Chapter 2.12 CITY COUNCIL

A. NPMC 2.12.010 through 2.12.350 comprise the rules of procedure of the Council, which is a legislative body vested by law with the legislative power of the City of North Pole. As such, the Mayor’s decision on a question, interpretation or application of these rules of procedure shall be final, unless overturned by the Council as provided in these rules, in which the Council’s decision shall be final, and no action or proceeding to challenge the validity of such final decision shall lie in any judicial or other forum.

B. Any procedural question concerning the functioning of the Council which is not addressed in these rules shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order. However, if any provision of these rules shall conflict with a provision of Robert’s Rules of Order, these rules shall control. The Clerk shall maintain a copy of Robert’s Rules of Order which shall be the official edition utilized by the Council. The Clerk shall change editions from time to time, as he deems necessary, in order to keep the Council’s rules updated and current.

C. Except as otherwise provided in these rules, the Council may suspend the application of these rules to a particular item of business or until a time certain by vote of two-thirds majority. If the duration of the suspension of the rules is not limited as provided above, the suspension shall remain in effect for the duration of the meeting at which the rules were suspended. If a meeting is recessed and reconvened on another day, the suspension of rules shall remain in effect at the reconvened meeting. The Council may reinstate the rules at any time by vote of two-thirds majority. (Ord. 98-5 § 1, 1998; Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 92-5 § 2, 1992; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(1), 1982)

2.12.020 Organization.

A. The Council shall elect from its membership a Mayor Pro Tempore, a Deputy Mayor Pro Tempore and an alternate to the Deputy Mayor Pro Tempore.

B. The election of the Mayor Pro Tempore, the Deputy Mayor Pro Tempore and the alternate to the Deputy Mayor Pro Tempore shall be held annually at the first regular meeting following certification of the results of the City of North Pole election and shall be conducted in the following manner:

1. The Council shall hear nominations from as many Council members as shall desire to make them.

2. The Council shall hold a secret ballot at the close of nominations.

3. A candidate shall be elected only if the candidate receives a majority vote of at least four members.

4. If no candidate receives a majority vote, then the Council shall hold a runoff election between all of the candidates, minus the one that received the least number of votes. The Council shall continue balloting until one candidate is elected.

5. If there is a tie between the candidates that received the least number of votes, then the Council shall break the tie by voting for the tied candidate, and the name of the candidate receiving the most votes shall be added to the runoff ballot.

6. In the event of a vacancy of the office of Mayor Pro Tempore, Deputy Mayor Pro Tempore or the alternate to the Deputy Mayor Pro Tempore, the vacancy shall be filled by holding an election at the next regular meeting of the Council, in accordance with the rules stipulated in subsections (B)(1) through (5) of this section. (Ord. 98-5 § 2, 1998; Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(2), 1982)

2.12.030 Council meeting – Time and place.

A. Prior to any regular City Council meeting, there shall be held a committee of the whole meeting, at a time designated by the Mayor, to discuss items on the agenda. No business may be transacted at a committee of the whole meeting. The regular City Council meetings shall commence at 7:00 p.m. and shall adjourn at 10:00 p.m. unless the time is extended by an affirmative vote of at least four members. No meeting shall extend beyond midnight. Regular Council meetings shall be scheduled for the first and third Mondays of each month and the first and second Monday of December unless otherwise posted.

B. The Mayor or four or more Council members may cause a special meeting to be called if the Mayor or Clerk gives the majority of the Council members at least twenty-four hours’ oral or written notice and makes reasonable efforts to notify all Council members.

1. Notice of a special meeting shall include the time, location, and purpose of the special meeting and the identity of the person or persons calling the meeting;

2. The Council shall not transact any business at a special meeting except business relating to the purpose stated in the notice of the meeting.

C. The Council may conduct a special meeting with less than twenty-four hours’ notice if all Council members are present or if absent Council members have waived in writing the required notice. A waiver of notice shall be made part of the minutes for the meeting. The responsibility to contact absent Council members is limited to making a good faith effort.

