HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-01-16; City Council; ; Adopt Ordinance No. CS-329 Repealing Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter 1.20 City Council Procedure and Replacing it with Chapter 1.20 - Meetings~ CITY COUNCIL
~ Staff Report
Meeting Date:
To:
From:
Staff Contact:
Jan. 16,2018
Mayor and City Council
Kevin Crawford, City Manager
Sheila Cobian, City Clerk Services Manager
sheila .cobian@carlsbadca.gov or 760-434-2917
CA Review f::6_
Subject: Adopt Ordinance No. CS-329 Repealing Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter
1.20 City Council Procedure and Replacing it with Chapter 1.20 -Meetings
Recommended Action
Adopt Ordinance No. CS-329 repealing Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter 1.20-City Council
Procedure and replacing it with Chapter 1.20 -Meetings.
Executive Summary /Discussion
Ordinance No. CS-329 was introduced and first read at the City Council meeting held on Jan. 9,
2018. On a motion by Mayor Pro Tern Blackburn, seconded by Co~.mcil Member M.
Schumacher, the City Council voted 5/0 to introduce the Ordinance. The second reading allows
the City Council to adopt the ordinance which will become effective thirty days after adoption.
Fiscal Analysis
Council adopted Resolution No. 2017-095 authorizing the Administrative Services Director to
transfer and appropriate $80,000 from Council Contingency to the City Attorney's budget for
use in updating the city's municipal code.
Next Steps
The City Clerk will have the ordinance or a summary of the ordinance published in a newspaper
of general circulation within fifteen days following adoption of the ordinance.
Environmental Evaluation (CEQA)
Pursuant to Public Resources Code section 21065, this action does not constitute a "project"
within the meaning of CEQA in that it has no potential to cause either a direct physical change
in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment,
and therefore does not require environmental review.
Public Notification
This item was noticed in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act and was available for public
viewing and review at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled meeting date.
Exhibits
1. Ordinance No. CS-329.
January 16, 2018 Item #1 Page 1 of 22
ORDINANCE NO. CS-329
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA, REPEALING CHAPTER 1.20 – CITY COUNCIL PROCEDURE OF THE
CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL CODE AND REPLACING IT WITH A NEW CHAPTER
1.20 - MEETINGS
WHEREAS, on May 23, 2017 the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California determined that
the Carlsbad Municipal Code requires revisions and amendments and that a comprehensive update to
the Municipal Code is necessary to improve clarity and consistency as well
as to reflect current legal and professional best practices; and
WHEREAS, on May 23, 2017 the City Council of the City of Carlsbad adopted Resolution 2017-
095 authorizing the Carlsbad Municipal Code update; and
WHEREAS, as part of the Carlsbad Municipal Code update, the City Council of the City of
Carlsbad expressed a desire to review in detail the rules and procedures related to the conduct of
meetings which are contained in Chapter 1.20 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code; and
WHEREAS, on August 29, 2017, the City Council held a facilitated workshop and discussed the
rules governing its meetings; and
WHEREAS, on November 14, 2017 the City Council reviewed and discussed proposed changes
to Chapter 1.20 and approved or amended those changes via minute order; and
WHEREAS, the City Attorney also recommends additional changes for clarification and
consistency to sections 1.20.010 and 1.20.130; and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to repeal Chapter 1.20 in its entirety and replace it with a
new Chapter 1.20 which is consistent with State law and better reflects the current practices of the City
Council.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, does ordain as follows
that:
SECTION 1: The above recitations are true and correct.
SECTION 2: That existing Chapter 1.20 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is repealed in its
entirety.
SECTION 3: That new Chapter 1.20 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code is amended to read as
follows:
January 16, 2018 Item #1 Page 2 of 22
Chapter 1.20
MEETINGS
Sections:
1.20.010 Policies applicable to all meetings.
1.20.020 Regular, special and emergency city council meetings.
1.20.030 Adjournment of meetings.
1.20.040 Quorum
1.20.050 Confidentiality of closed sessions.
1.20.060 Council agenda.
1.20.070 Agenda packet.
1.20.080 Minutes.
1.20.090 Recordings of meetings.
1.20.100 Role of presiding officer.
1.20.110 Commencement of meetings.
1.20.120 Consent calendar.
1.20.130 General rules of procedure.
1.20.140 Public participation.
1.20.150 Use of city equipment.
1.20.160 Conduct of public hearings.
1.20.170 Decision following public hearing.
1.20.180 Application to administrative hearings.
1.20.190 Application of procedures required by law.
1.20.200 Evidence – record of proceedings.
1.20.210 Subpoenas.
1.20.220 Enforcement of decorum.
1.20.230 Motions.
1.20.240 Rules relating to motions.
1.20.250 Council action.
1.20.260 Resolutions.
1.20.270 Ordinances.
1.20.280 Correction of documents.
1.20.290 Failure to observe procedures – waiver.
1.20.300 Limitation on liability.
1.20.310 Appeals procedure.
1.20.320 Correspondence addressed to the city council.
1.20.010 Policies applicable to all meetings.
A. Meetings of the City Council, city boards and commissions, and other legislative bodies of
the city will be held according to the requirements of the Ralph M. Brown Act [California
Government Code Title 5, Div. 2, Part 1, Ch.9, commencing with sec. 54950, referred to in
this code as the “Brown Act”] and this section. Meetings will be open and public, except
for closed sessions held as authorized by the Brown Act.
B. When a meeting is in session, Council members, city officers and employees, and
members of the public are expected to observe good order and decorum, and to not by
conversation or otherwise, improperly delay or interrupt the proceedings, nor refuse to
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obey the lawful directives of the presiding officer.
C. The city is committed to maintaining safe and orderly meetings, free from intimidation,
harassment and disruption. Public participation is encouraged provided that participants
abide by the rules of conduct and procedure established by this chapter. The City Council
finds and declares that it is important to remember that no one has a constitutional right
to disrupt a public meeting by attempting to impose their own voice or actions in a
manner that is loud, boisterous or unruly where such conduct is substantially disruptive
of the meeting itself and continues after the presiding officer has requested the person
or persons to stop. The issue in such cases is not about the content of speech, unless the
content itself violates the law, but rather with the extent of disruption caused to the
meeting itself by the manner and conduct of the disrupter’s actions. Therefore, to
promote civic engagement, orderly deliberation and efficient conduct of city business,
the following general rules of conduct apply to all city meetings:
1. Interactions among all meeting participants will be conducted in a mutually
respectful manner.
2. Threats of violence will not be tolerated.
3. Insulting, demeaning, intimidating or offensive communications will not be
tolerated.
4. Conduct intended to disrupt the orderly conduct of business will not be tolerated.
5. Individuals who continue to interrupt or interfere with the orderly conduct of a
meeting may be removed from the meeting, after the presiding officer has directed
the person to cease the interruption or interference and warned that continued
interruption or interference may result in removal from the meeting. If a meeting is
willfully interrupted by a group or groups of persons so as to render the orderly
conduct of such meeting unfeasible and order cannot be restored by the removal of
individuals who are willfully interrupting the meeting, the presiding officer, subject
to objection by a majority of Council members in attendance, may order the
meeting room cleared and the meeting may continue as provided in section 54957.9
of the Brown Act.
6. Weapons and any object that may be used to inflict serious bodily injury are
prohibited at city meetings except those lawfully in the possession of authorized
city personnel.
D. Terms defined in the Brown Act have the same meaning when used in this chapter.
1.20.020 Regular, special and emergency City Council meetings.
A. Regular City Council meetings will be held on the dates and at the times established by City
Council resolution. Regular City Council meetings will be held at City Hall in the city Council
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Chamber, unless a different location has been designated by the mayor or action of the City
Council. If the mayor, a majority of the City Council, city manager, fire chief, police chief or
building official determines that the Council Chamber is unsafe for a meeting due to an
emergency, regular meetings may be held for the duration of the emergency at a location
that is designated on the agenda or other notice of the meeting.
B. Special City Council meetings may be called by the mayor, a majority of the City Council, the
city manager or the city attorney. Notice of a special meeting must be given and posted as
provided in section 54956 of the Brown Act. The notice must include the date, time and
location of the meeting, and a brief statement of the business to be transacted or
discussed. No other business may be transacted or discussed at the meeting. A special
meeting regarding the salaries, salary schedules or compensation paid in the form of fringe
benefits, of the city manager, city attorney, any department head or other executive level
employee is prohibited, however, special meetings to discuss the city’s budget are
permitted.
C. During emergency situations, meetings may be held as provided in section
54956.5 of the Brown Act.
