Chapter 2.04
CITY COUNCIL
Sections:
2.04.030 Meetings – Presenting matter to council.
2.04.040 Robert’s Rules of Order.
2.04.010 Chambers designated.
The Bell Gardens City Hall, located at 7100 Garfield Avenue, Bell Gardens, California, shall be the council chambers of the city council, and all meetings of the city council shall be held therein. (Prior code § 2700).
2.04.020 Meeting – Time designated – Election of mayor/chairperson and mayor pro tem/vice chairperson.
A. Regular meetings of the Bell Gardens city council shall be held in the council chambers on the second and fourth Monday of each month at the hour of 5:00 p.m. or, if such day is a holiday, then the meeting scheduled on such day shall be held on the next succeeding day, which is not a holiday.
B. Only closed sessions and study sessions may be held between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. unless a regular meeting is adjourned to or a special meeting is called for that time. No study session or closed session will be held during those hours unless the posted agenda of the regular meeting indicates that such sessions will take place; in the absence of such notification, the regular meeting shall commence at the hour of 6:00 p.m. Appropriate city staff shall attend such study sessions and shall give councilmembers such detailed information as they possess regarding matters identified in the agenda, as well as matters on the regular meeting agenda. No action shall be taken during any study session held between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. unless the agenda so provides.
C. The council/commission shall organize and select a mayor/chairperson and mayor pro tem/vice chairperson at either: (1) the first regular meeting in December in odd-numbered years; (2) at the time designated by applicable provisions of the Government Code for even-numbered years; or (3) at such other time as a majority of the council shall so order. (Ord. 915 § 2, 2021; Ord. 800 § 1, 2006; Ord. 767 § 1, 2003; Ord. 674 § 1, 1997; Ord. 620 § 1, 1993; Ord. 604 § 1, 1992; Ord. 545 § 3, 1988; Ord. 439 § 1, 1982; Ord. 411 § 1, 1980; Ord. 356 § 3, 1976; prior code § 2703).
2.04.025 Term limits.
A. The purpose of this section is to create more competitive elections by ensuring that periodically the advantages of incumbency of a city council member will yield to increased participation in seeking elective office.
B. Pursuant to the authority granted to the city under Government Code Section 36502(b), no person shall serve more than 12 years, or three four-year terms, as a member of the Bell Gardens city council.
C. Any person who, either by appointment or election, serves a partial term of office as a member of the city council for any portion of a term, shall be deemed, for the purposes of this section, to have served a full four-year term.
D. Any member of the city council who resigns or is removed from office during a term shall be deemed to have served a full term.
E. The three-term limit established by this section shall apply prospectively only to those terms of office which commence on or after November 8, 2022.
F. The city clerk must reject, refuse to accept for filing, and otherwise refuse to process any nominating papers or other equivalent declaration of candidacy as required or authorized by law for persons if they are ineligible to hold public office pursuant to this section.
G. This section shall not be amended or repealed except by a majority vote of the voters of the city of Bell Gardens at a regularly scheduled election. (Ord. 916 § 2, 2022).
2.04.030 Meetings – Presenting matter to council.
Every official, board, commission, or other body connected with the city government, and every citizen, individual, corporation, committee, or civil group having any reports, communications, or other matters to be presented at a council meeting, shall notify the city clerk of that fact in writing before 5:00 p.m. on the day established by resolution of the city council. The city clerk shall prepare an agenda setting forth such matters and the nature thereof under their appropriate headings, and setting forth all other matters to come before such meeting under their appropriate headings. On the day established by resolution of the city council the city clerk shall cause one copy of the agenda packet to be delivered to each councilmember. Matters deemed by the city council to be of an emergency nature are excepted from the foregoing provision. (Ord. 638 § 1, 1994; prior code § 2704).
2.04.040 Robert’s Rules of Order.
In all matters and things not otherwise provided for in this code, the proceedings of the council shall be governed by “Robert’s Rules of Order,” 1915 revised edition. However, no ordinance, resolution, proceeding or other action of the city council shall be invalidated, or the legality thereof otherwise affected, by the failure or omission to observe or follow said rules. (Prior code § 2705).