D. The majority of the total membership of the Council authorized by law constitutes a quorum. The Council shall not transact any business if a quorum is not present.

E. The Mayor shall have charge of calendaring the agenda of the Council. Notwithstanding, ordinances, resolutions or other action items sponsored by two members of the Council shall be placed without delay on the Council agenda if submitted to the Clerk by the required publishing deadline.

1. The Council shall not transact any business not on the agenda. The Mayor shall bring the business before the Council in the order stated on the agenda as amended.

2. The Mayor or a Council member may introduce an ordinance or resolution at a regular meeting in accordance with the agenda deadlines established by the City Clerk.

3. The Clerk shall cause notice of a public hearing to be published not later than five days before each regular meeting.

4. Council members may propose amendments to any business before the Council.

5. Amendments to proposed ordinances shall be submitted to the Clerk in writing where practicable. The Clerk shall assist Council members in crafting ordinances and providing for clerical and format assistance.

6. Items to be included on the agenda must be submitted to the City Clerk not later than one work day prior to publishing/posting the agenda as stated in subsection (I) of this section. Items so received shall be placed on the Council agenda. Items received subsequent to one working day before publishing/posting the agenda will be placed on the agenda of the next regular Council meeting, unless adopted by majority vote at the time the agenda is approved in a regular City Council meeting.

7. Prior to any ordinance or appropriation of a permanent nature being placed on the agenda, it may at Council request have legal review and approval.

F. The meeting place of the Council for regular Council meetings shall be in the City Council chambers. No meeting of the Council shall be held in a facility which restricts admission on the basis of race, sex, age, creed, color or religion.

G. Except as provided in this subsection, the Council shall not transact any business after 12:00 midnight or before 7:00 p.m.

1. By majority vote, the Council may extend a meeting and transact business after 12:00 midnight and before 7:00 p.m. if the business transacted is the adoption of the City budget. After completion of such action, the Council shall recess.

2. This provision does not apply to a special meeting called in accordance with subsection (C) of this section.

H. Consistent with AS 44.62.310(c)(1), the Council, by majority vote, may recess from a public meeting, work session or other gathering of the Council into executive session if the Council considers no business during executive session except those subjects mentioned in the motion calling for the executive session and the motion includes which of the following four criteria are applicable:

1. Subjects the immediate knowledge of which would clearly have an adverse effect on the finances of the City;

2. Subjects that tend to prejudice the reputation and character of any person, provided the person may request a public discussion;

3. Subjects that by law, City Charter or ordinances are required to be confidential; or

4. Matters involving consideration of government records that by law are not subject to public disclosure.

The Council shall not take official action in executive session. The executive session shall be attended only by the voting members of the Council, the City Clerk, and by other such persons as the Mayor and/or the Council shall deem necessary. Personal or private recordings of executive sessions are prohibited. Reasonable notice shall be given to any person whose character or reputation may be prejudiced.

I. The agenda for the regular meetings shall be public information and the Clerk shall cause the agenda to be published and posted not later than seventy-two hours before the meeting.

J. The Clerk shall make the agenda for a regular meeting available for each Council member and the Mayor not later than 4:30 p.m. on the Thursday before the Monday Council meeting.

K. Items may be added to or deleted from the agenda by a vote of four Council members. Such vote will be taken at the time the agenda is considered. Items added will be placed before the Council at the appropriate time by the Mayor. Items deleted shall be removed from the agenda and not be considered. This section shall not preclude Council members from proposing additions or deletions so long as those proposals are placed before Council at the time the agenda is being considered and receive a minimum of four votes, except that the procedure for amending the agenda may not be altered or denied. (Ord. 18-28 § 2, 2018; Ord. 09-18 § 2, 2009; Ord. 09-11 § 2, 2009; Ord. 99-27 § 3, 1999; Ord. 99-16 § 2, 1999; Ord. 99-9 § 2, 1999; Ord. 98-5 § 3, 1998; Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(3), 1982)