D. City Council meetings may be held concurrently as meetings of the legislative body of any
public agency the governing body of which is comprised of the members of the City Council.
When a concurrent meeting is held, the presiding officer or clerk will commence the meeting
with the announcement required by section 54952.3 of the Brown Act. The city clerk may
include the information required by section 54952.3 on the agenda for a meeting, and the
oral announcement may be made by reference to that information. As used in this chapter,
City Council also means the legislative body of any public agency the governing body of which
is comprised of the members of the city council.
E. The city clerk and city manager are authorized and directed to prepare, deliver and
post meeting notices.
1.20.030 Adjournment of meetings.
Meetings may be adjourned to a time and place stated in the notice of adjournment and as
provided by law. The presiding officer may adjourn any meeting without need for a motion and
absent the objection of a majority of the quorum. Once adjourned, a meeting may not be
reconvened, except at the time and place stated in the notice of adjournment. A regular meeting
may not be adjourned to a date beyond the next regular meeting. The city clerk and city manager
are authorized and directed to prepare, deliver and post notices of adjournment. Notice of
adjournment is not required when a meeting is adjourned without specification of the time and
date when it will be reconvened.
1.20.040 Quorum.
A quorum necessary for the transaction of business at a meeting of the City Council exists
whenever a majority of the Council are present. A meeting may be adjourned for lack of a quorum
by the presiding officer or, in the absence of a presiding officer, any member of Council or the city
January 16, 2018 Item #1 Page 5 of 22
clerk. A member disqualified from participation in a matter due to a conflict of interest will not be
counted toward achieving a quorum as to that matter. If a disqualification due to a conflict of
interest results in the lack of a quorum, consideration of the matter will be deferred until either a
quorum of non-disqualified Council members are present, or a quorum is determined as defined in
and subject to the regulations of the Fair Political Practices Commission.
1.20.050 Confidentiality of closed sessions.
The privilege of confidentiality of closed sessions is held by the City Council.
No person may disclose any information communicated during a closed session. This prohibition
does not apply to:
1. Disclosures expressly authorized by action taken by a majority of the City Council;
2. Reports of action taken in closed session;
3. Disclosures expressly authorized or required by law;
4. Confidential disclosures to a Council member, city employee or other person
authorized to attend a closed session without loss of the privilege of confidentiality.
1.20.060 Council agenda.
A. The city clerk, under direction of the city manager, will prepare an agenda for each Council
meeting. The agenda for a special or emergency meeting may be combined with the notice of the
meeting.
B. An agenda will contain the following information:
1. The date, time and location of the meeting;
2. The order of business and a brief general description of each item of business to be
transacted or discussed at the meeting, including a brief statement of the specific
action requested or recommended to be taken by the council;
3. A description of each closed session matter substantially in the manner authorized
by section 54954.5 of the Brown Act;
4. Information relating to special services available to persons with disabilities
to permit those persons to participate in the meeting.
An agenda may contain other information relating to the conduct of the meeting, time limits for
public participation, rules of decorum, presentation of materials and other similar matters.
C. The city manager is responsible for scheduling matters for consideration by the Council
based on established Council priorities, the city’s business and governmental needs, and
requirements of applicable law. Items of business may be placed on the agenda by any member
of the Council, the city manager or the city attorney, or by Council action. Council originated
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items must be submitted to the city manager not less than seven days before the date of the
Council meeting at which the member desires the item to appear on the agenda. Nothing in this
section precludes a Council member from requesting Council action to place an item on the
agenda for a future meeting.
D. The city clerk, is authorized and directed to post agendas in accordance with applicable
law, including posting on the city’s website. The city clerk is also authorized and directed to mail
agendas to persons and organizations who have filed a request for a mailing of agendas and have
paid the fee in the amount established by the city for that service. Before posting or mailing an
agenda, the city clerk must obtain approval of the agenda from the city manager and city
attorney. The agenda may be made available and delivered in electronic format.
E. The agenda for regular meetings will be based on the following order of business:
1. Call to order;
2. Announcement of concurrent meetings;
3. Roll call;
4. Pledge of allegiance;
5. Invocation;
6. Approval of minutes;
7. Special presentations;
8. Public comment on matters not listed on the agenda;
9. Consent calendar;
11. Ordinances for introduction;
12. Ordinances for adoption;
13. Matters requiring a public hearing, notice of which is required by law;
14. Matters not requiring a noticed public hearing
15. Council commentary and requests for consideration of matters;
16. Additional public comment on matters not appearing on the agenda;
17. Announcements;
18. Adjournment.
F. When a meeting is a concurrent meeting of the City Council and the legislative body of any
public agency the governing body of which is comprised of the members of the City Council, action
will be deemed to have been taken by the appropriate legislative body with jurisdiction over the
matter.
