Chapter 2.04 CITY COUNCIL

The Goldendale city council shall be the legislative body of the city government, and in accordance with state statutes, may determine it’s own rules of conduct, proceedings and business, and have such powers and duties as provided in this chapter and the Revised Code of Washington, as now or hereafter amended. (Ord. 1182 (part), 1996)

2.04.030 Meetings.

A. The regular meetings of the council shall be held on the first and third Monday of each month at the hour of six p.m.; provided, that if the regular meeting falls on a legal holiday, the meeting shall take place on the next business day at the same hour. Adjourned meetings may be held at such times as the council may determine. All regular meetings of the city council shall be held at the council chambers in the City Hall at Goldendale, Washington. Meetings shall last until nine p.m. unless sooner adjourned, with one-half-hour extensions allowed by a majority vote. Unfinished business will be continued to the next regular meeting or recessed to another time.

B. The city council, by majority vote, may cancel or reschedule regular meetings to a different date or time.

C. All official meetings of the council shall be open to the public except for executive sessions, as set forth in Chapter 42.30 RCW, or meetings which are not subject to Chapter 42.30 RCW such as quasi-judicial hearings or collective bargaining issues, as set forth in RCW 42.30.140. Nothing shall prevent the council from holding an executive session during a regular or special meeting.

D. Seating and arrangement of the council chambers shall be determined by the council. (Ord. 1522 §1, 2022; Ord. 1221 (part), 1998: Ord. 1182 (part), 1996)

2.04.040 Special meetings.

Special meetings of the council may be called by the mayor or by a request of a majority of the councilmembers; provided that a written notice or phone call of such meetings and its agenda shall be given to each member of the council and the press at least twenty-four hours before the time set for the meeting; provided, further, that in the case all of the elected members of the council are present at any special meeting then the requirement of notice shall be unnecessary and shall be deemed waived; provided, further, if, by reason of emergency, as described in RCW 42.30 there is the need for expedited action by the council, the foregoing requirement for notice shall be suspended and a meeting of the council may be held at a site other than the regular meeting site.

Special meetings are any meetings of the council, other than regular meetings, that include workshops, study sessions, and retreats. No final action may be taken on any matter not on the agenda. (Ord. 1182 (part), 1996)

2.04.050 Presiding officers.

The mayor shall be the presiding officer of the council at all regular or special meetings and when the council meets as a committee of the whole. In the absence of the mayor and mayor pro tempore, the council shall designate another member of the council as presiding officer as described in RCW 35A.12.110. (Ord. 1182 (part), 1996)

2.04.060 Quorum.

At all meetings of the city council, four councilmembers, who are present and eligible to vote shall constitute a quorum thereof, but no ordinance or measure for the expenditure of money or for the grant or revocation of any franchise or license shall be passed except upon the favorable vote of a majority of the elected members as provided by statutes. (Ord. 1182 (part), 1996)

2.04.070 Committees, boards, commissions and task forces.

The council may create special committees, boards and commissions to assist in the conduct of the operation of the city government with such duties as the council may specify, not inconsistent with the Goldendale Municipal Code or the Revised Code of Washington. Special, ad hoc and citizen advisory committees, or task forces may be created and its members appointed by the mayor with confirmation by the council. Any special, ad hoc and citizen advisory committee, or task force so created shall have no powers other than advisory to the council, and shall cease to exist upon the accomplishment of the special purpose for which it was created, or when abolished by a majority vote of the council. All special, ad hoc and citizen advisory committees, task forces, boards and commissions, whether statutory, or created and appointed by the city, shall provide the city council with copies of the minutes, if any, or a report of the action or discussion that has taken place. These minutes and reports shall be noted in the official minutes of the council. (Ord. 1182 (part), 1996)

2.04.075 Standing committees.

A. Created. The following standing committees of the city council are created and established:

1. Finance;

2. Ordinance;

3. Public works;

4. Event.

B. Purpose. The purpose of each committee shall be to review matters within the following subject areas:

1. Finance Committee. The primary purpose of the finance committee is to review and advise the city council upon all matters involving financial affairs of the city, including the annual budget and amendments thereto, review of capital and financial planning, financial tracking and reports, and such other matters as may be assigned to this committee.

2. Ordinance. The primary purpose of the ordinance committee is to review and advise the city council on all matters involving the amendment and preparation of new ordinances for the Goldendale Municipal Code and other such matters as may be assigned to the committee.

3. Public Works. The primary purpose of the public works committee is to review and advise the city council upon all matters involving public utilities, including streets, storm drains, street lighting, water supply, treatment and distribution, wastewater treatment plant and collection system, and parks and other such matters as may be assigned to the committee.

4 Event. The primary purpose of the event committee is to review and advise the city council upon all matters pertaining to tourism development and promotion.