2.12.040 Journal.

The journal of the Council shall be in the form of minutes. The journal shall contain:

A. The proceedings of the Council as concisely as possible, care being taken to record a true and accurate account of all the proceedings;

B. The number and title of all ordinances and resolutions introduced;

C. A brief statement of the contents of each ordinance or resolution addressed to the Council;

D. The final vote on each ordinance, resolution or substantive motion if a recorded “yes” or “no” except that if the vote is unanimous it is necessary only so to state. (Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(5), 1982)

2.12.050 Quorum.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Charter or any ordinance, if the membership of the Council is reduced to fewer than four members, the remaining members shall, within seven days, appoint a number of qualified persons to constitute a quorum. (Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 86-4 § 2, 1986)

2.12.060 Order of business.

Unless changed by a vote of four of the Council members, the business of the Council will be disposed of in the following order:

A. Roll call;

B. Pledge of allegiance to the U.S. flag;

C. Invocation;

D. Approval of the agenda;

E. Approval of the minutes;

F. Communications from the Mayor;

G. Council member questions of the Mayor;

H. Citizens’ comments;

I. Communications from department heads, Borough representative(s), and the City Clerk;

J. Ongoing projects report;

K. Unfinished business;

L. New business;

M. Council comments;

N. Adjournment. (Ord. 22-29 § 2, 2023; Ord. 98-13 § 2, 1998; Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 94-4 § 2, 1994; Ord. 92-17 § 2, 1992; Ord. 92-7 § 2, 1992; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(7), 1982)

2.12.070 Committees.

A. The Council may create standing and special committees. The Mayor shall appoint committee members and designate a committee chairman subject to confirmation by the Council. All committees and their respective memberships shall automatically sunset by December 31st of each year unless otherwise specified. The Mayor and the Council shall annually review all committees and their respective memberships for consideration of reappointment. In such case as the Mayor has a conflict of interest in appointments to special or standing committees, the Mayor Pro Tempore shall appoint committee members subject to confirmation of Council. In such case as both the Mayor and the Mayor Pro Tempore have a conflict of interest, the Deputy Mayor Pro Tempore shall appoint committee members subject to confirmation of Council. In such case as the Mayor, Mayor Pro Tempore and Deputy Mayor Pro Tempore have a conflict of interest, the alternate Deputy Mayor Pro Tempore shall appoint committee members subject to confirmation of Council.

B. The majority of those committee members appointed under subsection (A) of this section and confirmed by Council will constitute a quorum of the committee.

C. No business shall be conducted without a quorum of the committee.

D. The committee chairman shall see that the committee acts on all business referred to it and reports back to the Council as soon as practicable. The committee chairman shall file with the Clerk a record of the actions taken by the committee.

E. Any Council member may attend, participate, debate and vote at any committee meeting, but a Council member who was not appointed to the committee shall not be counted in determining the presence of a quorum.

F. A majority of the votes cast on the question shall be required to adopt any motion or other matter brought before a committee.

G. The Clerk shall cause reasonable public notice of a committee meeting to be given. (Ord. 01-06, 2001; Ord. 98-5 §§ 4, 6, 1998; Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(10), 1982)

2.12.080 Repealed.

2.12.090 Council voting.

A. The title to an ordinance shall be included on the agenda and read before public hearing is held and before a vote is taken. The Clerk shall make copies of each ordinance available to all persons present at each meeting at which it is considered. If such copies are not available the ordinance shall be read in full. This shall not preclude projecting matters of business on a screen for public review.

B. Each Council member present shall vote on every question, unless required to abstain from voting on a question by a code of ethics adopted by ordinance or by the laws of the State of Alaska. All motions to excuse a member from voting shall be made before the call of “yes” and “no” is commenced. Any member requesting to be excused from voting may make a brief statement of the reasons for making such a request and a vote will be taken without further debate. If a member refuses to vote, the Clerk shall record a vote for the prevailing side.