1.20.070 Agenda packet
A. The city manager is responsible for all staff reports and other documents relevant to each
item of business placed on an agenda by the city manager or by Council action. The city attorney is
responsible for all staff reports and other documents relevant to each item of business placed on
the agenda by the city attorney. Matters placed on the agenda by a Council member do not
require a staff report, but the Council member may provide a report or other documents relevant
to the item the Council member has requested to be placed on the agenda. The city manager or
city attorney may provide a report or recommendation relating to a matter placed on the agenda
by a Council member. Staff reports and other documents relevant to items of business, including
January 16, 2018 Item #1 Page 7 of 22
reports and other documents provided by a Council member with respect to an item placed on the
agenda by that Council member, must be delivered to the city clerk not later than 5 p.m. on the
Wednesday preceding a regular meeting or 72 hours before the date of a special meeting. The city
clerk, under the direction of the city manager, is responsible for compiling the reports and other
documents and for preparing an agenda packet.
B. Ordinances, resolutions and contract documents must be prepared or approved by the city
attorney before delivery to the city clerk for inclusion in the agenda packet. Nothing in this chapter
is intended to preclude the city council from orally amending any ordinance, resolution, contract,
or other document presented to it prior to final action at a meeting.
C. Correspondence, including electronic mail, relating to an item of business on an agenda
received by the city clerk before 5 p.m. of the Wednesday preceding a regular meeting will be
included as part of the agenda packet materials for that item; correspondence received later may
be included in the agenda packet in any manner or may be delivered to the city council by
different means.
D. The agenda packet for a regular meeting will be delivered to the Council members not later
than the Friday preceding the meeting. The agenda packet will be available to the public at the
office of the city clerk and posted on the city’s website on the same day that it is delivered to the
Council members. An agenda packet for a special or emergency meeting may be delivered to the
Council and made available to the public at the meeting. The city clerk is also authorized and
directed to mail agenda packets to persons and organizations who have filed a request for a
mailing of agenda packets and have paid the fee in the amount established by the city for that
service. Agenda packets may be made available and delivered in electronic format
1.20.080 Minutes.
A. The city clerk is responsible for the minutes of all City Council meetings, except closed
sessions. The minutes will be a record of each particular type of business transacted or discussed
but a verbatim transcript of the proceedings is not required. The minutes may include the names of
persons addressing the Council, the title of the subject matter to which their remarks related and
whether they spoke in support of or in opposition to such matter. The clerk will include in the
minutes of the meeting a Council member’s statement on a matter upon request made by that
Council member at the time the statement is made. Any Council member may have the reasons for
his or her support for or dissent from any action of the Council entered in the minutes by making a
request in substantially the following manner: “I would like the minutes to show that I [support]
[am opposed to] this action for the following reasons...”
B. The city clerk will prepare proposed minutes and present them to the City Council for
approval.
C. The minutes may be approved without reading if the clerk has included the proposed
minutes in the agenda packet. The minutes will be read before approval upon motion approved by
the City Council. Proposed amendments to the minutes as submitted by the city clerk must be
verified by the city clerk prior to approval by the City Council. Following approval, minutes of
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meetings will be permanently kept in a format or medium suitable for storage of permanent public
records.
1.20.090 Recordings of meetings.
A. The city clerk may record City Council meetings as an aid in the preparation of minutes.
Recordings will be retained in accordance with the city’s adopted Records Retention Schedule
unless a longer retention is required by the City Council, the city manager or the city attorney.
B. Prior to reuse or erasure, members of the public may hear the recordings of the City Council
meetings during office hours when it will not inconvenience the ordinary operation of the clerk’s
office; brief or shorthand notes may be made; recordings may be duplicated under procedures
established by the clerk. The city clerk is further authorized to allow the equipment to be used by
the public for listening or recording purposes when such equipment is not necessary for use by the
city clerk in the ordinary function of the office. Except as provided for in Chapter 1.16, unless a
request to prepare a transcript is timely submitted and accepted, the city clerk is not authorized to
provide a transcript of any recording. The city clerk may establish rules and regulations necessary
to protect the safety of the records against theft, mutilation or accidental damage, to prevent
inspection or recording from interfering with the orderly function of the office, and to ensure that
the integrity of the records is maintained. The city clerk may charge a fee to cover the cost,
including labor and materials, of but not limited to providing records and administering this
provision.
