Chapter 2.03
CITY COUNCIL – MEETINGS*

Sections:

2.03.010    Time – Place.

2.03.020    Special meetings.

2.03.030    Open to public.

2.03.035    Notifications of hearings and agenda for council meetings.

2.03.040    Compensation to council members.

2.03.050    Repealed.

2.03.060    Reviewing special property use permits in the D-C district.

*For the statutory provisions regarding council meetings, see RCW 35A.13.170; for the provisions regarding compensation of councilmen, see RCW 35A.13.040; for provisions regarding the power of the council, see RCW 35A.13.230.

2.03.010 Time – Place.

Regular meetings of the city council shall be held in the Council Chamber at the City Hall at 6:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month hereafter; except that, in the months of July and August, such regular meetings shall be held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of those months; provided, that the city council shall have the right to adjourn the meeting from time to time; provided further, if the regular meeting date falls on a legal holiday, the city council shall have the right at the last meeting preceding the legal holiday to adjourn the meeting to any time not exceeding 30 days or to cancel such regular meeting and conduct a special meeting in lieu thereof; provided further, that notice of adjournment of any meeting to a time other than the regular meeting time or notice of any special meeting shall be given in the manner provided by law. (Ord. 3458 § 1, 2022; Ord. 2620 § 1, 1996; Ord. 1554 § 1, 1972; Ord. 1363 § 1, 1968; Ord. 1347 § 1, 1967; Ord. 1117 § 2, 1961).

2.03.020 Special meetings.

The clerk shall call special meetings of the council upon request of the mayor or any three members. Requests for special meetings shall state the subjects to be considered and no other subjects shall be considered at a special meeting. (Ord. 1554 § 1, 1972; Ord. 1363 § 1, 1968; Ord. 1347 § 1, 1967; Ord. 1117 § 2, 1961).

2.03.030 Open to public.

All meetings of the council and of committees thereof shall be open to the public, and the rules of the council shall provide that citizens of the city shall have a reasonable opportunity to be heard at any meetings in regard to any matter being considered thereat. (Ord. 1554 § 1, 1972; Ord. 1363 § 1, 1968; Ord. 1347 § 1, 1967; Ord. 1117 § 2, 1961).

2.03.035 Notifications of hearings and agenda for council meetings.

(1) Notices of Public Hearings. Except where a specific method of giving notice of public hearings is otherwise provided by statute or ordinance, notice of upcoming public hearings to be conducted by the city council shall be given, by delivering to the city’s official newspaper not less than 10 days before the date set for hearing, a notice setting forth the time, place, date and subject member of each such public hearing. In addition, a copy of said notice shall be posted on the bulletin board in the foyer of the City Hall of the city of Longview, not less than 10 days before the date set for the hearing described therein.

(2) Preliminary Agenda of City Council Meeting. The public shall be notified of the preliminary agenda for all forthcoming city council meetings by posting a copy of each preliminary agenda in the following four public places in the city at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting:

(a) Bulletin board in foyer of City Hall, Longview, Washington;

(b) Bulletin board at main entrance to Longview Public Library, Longview, Washington;

(c) Bulletin board at Longview Chamber of Commerce, Longview, Washington;

(d) Bulletin board of main lobby, main U.S. Post Office, Longview, Washington.

In addition to such posting, a copy of such preliminary agenda shall be delivered to the official newspaper of the city not less than 24 hours before the city council meeting to which such preliminary agenda is applicable.

(3) City Clerk to Provide Notice. The city clerk of the city of Longview is hereby directed to post and deliver notices as required by this section. (Res. 1397, 1988).

2.03.040 Compensation to council members.

Each council member shall be paid such compensation as provided in Chapter 2.02 LMC. (Ord. 2938 § 1, 2005; Ord. 2051 § 1, 1981; Ord. 1737 § 1, 1975; Ord. 1666 § 1, 1973; Ord. 1554 § 1, 1972; Ord. 1363 § 1, 1968; Ord. 1347 § 1, 1967; Ord. 1117 § 2, 1961).

2.03.050 Compensation – Commencing January 1, 1988.

Repealed by Ord. 2938. (Ord. 2297 § 1, 1987).

2.03.060 Reviewing special property use permits in the D-C district.

The city council shall have and exercise original jurisdiction in receiving, granting or denying all applications for special property uses within the downtown commerce (D-C) district. The city council shall have the power to place in such permits conditions or limitations in its judgment required to secure adequate protection to the zone or locality in which such use is to be permitted. No special permit shall be issued by the city council until after public hearing, as hereinafter provided.

(1) Prior to city council’s holding the public hearing on the application, the planning commission shall forward a recommendation to the city council. Per the appearance of fairness doctrine, planning commission members shall not receive any testimony or recommendations except from city staff.

(2) The public hearing shall be conducted within 30 days after the receipt of the planning commission’s recommendation, and not less than 10 days’ notice of such hearing shall be given to the persons and in the manner specified in LMC 19.12.090.

Any decision of the city council shall be rendered within 30 days after such public hearing.

(3) In the granting, denial, or imposition of conditions upon such special property use permits, the city council shall be guided by the provisions of LMC 19.12.050(3) and 19.44.030.

(4) All decisions of the city council hereunder shall be final and binding and not subject to any appeal process except as otherwise provided by law. (Ord. 3170 § 1, 2011; Ord. 2799 § 1, 2001).