C. The Mayor shall not allow a Council member to explain his vote or discuss the question while the vote is being called.

D. On completion of the roll call, the Mayor shall ask if any Council member wishes to change his vote and if a Council member does change his vote then the changed vote will be the Council member’s final vote on the question and the vote used to determine the results of the roll call. A Council member may only change his vote once on any given question. The final vote of each Council member on votes to adopt an ordinance shall be recorded “yes” or “no.” The final vote of each Council member on votes to adopt resolutions and substantive motions shall be recorded as “yes” or “no” except that if the vote is unanimous it may be recorded “unanimous.”

E. The City Clerk shall announce the number of “yes” votes and the number of “no” votes and whether the question has carried or failed.

F. At least a majority vote shall be required to carry any question.

G. A majority vote shall be four votes. A two-thirds vote shall be five votes. (Ord. 99-9 § 2, 1999; Ord. 98-5 § 11, 1998; Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(14), 1982)

2.12.100 Recognition to speak.

No member shall be recognized to speak on the same subject a second time until every member choosing to speak has spoken, except that the mover of the question may open and close debate. The Mayor shall have the same privilege of speaking on any matter as any other Council member; however, the Mayor may not have preferential privilege to speak more frequently or in any preferential order than any other Council member. During debate, and without objection by Council, the Mayor may call on the City Attorney, the City Clerk, department heads or other technical experts to answer a specific question or questions regarding the issue under debate. Remarks by a citizen so recognized may relate only to a question before the body. (Ord. 98-5 §§ 7, 12, 1998; Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(19), 1982)

2.12.105 Rules for public testimony.

A. These rules are applicable to persons addressing the Council under citizens’ comments as well as persons desiring to speak to items scheduled for public hearing. The Mayor shall permit all persons desiring to speak to speak for not more than five minutes during citizens’ comments and for not more than five minutes on items scheduled for public hearing.

B. The Mayor may alter the times specified in this section, so long as the alteration does not unreasonably deny any person an opportunity to speak at public hearing and so long as there is no objection from Council.

C. The Clerk shall make available sign-up sheets on which persons desiring to speak on items scheduled for public hearing may indicate their desire. The Mayor shall request comments from persons in the order in which they have signed up on such sheets, and then shall take comments from all other persons desiring to make them.

D. No person who has previously spoken during the public hearing on a particular item may speak again unless all other persons desiring to give testimony at the public hearing have spoken. A person speaking for the second time shall give testimony for not more than one minute, unless the Mayor designates a different time and that time is without objection from Council.

E. No person may speak on an item after public hearing on that item has terminated.

F. No person shall speak during a Council meeting until that person is recognized by the Mayor. Upon recognition, that person shall position himself as directed by the Mayor and shall state his first name, last name and address.

G. All persons shall immediately cease speaking when notified by the Mayor that the allotted time has expired.

H. Citizens giving public testimony may ask questions of the Council members, the Mayor or the City staff, and Council members may ask questions of citizens giving testimony. The Mayor and/or Council members may provide comment and answer questions presented by a citizen; however, at no time will a Council member and a citizen enter into debate. Mutual respect and decorum will be maintained during all periods of comment. A Council member or citizen who fails to abide by the rules for public testimony will be considered out of order and their comments will be terminated by the chair. The time allotted to a citizen for public testimony shall be extended automatically to provide additional time which is reasonably sufficient to answer all questions posed.

I. All writings, photographs or other items presented by a citizen during public testimony for consideration by the Council shall be retained by the Clerk and affixed to the record of the proceedings.

J. Citizens may present written testimony by filing such testimony with the Clerk at or before the time scheduled for public hearing on the item or the time scheduled for citizens’ comments if the item is not scheduled for public hearing.