C. Term. The term and membership of each committee shall commence on the first regular meeting of the city council in January of every even year, and shall terminate effective the date prior to such meeting. The appointment to each council committee shall be made by the council during the first meeting of the council in January of every even year. No councilmember should serve on more than two committees at one time. The mayor shall be ex officio member of each committee.

D. Duties and Responsibilities. The committees shall consider, review and make recommendations to the council concerning matters referred to them by the council. The mayor, committee chairpersons and boards and commissions are encouraged to suggest items to the council which should be considered by a committee.

E. Committee Support. Respective department heads may attend council committee meetings to provide information, draft documents and other support as reasonably requested by the committee. (Ord. 1463 §1, 2016)

2.04.080 Records.

The city clerk-treasurer or designee, as approved by council, shall keep the minutes and records of the council proceedings and enter them into a book constituting the official records of the council which shall be kept at city hall for public inspection. It is the policy of the city to record on tape all open meetings of the council and to preserve them for a period of two years. The city clerk-treasurer or designee shall store the tapes in a secure fashion. Access to the original shall be limited to clerk-treasurer or designee. Copies of the tape may be made available for public inspection by the clerk-treasurer or designee. (Ord. 1182 (part), 1996)

2.04.090 Disturbing meetings.

A. It is unlawful to disturb any meetings of the city council or of any committee thereof, or to behave in a disorderly manner at any such meeting.

B. Any person violating any provision of this section shall be fined not less than fifty dollars nor more than two hundred dollars for each offense. (Ord. 1522 §2, 2022; Ord. 1182 (part), 1996)

2.04.100 Sergeant-at-arms.

The chief of police ex officio shall be the sergeant-at-arms. (Ord. 1457 §2(part), 2015; Ord. 1372 §1(part), 2008; Ord. 1182 (part), 1996)

2.04.110 Order of business.

A. The order of business at meetings of the city council shall be as follows:

1. Call to Order.

a. Pledge of Allegiance.

2. Roll call.

3. Closed public comment/agenda business only (comments limited to three minutes).

4. Public hearing.

5. Agenda.

a. Approval of agenda;

b. Consent Agenda.

i. Approval of minutes,

ii. Claims,

iii. Payroll,

iv. Other.

6. Presentations.

7. Department reports.

8. Council Business.

a. Regular business (staff and administration);

b. New business (council concerns).

9. Resolutions.

10. Ordinances.

a. First reading;

b. Second reading.

11. Report of Officers and City Administrator.

a. Mayor;

b. Councilmembers;

c. City administrator.

12. Open public comment (comments limited to three minutes).

13. Executive session (if called for).

14. Adjournment.

B. With the concurrence of the council, items may be:

1. Taken out of the agenda order.

2. Be introduced for action as a new item.

C. At a regular meeting, the city council may discuss the agenda for the next regular meeting.

D. Any item may be placed on the agenda by the mayor, any councilmember or department head (or designee) advising the clerk or city administrator, prior to the agenda deadline. The agenda for council meetings shall be set by Wednesday noon, before any regular meeting.

E. Agenda packets, containing all necessary information for council review to determine what is being requested and what outcome is be sought at the forthcoming meeting. Agenda packets shall be placed in each councilmember’s mailbox (located near the council chambers) by Friday, twelve p.m., before the up-and-coming council meeting. Each councilmember shall be given access to the outside entry door of the council chambers, which shall be returned to the city at the termination of his or her office. (Ord. 1522 §3, 2022; Ord. 1221 (part), 1998: Ord. 1182 (part), 1996)

2.04.120 Council action/votes/motions.

A motion may be made at any time, regarding any subject under consideration, by any councilmember who has obtained the floor, and if seconded, shall be voted on after discussion. At any time before the vote is taken, any councilmember may request the mover to modify or restate the motion. A motion to reconsider the vote may be made only at the same meeting. A roll call vote may be requested by any councilmember at which time each member shall be given an opportunity to explain his or her vote. The yeas and nays of all council votes shall be entered into the official minutes and, except for abstentions, all non-votes shall be counted with the majority. The presiding officer shall announce the results after each vote taken. No vote or action of the city council shall be rescinded at any special meeting unless there be present at such special meeting as many members of the council as were present at the meeting when such vote or action was taken, as provided by statute. (Ord. 1182 (part), 1996)

2.04.130 Resolutions.

Any resolution submitted to the city council shall be reduced to writing before being voted upon, at the request of any two members of the council.

A resolution is an internal legislative act, a formal but temporary statement of policy concerning the affairs of the city. A motion, once approved and entered into the official record shall have the equivalence of a resolution in those instances where a resolution is not required by law. (Ord. 1182 (part), 1996)

2.04.140 Addressing meetings.

No person other than the mayor or a member of the city council or other municipal officer or employee shall address that body at any regular or special meetings of the council except upon consent of a majority of the members present.