C. A person may request that the clerk preserve a record of the city council meeting, or any
portion thereof, by filing a written request with the city clerk 24 hours prior to the meeting. If
such a request is received, the city clerk will arrange to make and preserve such a record at the
expense of the person making the request.
D. If any person desires to have a matter reported by a stenographer reporter, such person
may employ one directly at the person’s expense. The city manager may make reasonable
accommodations to assure that the reporter is seated at a position at the meeting to facilitate
accurate recording.
E. Any person may film, video tape photograph or audio tape a City Council meeting in the
absence of a reasonable finding by the presiding officer that the recording cannot continue
without noise, illumination or obstruction of view that constitutes or would constitute a persistent
disruption of the proceedings. Meetings may be televised by any person if it can be accomplished
without noise, illumination or obstruction of view that constitutes or would constitute a persistent
disruption of the proceedings.
1.20.100 Role of the presiding officer.
A. The presiding officer is the mayor, or in the mayor’s absence, the mayor pro tem. In the
absence of both the mayor and mayor pro tem, the presiding officer will be selected from among
the Council members constituting the quorum for the meeting. In the absence of the mayor and
mayor pro tem, the city clerk shall call the Council to order, whereupon a temporary presiding
officer shall be elected by the Council members present. Upon the arrival of the mayor or the
January 16, 2018 Item #1 Page 9 of 22
mayor pro tem, the temporary presiding officer shall relinquish the chair at the conclusion of the
business then before the Council.
B. The presiding officer will endeavor to conduct the meeting in an orderly, even-handed
and businesslike manner, substantially the order and manner provided on the agenda. Members
should have a full and equal opportunity to express their respective views. Matters should be
fully deliberated before action is taken.
C. The presiding officer may move, second, debate and vote from the chair. The presiding
officer is not deprived of any of the rights and privileges of a Council member due to acting as
presiding officer. The presiding officer or such person as the presiding officer may designate may
verbally restate each question immediately prior to calling for the vote.
D. The presiding officer is responsible for the maintenance of order and decorum at all
meetings. The presiding officer will decide all questions of order and procedure under this chapter,
subject to the right of any council member to request a ruling by the quorum and the question
shall be, “Shall the decision of the presiding officer be sustained?” Requests for a ruling by the
quorum require a second and will be promptly considered. A majority vote of the quorum will
conclusively determine the question.
1.20.110 Commencement of meetings.
At the time set for each regular meeting, each member of the Council, the city manager, city clerk,
city attorney and such department heads or others as have been requested to be present shall take
their regular places in the council chambers. The presiding officer will call the meeting to order.
Before proceeding with the business of the Council, the city clerk will call the roll of the Council
members and the names of the members present will be entered in the minutes. If the meeting is a
concurrent meeting of the City Council and one or more legislative bodies of a public agency for
which the City Council is the governing body, the city clerk will also make the announcement
required by law.
1.20.120 Consent calendar.
An agenda may contain a consent calendar of items grouped together for action by single motion
and without discussion when the items are considered by the city manager to be routine,
noncontroversial or in the nature of housekeeping matters. The actions recommended or
requested by the city manager will be included in summary form in the agenda description of
each consent calendar item. Before accepting a motion to approve the consent calendar, the
presiding officer must determine whether any Council member, city officer or employee, or
member of the public desires to be heard on one or more consent items. In that event, the
presiding officer will defer action on the particular matter or matters as part of the regular
agenda in any order deemed appropriate. A Council member may record a negative vote or an
abstention on a consent calendar item without removing the item for discussion by so stating
prior to the vote on the motion to approve the consent calendar. A request from the public to
discuss an item on the consent calendar must be filed with the city clerk in writing prior to Council
consideration of the consent calendar. The city clerk is directed to include on an agenda
containing a consent calendar a statement of this requirement along with a summary of the
January 16, 2018 Item #1 Page 10 of 22
procedure for consideration of consent calendar items.
