HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 4858
CITY OF PALO ALTO OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
June 2, 2014
The Honorable City Council
Palo Alto, California
SECOND READING: Adoption of an Ordinance Amending the
Municipal Code to Change the Regular Meeting Start Time from
7:00pm to 6:00pm; Amend the Council’s Procedures to Reflect the
6:00pm Meeting Start Time
This is a second reading of the Ordinance, there were no changes during the passing of the first
reading.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A - Ordinance Changing Council Meeting Start Time (PDF)
Department Head: Donna Grider, City Clerk
Page 2
*NOT YET APPROVED*
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Ordinance No. _____
Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto
Amending Section 2.04.010 (Regular Meeting) of Chapter 2.04 (Council
Organization and Procedure) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to Change
the City Council Meeting Start Time from Seven p.m. to Six p.m.
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as follows:
SECTION 1. Findings and Declarations. The City Council finds and declares as
follows:
(a) The Palo Alto Charter states that the Council shall set a time and place for
its regular meetings. (Charter, Art. III, Section 5.) For many years, the Municipal Code has
provided that the regular meeting time is the first three Mondays of each month beginning at
seven p.m. (Palo Alto Municipal Code section 2.04.010.);
(b) In recent years, it has been common for Council meetings to begin at six
p.m. or even earlier. Such meetings are noticed as “special meetings” as required by state and
local law. (Cal. Govt. Code sections 54954, 54956; PAMC section 2.04.020; Palo Alto City
Council Procedures, section 2.4(Q), p. 13.); and
(c) Council now wishes to amend the Municipal Code to provide that the
regular meeting time be the first three Mondays of each month beginning at six p.m. Meetings
noticed for other times will be designated “special meetings.”
SECTION 2. Section 2.04.010 (Regular Meeting) of Chapter 2.04 (Council
Organization and Procedure) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as
follows:
2.04.010 Definitions
(a) The council of the city shall hold regular meetings on the first three
Mondays of each month, at sevensix p.m. in the council chambers of the City Hall, 250 Hamilton
Avenue, in said city unless the council chambers shall be determined by a majority vote of the
council to be inadequate or unavailable for a meetin g, in which event the council may designate
some other suitable place in the city for the conduct of the meeting. The determination to hold
the meeting at a place other than the council chambers may be made by the mayor prior to the
regular meeting date; provided, that notice of the change in place for conduct of the meeting
shall be published prior to the meeting in a newspaper of general circulation published in the
city, setting forth the reasons for the change, and a copy of the notice shall be posted o n the
council chamber door for at least twenty-four hours prior to the time scheduled for the
meeting and during the meeting. If the council adjourns its meeting from the council chambers
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to another place, notice to adjourn and the new place for holding th e meeting shall be posted
on the council chamber door during the time the meeting is being held.
(b) Each year, no later than the third meeting in February, the council shall
by resolution schedule its vacation for that year. The resolution shall designate the dates of this
scheduled vacation and the city clerk will give notice thereof by whatever means are deemed
appropriate. During said scheduled annual vacation, there shall be no regular meetings of the
council nor of the council standing committees, unless it is an adjourned regular meeting. The
mayor or a majority of the council may call a special meeting during the scheduled vacation if
necessary.
SECTION 3. The Council finds that the provisions of this Ordinance do not
constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act because it can be seen with
certainty that no significant environmental impact will occur as a result of the amended
Ordinance.
SECTION 4. This ordinance shall be effective on the thirty-first day after the
date of its adoption.
INTRODUCED:
PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:
____________________________ ____________________________
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED:
____________________________ ____________________________
City Attorney City Manager
____________________________
Director of Administrative
Services