K. A citizen, acting alone or with a group, shall not disrupt a Council meeting.

L. No citizen may impugn the motive of any Council member’s vote or argument and shall avoid personalities. Citizens who persist in such testimony after the matter has been brought to their attention may be directed to discontinue speech by the Mayor.

The procedure for a citizen addressing the Council is for the citizen to rise and be recognized by the Mayor, clearly state his name and resident address, and proceed with his statement. Any citizen who resorts to persistent irrelevance or to persistent repetition after the attention of the body has been called to the matter may be directed to discontinue speech by the Mayor. (Ord. 99-9 § 2, 1999; Ord. 98-5 §§ 8, 13, 1998; Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(20), 1982)

2.12.110 Repealed.

2.12.120 Repealed.

2.12.130 Renumbered.

See NPMC 2.12.090.

2.12.140 Decorum in debate.

When any member is about to speak in debate on any matter to the Council, he shall address himself to the Mayor and, being recognized, confine himself to the question under debate. No member shall impugn the motive of any member’s vote or argument and shall avoid personalities. A member who is speaking may not be interrupted to make a motion, even one with high priority like the motion to adjourn. (Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(15), 1982)

2.12.150 Order of speaking.

A. Any Council member, when desiring to speak, shall respectfully address the chair as “Mayor,” and shall refrain from speaking until recognized.

B. When two or more persons request recognition at the same time, the Mayor shall determine which one shall speak first. (Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(16), 1982)

2.12.160 Points of order.

If any member, in speaking or otherwise, transgresses the rules of the Council, the Mayor shall call him to order, or any other member may rise to a point of order. The member called to order shall immediately cease speaking and cease the action to which he was called to order. The Mayor or the member rising to a point of order shall state the offense committed and the member called to order shall then be heard in explanation or justification. The Mayor shall then rule on the point of order. Any member may challenge a ruling of the chair, and if duly seconded, the chair’s ruling shall not stand unless affirmed by a majority vote of the Council. (Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(17), 1982)

2.12.170 Private conversations.

When a member is speaking, the Council shall be in order, and no private conversations shall be carried on. (Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(18), 1982)

2.12.180 Renumbered.

See NPMC 2.12.100.

2.12.190 Renumbered.

See NPMC 2.12.105.

2.12.200 Motions.

The mover shall state his motion in concise language and shall not discuss it nor his reason for making it until the motion is seconded. The Council member making a motion on a subject before the Council shall be given the opportunity to begin debate on the motion. If the Council member making the motion does not begin debate, then any Council member may do so. Motions may be made orally, in writing, or both. A Council member reading a written motion will provide a copy of the motion to the presiding officer and the Clerk. Prior to calling for the question, the presiding officer or the Council member initiating the motion may be asked to repeat the motion for clarification and record. (Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 92-10 § 2, 1992; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(21), 1982)

2.12.210 Privileged motions.

A. When a question is under debate, no motion shall be made except for the following privileged motions which shall have precedence:

1. To adjourn (not debatable);

2. To recess (not debatable);

3. To raise a question of privilege (not debatable);

4. To call order for the order of the day, or the regular order (not debatable);

5. To lay on the table (not debatable);

6. For the previous question (not debatable);

7. To limit or extend limits of debate (not debatable);

8. To postpone to a certain time;

9. To refer;

10. To amend;

11. To postpone indefinitely.

B. When one of the above motions has been made, none of the others inferior to it in the order in which they stand in subsection (A) of this section shall be made and, in proceeding to vote, motions pending shall be put in the order of their rank as arranged in subsection (A) of this section. A motion to postpone to a certain time, refer, amend or to postpone indefinitely may be amended; the previous question may be demanded before an amendment, which motion shall be decided without a debate. A motion to adjourn shall always be in order; provided, that business of a nature to be recorded in the journal has been defeated. No motion or proposition of a subject different to that under consideration shall be admitted under cover of an amendment. When a matter has been especially assigned to be taken up at a fixed time, or at a certain stage of proceedings, such matter shall, at the appointed time, or at any time subsequent thereto, be in order upon the call of any member, and take precedence over all other business. (Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(22), 1982)