1.20.130 General rules of procedure
A. Every Council member, city officer or employee, or any other person desiring to speak
during a Council meeting must first gain recognition by the presiding officer. Following recognition
by the presiding officer, the speaker must confine him or herself to the question or matter under
consideration, avoiding reference to character and indecorous language.
B. Every Council member desiring to question the city staff will address the questions to the
city manager or the city attorney, who shall be entitled either to answer the inquiry him or herself
or to designate a member of his or her staff for that purpose. Members of the public desiring to ask
a question regarding an item on the agenda must do so only when public comment regarding an
item is permitted. Questions from a member of the public must be directed to the presiding officer,
who may refer the question to any member of the City Council, city manager or city attorney as the
presiding officer deems appropriate.
C. Once a Council member, city officer or employee, or other person has been recognized and
allowed to speak by the presiding officer, the person will be allowed to conclude his or her
remarks without interruption, except an interruption by the presiding officer to preserve order,
subject to applicable time limits. A Council member seeking to raise a point of order or personal
privilege must first gain recognition from the presiding officer. If a Council member while speaking
is called to order, the Council member shall cease speaking until the question of order is
determined, and if determined to be in order, the Council member may proceed. If interrupted by
the presiding officer, city officers and employees and members of the public must cease speaking
until further authorization by the presiding officer.
D. The right of a Council member to address the Council on a question of personal privilege is
limited to cases in which the Council member’s integrity, character or motives are questioned or
where the welfare of the Council is concerned. A Council member raising a point of personal
privilege may interrupt another Council member who has the floor only if the presiding officer
recognizes the privilege.
E. A member of the Council who wishes to terminate discussion of a motion may call for the
question. If the call is seconded, the presiding officer shall ask for a vote. If the call carries, the
Council shall then vote on the motion without further discussion.
F. Voting will be conducted using the voting system installed in the Council Chamber, unless
the City Council dispenses with use of the voting system or the system is not functioning. If the
voting light system is not used, voting will be by voice vote or other system by which the vote of
each Council member is made known to the public. Secret ballots are prohibited.
G. Every Council member should vote unless disqualified due to conflict of interest. A Council
member who abstains from voting acknowledges that a majority of the quorum may decide the
question voted upon, however, ordinances, resolutions, orders for franchise or payments of
money or adoption or amendment of a specific or general plan require the affirmative vote of a
January 16, 2018 Item #1 Page 11 of 22
majority of the City Council (i.e., three affirmative votes).
H. For matters that may be decided by a majority of the quorum, tie votes constitute “no
action,” and the matter voted upon remains before the Council and is subject to further Council
consideration. If the presiding officer determines that City Council is unable to take action on a
matter during a meeting because of a tie vote, the city clerk shall place the item on the next regular
meeting of the City Council for further consideration. For matters that require approval by
affirmative vote of a majority of the City Council, any vote of less than the required number of
affirmative votes results in denial of the action, unless a member of the City Council who did not
vote in the affirmative requests that the matter remain open for further consideration. For matters
involving development applications before the Council because of a recommendation or appeal
from the planning commission or design review board, if a final decision of the City Council is not
reached within 60 days of the date of the first meeting at which the matter is considered, the
matter will be deemed denied. During this 60-day period, any Council member may make a written
request that the matter be restored to the Council’s agenda.
I. A Council member may change his or her vote immediately following the announcement of
the result of a vote on a matter by the presiding officer and before the next item of business.
Except in the case of a tie vote, a council member who publicly announces that he or she is
abstaining from voting on a particular matter may not withdraw his or her abstention.
J. A motion to reconsider any action taken by the Council may be made only at the meeting
such action was taken, including a recessed or adjourned session thereof and by a council
member who voted with the prevailing side. Consideration of action to rescind, repeal, cancel or
otherwise nullify prior council action is in order at any subsequent meeting of the Council, subject
to placement of the matter on the agenda in the same manner as any new item of business. The
effect of such action will operate prospectively and not retroactively and will not operate to
adversely affect individual rights which may have been vested in the interim without notice and
an opportunity to be heard having been given to the affected party or parties.
1.20.140 Public participation.
A. Members of the public may address the Council on items of business listed on an agenda of
any meeting. Persons desiring to address the Council regarding an item on the agenda, including
an item listed on the consent calendar or items noticed for a public hearing, must submit a request
to speak to the city clerk before the item is called by the presiding officer. The presiding officer,
with the unanimous consent of the Council, may allow a person who has not filed such a request
to address the Council.
