Sec. 2-26. Rules of the city council.
The following are the rules of procedure of the city council:
(1)   Rule 1  . The city council shall meet at the council chamber on the second and fourth Tuesday in each month at 6:30 p.m., provided that the city council by majority vote may reschedule a regular meeting date and/or place on seven (7) days' notice to the public. 
(2)   Rule 2  . The mayor shall take the chair at the hour appointed for any regular, adjourned, or special meeting; shall immediately call members to order upon the determination that a quorum is present. 
(3)   Rule 3  . The mayor shall preserve order and decorum and take appropriate action to carry out this duty. The council shall appoint all committees, unless otherwise provided for by ordinance, and the mayor shall appoint the chairman of each committee. 
(4)   Rule 4  . In absence of the mayor at any regular, adjourned or special meeting, the vice-mayor shall perform the duties of the mayor. 
(5)   Rule 5.   The following order shall be observed in the transaction of business on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month: 
a.   Call to order.
b.   Invocation.
c.   Pledge of allegiance.
d.   Approval of minutes.
e.   Special recognitions.
f.   Presentations (authorized in advance by city council).
g.   Consent agenda.
h.   Petitions and requests from the public present.
i.   Ordinances, first reading.
j.   Ordinances, second reading, public hearings and related action.
k.   Old business.
l.   New business.
m.   Petitions and requests from the public present.
n.   Boards and commissions.
o.   Mayor and council reports.
p.   City manager's report.
q.   City attorney's report.
The council shall, to the extent possible, commence the public hearings portion of the agenda at 7:00 p.m. and to the extent possible adjust the order of business at the meeting to accommodate the advertised public hearings.
To the extent possible, the council will attempt to adjourn its meetings no later than 10:30 p.m. If the 10:30 p.m. deadline approaches before all agenda items are dealt with, then, in that event, the mayor shall call for a vote of the council to either extend the meeting past 10:30 p.m. or to adjourn and establish a continued meeting date and time to consider unfinished business. A majority vote of council shall be required to either extend or continue such meeting. In the absence of a majority vote (i.e. tie vote), the meeting will be continued to another date.
Citizens desiring to be heard during theConsent agenda, first reading  and  Old and new business  portions of the agenda, may sign a request to be heard at the city council meeting on a form prepared by the city manager and present said form to the city clerk at the meeting prior to the item being heard on the agenda. Citizens desiring to be heard during those portions of the agenda, shall be limited to three (3) minutes unless extended by a majority vote of the city council. Comments will be limited to the issue presently pending before the council. 
Any citizen desiring to comment under the boards and commissions, mayor and council report, city manager's report, and city attorney's report portions of the agenda may do so under the portion of the agenda forPetitions and Requests  from the public present. 
The city manager shall prepare the agenda for all meetings consistent with the policies of the city council. The city manager may prepare forms and rules for placement of the items on the agenda and determine the location of citizens on the agenda and shall have the right to defer placement of an item to a later meeting in the interest of meeting length or staff preparation; provided, however, that such decisions may be appealed to the city council at the next meeting. The city council may take up any item not on the agenda or change the order of business at any meeting with a majority vote of the council.
(6)   Rule 6  . Every appointed board or commission shall report to the council at the time set by the city council or show cause why not. 
(7)   Rule 7  . Every ordinance except ordinances which rezone private real property initiated by the city, its departments, or boards and commissions, may be read by title, or in full, on at least two (2) separate days and shall, at least ten (10) days prior to adoption, be noticed once in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality. The notice of proposed enactment shall state the date, time and place of the meeting, the title or titles of proposed ordinances and the place or places within the municipality where such proposed ordinances may be inspected by the public. Such notice shall also advise that interested parties may appear at the meeting and be heard with respect to the proposed ordinance. 
a.   An emergency ordinance, without complying with the foregoing requirements, may be enacted by a two-thirds ( 2/3) vote of the members of the entire council. No emergency ordinance shall be enacted which rezones private real property. The procedure for enactment of ordinances which rezone private real property initiated by the city departments, boards and commissions, shall be in accordance with F.S. § 166.041(3)(c) and such procedure is hereby adopted by reference as if set forth herein in full. A copy of this procedure is on file with the city clerk.
b.   All ordinances and resolutions passed by the council shall become effective ten (10) days after passage or as otherwise provided in such ordinances or resolutions.
