Chapter 2.10
CITY COUNCIL RULES AND PROCEDURES*
Sections:
2.10.010 Meetings and Council attendance.
2.10.020 City Council Protocol Manual.
2.10.060 Addressing the Council.
2.10.100 Written application required for leave of absence.
2.10.110 Pro tempore appointments.
*Prior legislation: Ord. 1478.
2.10.010 Meetings and Council attendance.
The City Council of the City of Mountlake Terrace shall hold its regular formal business meeting in the council chambers of the City of Mountlake Terrace City Hall building on the first and third Thursday at 7:00 p.m. or as otherwise determined by the Council by motion. Council work sessions shall be held on the second and fourth Thursday at 7:00 p.m. or as otherwise determined by the Council, unless cancelled for lack of necessity. (Ord. 2831 § 2 (Appx. B), 2023; Ord. 2807 § 2, 2022; Ord. 2769 § 1, 2020; Ord. 2383 § 1, 2005; Ord. 2321 § 1, 2002; Ord. 2306 § 1, 2002; Ord. 2249 § 1, 2000; Ord. 2192 § 1, 1998; Ord. 1990, 1993; Ord. 1869, 1990; Ord. 1639, 1985; Ord. 1320, 1980; Ord. 1202 § 1, 1978).
2.10.020 City Council Protocol Manual.
The City Council Protocol Manual, dated September 18, 2023, is adopted as the official governance document for the City Council on matters covered by the Protocol Manual. The City Council may amend the Protocol Manual as needed to respond to changes in law or policy decisions of the Council. (Ord. 2831 § 2 (Appx. B), 2023).
2.10.030 Presiding officer.
The Mayor or the Mayor Pro Tempore, when serving as Mayor, shall preside at meetings of the Council and shall be recognized as head of the City government for all ceremonial purposes and by the Governor for purpose of military law. They shall have the rights, privileges and immunities of a member of the City Council but shall have no regular administrative duties as Mayor.
The Council may remove the Mayor or the Mayor Pro Tempore from the respective position in accordance with the following procedure:
A. The Council must adopt by an affirmative vote of at least five of its members a resolution stating the reason or reasons for the proposed removal which resolution, if adopted, shall be served on or mailed to the officer proposed to be removed.
B. Within 15 days after such service or mailing, the officer proposed to be removed may file with the City Clerk a written reply and request a public hearing. The hearing, if requested, shall be conducted not earlier than 15 days nor later than 30 days after the filing of the hearing request. If the Mayor is the officer proposed to be removed, the Mayor Pro Tempore shall preside at the hearing and during the Council deliberations and action, if any, on the question of removal. If the Mayor Pro Tempore is the officer proposed to be removed and the Mayor is unavailable to preside at the hearing or Council deliberations and action, if any, the Council shall select another from its members to preside.
C. Not less than 30 days after the date of adoption of the proposed removal resolution and after the public hearing, if requested, the Council may remove the officer by adoption of a resolution by an affirmative vote of at least five of its members.
D. Should the Mayor Pro Tempore be removed by resolution, the City Council shall immediately hold an election and elect a Mayor Pro Tempore by majority vote.
E. Should both the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore be removed by resolution at the same Council meeting, the Council shall immediately hold an election and by majority vote proceed to elect a Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore.
The presiding officer shall preserve strict order and decorum at all regular and special meetings of the Council. They shall state all questions coming before the Council, provide opportunity for discussion from the floor, announce the decision of the Council on all subjects and decide all questions of order, subject to appeal of the Council, in which event a majority vote of the Council shall govern. (Ord. 2831 § 2 (Appx. B), 2023; Ord. 2383 § 2, 2005; Ord. 2068, 1995; Ord. 1202 § 3, 1978).
2.10.040 Roll call.
Before proceeding with business, a roll call of Council members shall be made by the City Clerk and the names of those present recorded in the minutes. (Ord. 2831 § 2 (Appx. B), 2023; Ord. 1202 § 4, 1978).
2.10.050 Quorum.
A majority of the Council shall constitute a quorum. (Ord. 2831 § 2 (Appx. B), 2023; Ord. 1202 § 5, 1978).
2.10.060 Addressing the Council.
All persons, upon recognition of the presiding officer, shall be provided opportunity to address the Council, but the presiding officer shall give recognition in the following order:
A. To those whose request to be heard is contained in the written agenda.
B. To those who have submitted their request to be heard in writing to the City Clerk before the Council meeting.
C. To those who ask recognition from the floor.
If the matter about which the request to be heard is not set forth in the written agenda, public comments shall be allowed during that portion of the meeting reserved for public comment. Public comments shall not be taken on items subject to quasi-judicial consideration by the Council, unless it is during a specified public hearing on that topic. Public comment regarding items listed on the agenda will be taken when that agenda item is heard.
In addressing the Council, each person should give their name, and shall limit their address to five minutes. When addressing Council in person, comments should be made from the designated public comment location.
All remarks shall be made to the Council as a body and not to any individual member. To ensure equal opportunity for the public to comment, each person may address the Council only one time during the public comment portion of the meeting, and one time for each agenda action item under discussion. No speaker may convey or donate his or her time for speaking to another speaker. If a number of people wish to speak to a particular topic or issue, the City Council by majority vote may limit at that meeting the total amount of time dedicated to that single issue.