After approval, the public may address the council, not individual councilmembers. Persons making personal, impertinent, or slanderous remarks, or become threatening, boisterous, intimidating, or disrespectful in any way, may be banned from addressing the council in the future unless permission to continue is granted by majority vote of the council. All persons addressing the council during public comment shall state their name and address and shall be allowed to speak for such period not to exceed three minutes.

Closed public comments shall adhere to the business on the agenda. Open public comment period shall be opened to any appropriate comments as determined by the council. City council reserves the right to stop public comments that are determined to be inappropriate. The council will not entertain complaints or suggestions that are administrative in nature. No questions shall be asked the councilmembers except through the presiding officer at which time the council shall consider the disposition of the issue and shall suggest a solution or appointment with the citizen. These rules, regarding citizen comments, may be overridden by a majority vote of the council. (Ord. 1522 §4, 2022)

2.04.150 Robert’s Rules of Order.

Except when in conflict with the foregoing provisions, Robert’s Rules of Order (Newly Revised) shall govern the deliberations of the council. (Ord. 1182 (part), 1996)

2.04.160 City attorney.

The city attorney shall advise the city authorities and officers in all legal matters pertaining to the business of the city and shall approve all ordinances as to form. Any member of the council may, at any time during a regular or special meeting of the council, call upon the city attorney for an oral or written opinion to decide any question of law. (RCW 35.23.114) (Ord. 1182 (part), 1996)

2.04.170 Consideration and adoption of ordinances.

No ordinance shall be prepared for presentation to the council unless requested by the city administrator, the mayor or any two councilmembers. All ordinances, before final passage, shall be reviewed by the city attorney. No ordinance, except an appropriation ordinance, an ordinance adopting or embodying an administrative or governmental code, or an ordinance adopting a code of ordinances, shall relate to more than one subject, which shall be clearly stated in its title. All ordinances authorizing an expenditure of money shall include the exact source of the funds to be expended. When passed by the council, an ordinance shall be signed by the presiding officer and be attested by the city clerk and it shall be immediately filed and thereafter preserved in the office of the clerk-treasurer.

Prior to the adoption or amendment of an ordinance by the city council, the adoption or amendment must be placed on the council meeting agenda for a first reading and discussion. Following the first reading and discussion, the adoption or amendment must be placed on a subsequent council meeting agenda for a second reading and citizen comment, limited to two minutes per person, prior to approval or rejection of the adoption or amendment. Council may, by a consensus of the majority, waive the second reading requirement and adopt or reject an ordinance during the meeting at which it is introduced. (Ord. 1182 (part), 1996)

2.04.180 Council library.

A council library shall be created and maintained in the council chambers or conference room and if budgeted, any publication shall be added to the library at the request of the council. A list of the publications shall be registered with the clerk and shall be provided to all councilmembers.

Councilmember shall be welcome to freely use the Council Library for study purposes (RCW 42.30.070). (Ord. 1182 (part), 1996)

2.04.190 Secretarial services and travel expenses for council.

The city shall provide general secretarial service to the mayor and councilmembers and shall reimburse them for costs incurred while performing the regular duties of their office. A travel and training request form shall be filled out and presented to the council for approval in advance of any elected official wishing to travel or obtain training at the city’s expense. The rate of reimbursement shall be the same as for employees of the city. (Ord. 1182 (part), 1996)

2.04.200 Contracts let in open meetings.

No contract, lease or agreement shall be let, entered into, or canceled except by a majority vote of the council in an open public council meeting. (Ord. 1182 (part), 1996)

2.04.210 Media at council meetings.

All open meetings of the council shall be freely subject to recording by radio, television, newspaper reporters, and photographic services, except executive session, provided that such arrangements do not interfere with the orderly conduct of the meetings. The media shall be forbidden to televise or record executive session in any direct or indirect manner. (Ord. 1182 (part), 1996)

2.04.220 Vacancies.

If a vacancy occurs in the office of a councilmember the council will follow the procedure outlined in RCW 35A.12.050, RCW 42.12.070 and RCW 42.30.060 (2). (Ord. 1182 (part), 1996)

2.04.230 Council involvement in city property.

Prior to the acquisition, or sale of city property the price and conditions of such transaction shall first be discussed with and determined by the city council in executive session. (Ord. 1182 (part), 1996)

2.04.240 Request for information.

All requests by councilmember(s) for information regarding the status of the city shall be provided to the councilmember(s), in a reasonably expedient manner, relative to developments, trends, conditions and issues in the various functional areas of city government. (Ord. 1182 (part), 1996)