(8)   Rule 8  . In all cases each member of the council shall vote unless a member abstains where he believes he may have a conflict of interest. That member shall state the reason for abstaining and follow the procedure in F.S. § 112.3143(3). In the event of a roll call vote, the order of voting shall begin with the councilmember on the far right of the chair and rotate to the left for the beginning of each succeeding vote. In all matters coming before council a majority vote shall govern except as provided in section 23 of the Charter. 
(9)   Rule 9  . All resolutions shall be reduced to writing. 
(10)   Rule 10  . Whenever the mayor shall desire to make a motion upon any matter he shall designate some member of the council to take the chair. 
(11)   Rule 11  . No member, while the council is in session, shall offer any motion, or make any remark, or speak on any subject under discussion, without first addressing and being recognized by the chair. When more than one member shall rise at or near the same time, the mayor shall decide in favor of that one who shall first attract his attention, and no member shall interrupt another while speaking, except to call him to order. 
(12)   Rule 12  . The mayor shall decide all questions of order, but any member dissatisfied with any of his decisions shall have the right to appeal to the council. 
(13)   Rule 13  . A motion to reconsider any of the proceedings of the council will not be entertained, unless it is made by a member who previously voted in the majority, nor shall it be entertained at any other meeting than the one at which the proceedings were had or the meeting immediately following. 
(14)   Rule 14  . Any additional rule or rules may from time to time be made by council, but no alteration of a rule or adoption of a new rule shall take place without the consent of three-fifths of the members present and upon one month's notice. 
(15)   Rule 15  . The clerk shall keep a separate book in which shall be entered these and all other rules and ordinances, which the council shall pass.  
(16)   Rule 16  . No person other than a member of the council and city staff shall be allowed to address the council unless he is recognized by the mayor during a declared public hearing or unless agreed to by a majority vote of the city council except as provided in Rule 5. 
(17)   Rule 17  . No communication to the council will be entertained unless the communication is in writing. 
(18)   Rule 18  . The mayor, when the council is in session, shall enforce parliamentary rules for its government, so far as they are applicable to such a legislative body. Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised edition, is hereby adopted by reference as the official guide for the mayor and the city council in the conduct of its business. Any rule provided for in this article in conflict with Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised edition, shall supersede the provisions contained in Robert's Rules of Order. 
(19)   Rule 19  . Any of the foregoing rules may be suspended by a unanimous vote of the council for the meeting in session. 
(20)   Rule 20   . No person shall be permitted on the platform where the city council is seated except members of the council and officers of the city, unless they are invited by the council. 
(21)   Rule 21  . A roll call vote may be called for on any question whenever requested by a member of the city council. 
(22)   Rule 22  . If any member of the city council wishes to withdraw or leave the council chamber or place of meeting while the council is in session, the member must notify the mayor. 
(Code 1963, § 2-1; Ord. No. 19-1991, § 1, 5-28-91; Ord. No. 17-1993, § 1, 5-25-93; Ord. No. 45-1993, § 1, 11-9-93; Ord. No. 24-1998, § 1, 9-8-98; Ord. No. 38-1998, § 1, 10-27-98; Ord. No. 23-1999, § 1, 8-10-99; Ord. No. 41-1999, § 1, 11-23-99; Ord. No. 14-2001, § 1, 6-12-01; Ord. No. 4-2004, § 1, 1-27-04)
Charter references:  Organizational meeting, § 20; regular meeting, § 21. 
State law references:  Voting conflicts, F.S. §§ 112.3143(3), 286.012; procedure for adoption of ordinances, F.S. § 166.041. 