No person shall make personal attacks, or threatening remarks while addressing the Council, which disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of the Council meeting.
Any person who is engaging in conduct that disturbs, disrupts, or impedes the business of the City Council, or whose comments has been ruled out of order by the presiding officer, shall immediately cease and refrain from further improper comments or inappropriate conduct. The refusal of an individual to desist from inappropriate remarks or conduct after being ruled out of order by the presiding officer may subject the individual to removal from the council chambers, or expulsion from the remote meeting, and the person may be barred from further audience before the City Council during that meeting by the presiding officer or other remedies imposed as provided in RCW 42.30.050 now or hereafter amended. (Ord. 2845 § 1, 2024; Ord. 2831 § 2 (Appx. B), 2023; Ord. 2809 § 1, 2022; Ord. 2705 § 1, 2017; Ord. 1202 § 9, 1978. Formerly 2.10.090).
2.10.070 Voting.
Silence of a member during a voice vote shall be recorded as an affirmative vote. Unless otherwise provided for by statute, ordinance, or resolution, all votes on Council action, including the adoption of ordinances or resolutions, shall be taken by voice vote; provided, however, if requested by a Council member, any question shall be voted upon by roll call, and the ayes and nays shall be recorded. The roll call vote of all present Council members, if requested, shall be carried out by the City Clerk in a random order as determined by the City Clerk in his/her sole discretion; provided, the Mayor shall always vote last.
Each member present must vote on all questions before the Council and may abstain only for reasons acceptable to a majority of the Council. The Council member wishing to abstain must state the reason for their abstention and declare their abstention after the motion is made and seconded, but before the vote is called. (Ord. 2831 § 2 (Appx. B), 2023; Ord. 2796 § 2, 2021; Ord. 2488 § 1, 2008; Ord. 2383 § 4, 2005; Ord. 1202 § 10, 1978. Formerly 2.10.100).
2.10.080 Committees.
A. Special. All special committees shall be appointed by the presiding officer with the approval of the Council.
B. Standing. Standing committees shall be constituted by ordinance or resolution; said ordinance or resolution to specify duties, length of term of members, number of members, method of appointment and reason for standing committee. In no case is a standing committee to be vested with administrative authority.
C. Finance Committee.
1. There is hereby established and created a Finance Committee for the City of Mountlake Terrace, which shall be composed of two members of the City Council who shall be appointed by the Council for terms of one year each, and the City Manager or Finance Director if so designated by the Manager.
2. The City Manager, or the Finance Director if so designated by the City Manager, shall act as chairman of said committee, and the office of said committee shall be in the office of the Finance Director.
3. The Finance Director shall maintain copies of all claims approved by the Finance Committee, as required by law.
4. Prior to payment all claims shall be audited and certified by the Auditing Officer as designated in Chapter 2.20 MTMC.
5. All expenditures will require Finance Committee approval prior to payment except for those instances where there will be a penalty for late payments, lost discounts, ongoing routine budgeted expenditures, and emergency purchases, as approved by the City Manager. Any expenditure made prior to Finance Committee approval shall require retroactive approval by the Finance Committee and City Council.
6. Said Committee may make such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as are not inconsistent with law. (Ord. 2831 § 2 (Appx. B), 2023; Ord. 2383 § 4, 2005; Ord. 2359 § 1, 2004; Ord. 1511, 1983; Ord. 1202 § 11, 1978. Formerly 2.10.110).
2.10.090 Leaves of absence.
The City Council may by motion grant leaves of absence to its members for such term as may commend itself to the discretion of the Council. (Ord. 2831 § 2 (Appx. B), 2023; Ord. 1213 § 1, 1978. Formerly 2.10.160).
2.10.100 Written application required for leave of absence.
Any such leave shall be pursuant to written application setting forth the necessity therefor as occasioned by exigencies of employment, health, or other good cause as determined in the discretion of the Council. (Ord. 2831 § 2 (Appx. B), 2023; Ord. 1213 § 2, 1978. Formerly 2.10.170).
2.10.110 Pro tempore appointments.
The City Council, by majority vote, may make a pro tempore appointment to any position on the Council whose member may have been granted a leave pursuant to the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 2831 § 2 (Appx. B), 2023; Ord. 1213 § 3, 1978. Formerly 2.10.180).
2.10.120 Ordinances – Resolutions – Motions – Contracts.
Repealed by Ord. 2831. (Ord. 2796 § 3, 2021; Ord. 2786 § 1, 2021; Ord. 2785 § 1, 2021; Ord. 2513 § 2, 2009; Ord. 2488 § 2, 2008; Ord. 2383 § 5, 2005; Ord. 1623, 1985; Ord. 1491, 1982; Ord. 1320, 1980; Ord. 1202 § 12, 1978).
2.10.130 Recess.
Repealed by Ord. 2831. (Ord. 1202 § 13, 1978).
2.10.140 Adjournment.
Repealed by Ord. 2831. (Ord. 1202 § 14, 1978).
2.10.150 Robert’s Rules of Order.
Repealed by Ord. 2831. (Ord. 1202 § 15, 1978).