2.12.220 Form of question.

The Mayor shall put the question to the body by stating, “All those in favor shall vote yes and all those opposed shall vote no.” The final vote on each ordinance or resolution shall be by roll call vote, and shall be recorded in the journal. (Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(23), 1982)

2.12.230 Indefinite postponement.

A measure may be indefinitely postponed by a vote of four Council members, and the vote thereon shall be taken by “yes” and “no” and entered in the journal. No motion to postpone indefinitely having been decided in the negative shall again be allowed on the same day at the same stage of the ordinance or resolution. When a question is postponed indefinitely, the same shall not be acted upon again at the same meeting, except upon motion of reconsideration. (Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(24), 1982)

2.12.240 Reconsideration.

A. Except as hereafter provided, no motion, resolution or ordinance shall be reconsidered on the day upon which the final vote was taken. A member who voted on the prevailing side may:

1. On the day upon which final vote was taken, give and have entered in the journal a notice of intention to move a reconsideration at the next Council meeting;

2. On the day immediately following the vote on the motion, resolution or ordinance, give the Clerk of the Council a written notice of reconsideration. When such notice is given, any member may at the next Council meeting move a reconsideration of the question.

B. The affirmative votes of four members of the Council may order a reconsideration taken up at the same meeting that notice of reconsideration is given. The motion for reconsideration opens for debate and the question to be reconsidered shall have precedence over every other motion except the motion to adjourn. When a motion is reconsidered, that vote is canceled as though it had never been taken. When a majority votes to reconsider, the question immediately recurs upon the question reconsidered. There shall be but one reconsideration, even though the action of the Council after reconsideration is opposite the action of the Council before reconsideration. (Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(25), 1982)

2.12.250 Rescind.

A. The motion to rescind is ordinarily applied to actions which have been taken and are already in effect and has the effect of making ineffective the action previously taken. The motion to rescind should be used to reverse the previous action after the time for reconsideration has passed.

B. The motion to rescind can be made on any subsequent Council meeting.

C. The motion to rescind may be made by any member, whether he voted with the prevailing side or not. The motion is debatable and opens the entire question to debate.

D. The motion to rescind yields to all privileges and incidental motions and all subsidiary motions can be applied to it the same as any other motion. The motion to rescind may not be renewed during the same meeting but may be subject to reconsideration in the same manner as any other main motion.

E. The motion to rescind requires the same vote as that required to pass the measure originally. (Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(26), 1982)

2.12.260 Previous question.

A. The previous question may be ordered by a vote of four members present upon all recognized motions which are debatable, and shall have the effect of cutting off all debate and bring the Council to a direct vote upon the motion before the Council. The question is not debatable and cannot be amended.

B. The question shall be put in this form: “The previous question has been moved and seconded; all those in favor of calling the previous question say ‘yes;’ all those opposed say ‘no.’”

C. The results of the motion are as follows: If determined in the negative, the consideration goes on as if the motion had never been made; if it is decided in the affirmative, the Mayor at once and without debate proceeds to put the main motion as ordered. If an adjournment is had after the previous question is ordered, the subject comes up in its regular order at the next meeting and the previous question still operates. (Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(27), 1982)

2.12.270 Division of question.

The chair may divide the question or a Council member may request a division of a question. (Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(28), 1982)

2.12.280 Roll call procedures.

The vote upon any question shall be “yes” and “no,” and shall be recorded in the journal of the Council. In case of an equal division the question shall be lost. No ordinance or resolution before the Council shall be valid unless affirmed by four votes. (Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(29), 1982)

2.12.290 Suspension of rules.

The standing rules, or the order of business, established by the Council, may be suspended by a vote of four members. (Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(30), 1982)

2.12.300 Special meetings.

A. Special meetings may be held on the call of the Mayor, or four or more members of the Council.

B. The notice for special meetings shall indicate the time, location and the purpose of the special meeting and by whom called.