 
Sec. 2-26. Rules of the city council.
The following are the rules of procedure of the city council:
(1)   Rule 1  . The city council shall meet at the council chamber on the second and fourth Tuesday in each month at 6:30 p.m., provided that the city council by majority vote may reschedule a regular meeting date and/or place on seven (7) days' notice to the public. 
(2)   Rule 2  . The mayor shall take the chair at the hour appointed for any regular, adjourned, or special meeting; shall immediately call members to order upon the determination that a quorum is present. 
(3)   Rule 3  . The mayor shall preserve order and decorum and take appropriate action to carry out this duty. The council shall appoint all committees, unless otherwise provided for by ordinance, and the mayor shall appoint the chairman of each committee. 
(4)   Rule 4  . In absence of the mayor at any regular, adjourned or special meeting, the vice-mayor shall perform the duties of the mayor. 
(5)   Rule 5.   The following order shall be observed in the transaction of business on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month: 
a.   Call to order.
b.   Invocation.
c.   Pledge of allegiance.
d.   Approval of minutes.
e.   Special recognitions.
f.   Presentations (authorized in advance by city council).
g.   Consent agenda.
h.   Petitions and requests from the public present.
i.   Ordinances, first reading.
j.   Ordinances, second reading, public hearings and related action.
k.   Old business.
l.   New business.
m.   Petitions and requests from the public present.
n.   Boards and commissions.
o.   Mayor and council reports.
p.   City manager's report.
q.   City attorney's report.
The council shall, to the extent possible, commence the public hearings portion of the agenda at 7:00 p.m. and to the extent possible adjust the order of business at the meeting to accommodate the advertised public hearings.
To the extent possible, the council will attempt to adjourn its meetings no later than 10:30 p.m. If the 10:30 p.m. deadline approaches before all agenda items are dealt with, then, in that event, the mayor shall call for a vote of the council to either extend the meeting past 10:30 p.m. or to adjourn and establish a continued meeting date and time to consider unfinished business. A majority vote of council shall be required to either extend or continue such meeting. In the absence of a majority vote (i.e. tie vote), the meeting will be continued to another date.
Citizens desiring to be heard during theConsent agenda, first reading  and  Old and new business  portions of the agenda, may sign a request to be heard at the city council meeting on a form prepared by the city manager and present said form to the city clerk at the meeting prior to the item being heard on the agenda. Citizens desiring to be heard during those portions of the agenda, shall be limited to three (3) minutes unless extended by a majority vote of the city council. Comments will be limited to the issue presently pending before the council. 
Any citizen desiring to comment under the boards and commissions, mayor and council report, city manager's report, and city attorney's report portions of the agenda may do so under the portion of the agenda forPetitions and Requests  from the public present. 
The city manager shall prepare the agenda for all meetings consistent with the policies of the city council. The city manager may prepare forms and rules for placement of the items on the agenda and determine the location of citizens on the agenda and shall have the right to defer placement of an item to a later meeting in the interest of meeting length or staff preparation; provided, however, that such decisions may be appealed to the city council at the next meeting. The city council may take up any item not on the agenda or change the order of business at any meeting with a majority vote of the council.
(6)   Rule 6  . Every appointed board or commission shall report to the council at the time set by the city council or show cause why not. 
(7)   Rule 7  . Every ordinance except ordinances which rezone private real property initiated by the city, its departments, or boards and commissions, may be read by title, or in full, on at least two (2) separate days and shall, at least ten (10) days prior to adoption, be noticed once in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality. The notice of proposed enactment shall state the date, time and place of the meeting, the title or titles of proposed ordinances and the place or places within the municipality where such proposed ordinances may be inspected by the public. Such notice shall also advise that interested parties may appear at the meeting and be heard with respect to the proposed ordinance. 
a.   An emergency ordinance, without complying with the foregoing requirements, may be enacted by a two-thirds ( 2/3) vote of the members of the entire council. No emergency ordinance shall be enacted which rezones private real property. The procedure for enactment of ordinances which rezone private real property initiated by the city departments, boards and commissions, shall be in accordance with F.S. § 166.041(3)(c) and such procedure is hereby adopted by reference as if set forth herein in full. A copy of this procedure is on file with the city clerk.
b.   All ordinances and resolutions passed by the council shall become effective ten (10) days after passage or as otherwise provided in such ordinances or resolutions.
