” to regional organizations. “Seniority” shall be honored as to the elected office currently held.
B. REFERRAL OF MATTERS TO CITY COUNCIL STANDING COMMITTEES
1. Generally, items agendized for City Council Standing Committees shall first be referred by the City Council for review and a recommendation to the City Council within 120 days, subject to the exceptions set forth below or as otherwise modified by the City Council.
2. The Annual Year-End Finance Report by the Public Utilities Department is automatically referred directly to the Finance Committee for review and a recommendation to the City Council within 120 days.
3. All Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency matters are automatically referred to the Economic Development Committee for review and a recommendation to the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency Board within 120 days.
4. All requests for comments on projects within the City’s sphere of influence are automatically referred to the Land Use Committee for review and submission of comments to the County of Riverside or as a recommendation to the City Council as time permits.
5. With the concurrence of the Committee Chairperson and the City Manager, an item may be sent directly to a Council committee without City Council referral. If a matter is so referred to a Council committee, the committee agenda will note such fact on the face of the agenda. Such referrals are not required to be forwarded to the City Council for action following committee review. The below guidelines shall be considered for such referrals.
Standing Committee
Types of Items Referred to the Committee
Economic Development
Economic Development, Placemaking, and Branding/Marketing Finance
City budget, Measure Z, performance measures, audits, and other financial matters.
Housing and Homelessness
Housing and homelessness solutions
Governmental Processes
City board and commission structures, ethics, and other policy matters Land Use
Land use, planning, development, sustainability and resilience Mayor's Nominating and Screening Committee
Nominations for City Spirit Award; and following each election and/or appointment to fill a City Council vacancy, reorganization of City Council Standing Committees and Regional Organization assignments.
Mobility and Infrastructure
Transportation, sewer, airport, utilities, and public works Safety, Wellness and Youth
Public Safety, wellness programs, food sources and agriculture, recreation, disabilities, seniors, libraries, museum, and youth activities.
Board and Commissions, by majority vote, may forward matters to any City Council Standing Committee, as appropriate.
C. REFERRAL OF MATTERS FROM CITY COUNCIL TO BOARDS OR COMMISSIONS When deemed appropriate the City Council or Councilmember, may refer matters to boards and commissions for review. Referrals may return to City Council Standing Committees if not time sensitive.
XIV. BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, AND COMMITTEES
For Citywide vacancies on any boards and commissions, the Mayor shall recommend nominate an applicant for appointment by the Mayor and City Council. For Ward-specific seats, the Councilmember for the Ward shall recommend nominate an applicant for appointment by the Mayor and City Council. Neither the Mayor nor the Councilmember shall nominate any applicant for such appointment who has a pending lawsuit against the City.
For appointments to City Council resident ad hoc committees, the City Council shall affirmatively select one of the following options:
Option 1: The Mayor’s Nominating and Screening Committee shall review the applications submitted and identify applicants for interview with the Mayor and City Council. The City Clerk shall notify the City Council of those selected for interview. The Mayor and each member of the City Council may add one additional applicant for interview, if desired. The Mayor and City Council shall interview, make the appointments, and select the Chair; or Option 2: By formal motion, the City Council shall authorize each member of the City Council to select a member from their Ward and the Mayor to select two at-large members. The ad hoc committee shall elect a Chair from among its members; or Option 3: By formal motion, any other method of appointment as desired by the City Council.
Board/commission members shall make every effort to notify the Chairperson or his/her designee no later than 24 hours prior to any regular meeting of his/her intent not to attend said meeting. A member’s inability to provide 24 hours advance notice shall not preclude the board/commission from exercising its discretion to excuse said absence as outlined in Section 805 of the City Charter. If a member of a board or commission absents himself/herself from three consecutive regular meetings of such board or commission, unless by permission of such board or commission expressed in its official minutes, or is convicted of a crime of moral turpitude, or ceases to be a qualified elector of the City, the office shall become vacant and shall be so declared by the City Council.
The City Clerk shall provide quarterly attendance reports to the Mayor and City Council.
The City Clerk shall notify the Mayor for Citywide seats and the appropriate Councilmember for Ward specific seats for direction to be taken in the event of either of the following conditions: (a) a board/commission member is absent and unexcused from three consecutive regular meetings of the board/commission; or (b) a board/commission member is absent, whether excused or unexcused, from more than one-third of the regularly scheduled meetings in any calendar year.
Resignations from City boards and commissions shall be effective immediately upon receipt by the City Clerk, who shall then forward a received resignation to the City Council for filing. Future effective dates noted in writing and submitted as part of, or with any resignation, shall be honored to the extent the resignee remains eligible. Withdrawal of a resignation for desired continued service must be submitted to the City Clerk in writing and must include the reason for withdrawing. The City Clerk shall forward any withdrawal to the Mayor and City Council, who may consider and approve the withdrawal. A resignation shall remain in effect notwithstanding the submission of a withdrawal, unless and until the Mayor and City Council approve the withdrawal.
A term of more than two years and one day shall be considered a full term. Residents appointed mid-year to boards and commissions shall serve full terms of up to and not-to-exceed four year, expiring on March 1st of the corresponding year.
XV. COUNCIL REQUESTS
A. All Council requests dealing with policy issues and those requests which may be construed as direction, go through the City Manager, except for general inquiries or questions in which case the City Council may go to the Department Heads or key staff in the City Manager’s Office. Councilmembers may also deal directly with the City Attorney, City Clerk or other staff appointed by the City Council.
B. Any request from the City Council requiring funding must go through the City Manager. The City Manager shall respond in a timely manner.
XVI. ADMINISTRATION
A. The City Council will review and revise the City Council norms and procedures as needed or every two (2) years.
B. During City Council discussions, deliberations, and proceedings, the Mayor has been designated with the primary responsibility to ensure that the City Council, staff and members of the public adhere to the Council’s norms and procedures.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Resolution No. 24255 is hereby repealed.
ADOPTED by the City Council this ___ day of ________________, 2026. ______________________________
PATRICIA LOCK DAWSON
Mayor of the City of Riverside
ATTEST:
__________________________
DONESIA GAUSE
City Clerk of the City of Riverside
I, Donesia Gause, City Clerk of the City of Riverside, California, hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly and regularly adopted at a meeting of the City Council of said City at its meeting held on the ___ day of _________________, 2026, by the following vote, to wit:
Ayes:
Noes:
Abstain:
Absent:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Riverside, California, this _____ day of________________, 2026. ____________________________
DONESIA GAUSE
City Clerk of the City of Riverside
City Attorney’s Office3750 University Avenue, Suite 250Riverside, CA 92501 (951) 826-5567City Attorney’s Office3750 University Avenue, Suite 250Riverside, CA 92501 (951) 826-5567 City Attorney’s Office
3750 University Avenue,
Suite 250
Riverside, CA 92501
(951) 826-5567
City Attorney’s Office
3750 University Avenue,
Suite 250
Riverside, CA 92501
(951) 826-5567
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