Title
Amendments to Rules of Council Proceedings (Ordinance G-6638)
Description
An ordinance amending Phoenix City Code, Chapter 2, Article II, Section 2-60, Rules of Council Proceedings, to incorporate technical and procedural updates and feedback received from Councilmembers.
Report
Summary
The proposed ordinance would amend existing Rules 2-6,11 and 13, add new rules related to ad hoc committees and speaker and audience decorum, and renumber accordingly.
Proposed changes detailed in the draft ordinance (Attachment A) include:
- Adding Work Study Sessions to the list of calendared Council meetings and removing the reference to separate zoning meetings.
- Clarifying that the City Manager will include an item on the Formal Agenda at the written request of the Mayor or at least three Councilmembers, the same requirement as for calling a special meeting.
- Modifying the standard order of business of Formal meetings to better reflect current practice.
- Applying the same guidelines for preparation of Policy Session agendas to Work Study Session agendas.
- Separating the existing requirements for Subcommittees and Ad Hoc Committees into two distinct rules to provide clarification.
- Changing the title of the rule formerly called "General Procedures" to clarify that it includes "Rules of Governance;" adding details related to motions and voting to reflect current practice; and establishing a time frame for selecting a Vice Mayor.
- Adding provisions related to speaker and audience decorum, including clarifying the Mayor's authority to preserve order in meetings.
- Inserting more detail in the rule related to emergencies that is consistent with related provisions of the Phoenix City Charter and Code.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Acting Deputy City Manager Toni Maccarone and the City Clerk and Law departments.