(8)   Rule 8  . In all cases each member of the council shall vote unless a member abstains where he believes he may have a conflict of interest. That member shall state the reason for abstaining and follow the procedure in F.S. § 112.3143(3). In the event of a roll call vote, the order of voting shall begin with the councilmember on the far right of the chair and rotate to the left for the beginning of each succeeding vote. In all matters coming before council a majority vote shall govern except as provided in section 23 of the Charter. 
(9)   Rule 9  . All resolutions shall be reduced to writing. 
(10)   Rule 10  . Whenever the mayor shall desire to make a motion upon any matter he shall designate some member of the council to take the chair. 
(11)   Rule 11  . No member, while the council is in session, shall offer any motion, or make any remark, or speak on any subject under discussion, without first addressing and being recognized by the chair. When more than one member shall rise at or near the same time, the mayor shall decide in favor of that one who shall first attract his attention, and no member shall interrupt another while speaking, except to call him to order. 
(12)   Rule 12  . The mayor shall decide all questions of order, but any member dissatisfied with any of his decisions shall have the right to appeal to the council. 
(13)   Rule 13  . A motion to reconsider any of the proceedings of the council will not be entertained, unless it is made by a member who previously voted in the majority, nor shall it be entertained at any other meeting than the one at which the proceedings were had or the meeting immediately following . 
(14)   Rule 14  . Any additional rule or rules may from time to time be made by council, but no alteration of a rule or adoption of a new rule shall take place without the consent of three-fifths of the members present and upon one month's notice. 
(15)   Rule 15  . The clerk shall keep a separate book in which shall be entered these and all other rules and ordinances, which the council shall pass.  
(16)   Rule 16  . No person other than a member of the council and city staff shall be allowed to address the council unless he is recognized by the mayor during a declared public hearing or unless agreed to by a majority vote of the city council except as provided in Rule 5. 
(17)   Rule 17  . No communication to the council will be entertained unless the communication is in writing. 
(18)   Rule 18  . The mayor, when the council is in session, shall enforce parliamentary rules for its government, so far as they are applicable to such a legislative body. Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised edition, is hereby adopted by reference as the official guide for the mayor and the city council in the conduct of its business. Any rule provided for in this article in conflict with Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised edition, shall supersede the provisions contained in Robert's Rules of Order. 
(19)   Rule 19  . Any of the foregoing rules may be suspended by a unanimous vote of the council for the meeting in session. 
(20)   Rule 20   . No person shall be permitted on the platform where the city council is seated except members of the council and officers of the city, unless they are invited by the council. 
(21)   Rule 21  . A roll call vote may be called for on any question whenever requested by a member of the city council. 
(22)   Rule 22  . If any member of the city council wishes to withdraw or leave the council chamber or place of meeting while the council is in session, the member must notify the mayor. 
(Code 1963, § 2-1; Ord. No. 19-1991, § 1, 5-28-91; Ord. No. 17-1993, § 1, 5-25-93; Ord. No. 45-1993, § 1, 11-9-93; Ord. No. 24-1998, § 1, 9-8-98; Ord. No. 38-1998, § 1, 10-27-98; Ord. No. 23-1999, § 1, 8-10-99; Ord. No. 41-1999, § 1, 11-23-99; Ord. No. 14-2001, § 1, 6-12-01; Ord. No. 4-2004, § 1, 1-27-04)
Charter references:  Organizational meeting, § 20; regular meeting, § 21. 
State law references:  Voting conflicts, F.S. §§ 112.3143(3), 286.012; procedure for adoption of ordinances, F.S. § 166.041.