C. The calendar for a special meeting shall be as follows:

1. Roll call;

2. Pledge of allegiance/invocation;

3. Communications to the Council;

4. Citizens’ comments;

5. Special orders – public hearing;

6. Council comments;

7. Adjournment.

D. Special meetings shall commence and adjourn as provided in NPMC 2.12.030 unless specifically amended. (Ord. 96-18 § 2, 1996; Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 92-7 § 2, 1992; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(31), 1982)

2.12.310 Penalties.

The Council, by a vote of four of the membership, may inflict such censure or pecuniary penalty upon a member as they may deem to be just. (Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(32), 1982)

2.12.320 Ex officio members.

The Mayor and members of the Council are ex officio members of all boards, commissions and committees. (Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(33), 1982)

2.12.330 Travel.

A. Council members and the Mayor must bring any travel requests, prior to travel, to a regular Council meeting for concurrence, stating the date, place and length of travel, projected cost and purpose of the trip. A vote on the question will be taken. If there is no regular Council meeting before the planned trip, the Council member must then request the approval of the Mayor, who shall request the Clerk to poll the entire Council for approval by a vote of four members.

B. Following completion of travel, the Mayor and Councilperson must file a written report with the City Clerk or give an oral report at the next regularly scheduled Council meeting stating accomplishments and knowledge gained from the trip as well as a written report of expenditures. (Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(34), 1982)

2.12.340 Expenses.

Expenses of Council members, other than transportation and per diem for approved travel incurred because of City activities, may be reimbursed by the City only after approval by the Council. (Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 82-3 § 2-6(35), 1982)

2.12.350 Compensation.

A. Compensation for City Council members shall be $400 (four hundred dollars) per member per month, paid and prorated for each regular Council meeting attended in person or virtually. Council members shall receive an additional $150 (one hundred fifty dollars) for each special meeting attended called in accordance with NPMC 2.12.300 and work sessions shall be compensated at $100 (one hundred dollars) per meeting. Committee meetings do not constitute a special meeting for purposes of compensation. Council members attending in person or virtually the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly meeting as City of North Pole representatives shall receive $175 (one hundred seventy-five dollars) per meeting attended. Council members attending any other meeting that exceeds one hour in duration as a designated participant representing the City of North Pole shall receive $100 (one hundred dollars) per meeting attended. Compensation for attending the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly or other meeting as a designated participant shall be processed by the City Clerk upon receipt of an email confirming your attendance, to include an attached agenda, abbreviated agenda, or statement to your speaking points or participation and present your report at the next regular City Council meeting. The email must be submitted to the City Clerk within thirty days of the meeting date or payment will not be made. On the occasion that the Mayor Pro Tempore must step in as Mayor for at least four hours more than their normal obligations per week they shall receive an extra $100 (one hundred dollars) per week. Compensation for attending meetings shall be paid following the last day of each month served.

B. To be eligible for any compensation, Council members must be in conformity with conditions set forth in Sections 2.6 and 2.7 of the Home Rule Charter. Compensation shall be reduced on a prorated basis for absences at any regularly scheduled meeting for which a duly constituted quorum is present.

C. Elected officials who were hired prior to July 1, 2006, and were enrolled in PERS Tier I, II or III shall be enrolled in the State Public Employees’ Retirement System. Elected officials who were hired after July 1, 2006, and receiving compensation of less than $2,001 (two thousand one dollars) per month will not be enrolled in the State Public Employees’ Retirement System. (Ord. 24-03 § 2, 2024; Ord. 20-11 § 2, 2020; Ord. 16-24 § 2, 2016; Ord. 15-21 § 2, 2015; Ord. 98-5 § 14, 1998; Ord. 94-8 § 2, 1994; Ord. 89-10 § 2, 1990; Ord. 89-8 § 2, 1989)