B. At regular meetings, including adjourned regular meetings, members of the public may
address the Council on items not appearing on the agenda during the portion of the agenda set
aside for this purpose. The total amount of time set aside for this purpose at the beginning of the
meeting will not exceed 15 minutes, additional time will be set aside at the end of the meeting.
Persons addressing the Council must confine their remarks to matters within the subject matter
jurisdiction of the City Council or a public agency for which the City Council services as the
governing body. Persons desiring to address the Council on items not appearing on the agenda
January 16, 2018 Item #1 Page 12 of 22
must submit a request to speak to the city clerk before public comment is called. The presiding
officer, with the unanimous consent of the Council, may allow a person who has not filed such a
request to address the Council.
C. The city clerk will organize speaker slips pertaining to each agenda item in the order
received and persons will be invited to address the Council based on that order. Upon direction
of the presiding officer, the names will be called by the city clerk.
D. Members of the public will address the Council from the podium provided for that
purpose. Each member of the public will be permitted to speak for up to three minutes, unless
the presiding officer has announced a shorter duration at the commencement of the item under
consideration. A shorter duration may be set when the presiding officer or majority of the
quorum determine that length and duration of public comments on a matter would be unduly
burdensome and prevent or frustrate the City Council from reaching a timely decision on the
matter. Persons must confine their remarks to the agenda item under consideration. A speaker
may not yield time to another speaker.
E. After the presiding officer has closed the public input portion of an agenda item, no
member of the public may address the Council without first being recognized by the presiding
officer and securing permission to do so by a majority vote of the City Council.
F. To facilitate organized presentations, a representative of a group of persons may submit a
request to speak on behalf of the group. The representative must identify the group and list not
fewer than three members of the group who will be present during the meeting at which the
presentation is made. The presentation on behalf of the group may not exceed 10 minutes unless
additional time is authorized by a majority of the quorum.
G. For items listed on the agenda, members of the public will generally be invited to speak
following the staff presentation, if any, and before City Council discussion of the item. For items
removed from the consent calendar at the request of a member of the public, the presiding officer
may invite the speaker to address the Council and may defer or waive presentation of a staff
report.
1.20.150 Use of city equipment.
Persons desiring to use city information system or communication equipment for presentation of
information to the Council must make arrangements in advance with the city manager. The city
manager may establish reasonable rules regarding format, security, time for submission and other
similar matters.
1.20.160 Conduct of public hearings.
A. The provisions of this section apply to matters listed on the agenda as public hearing items.
Except as otherwise provided in this section, all of the provisions of this chapter apply to matters
listed as public hearing items.
B. Public hearings will be noticed to begin at the time the Council convenes, unless otherwise
January 16, 2018 Item #1 Page 13 of 22
determined by the city manager or directed by the City Council in which case the notice of public
hearing and agenda may state a different time. If there is more than one public hearing scheduled
for a meeting, the hearings will be held in the order stated on the agenda unless the council
changes the order. Meetings may be adjourned when necessary or convenient to complete a
hearing or schedule of hearings. Hearing will commence at the time stated on the agenda or as
soon thereafter as the conduct of business at the meeting permits.
C. All documents intended by the city to be part of the record of the hearing and any
correspondence received by the city pertaining to the subject matter of the hearing will be
available at the office of the city clerk at least 24 hours prior to commencement of the hearing.
This provision does not preclude the submission by any person of supplemental or additional
information during the hearing.
D. The applicant will be permitted 10 minutes to make a presentation, not including time to
respond to questions by members of the City council, and five minutes to respond to comments
by members of the public. As used in this section, applicant includes any person or entity whose
rights or interests are directly the subject matter of the hearing.
E. The order of the hearing will be as follows unless otherwise required by law:
1. Presentation of staff and/or planning commission report;
2. Questions from the Council;
3. Presentation by the applicant, if any;
4. Comments by members of the public;
5. Response by staff or applicant to facts or issues raised by public comments;
6. Council discussion and action.
F. The presiding officer may, set longer time limits than otherwise allowed by this chapter
for adequate presentation of testimony and evidence to provide a fair hearing. The decision of
the presiding officer may be appealed to the Council.
G. Any person, other than a member of the Council, who wishes to direct question(s) to an
opposing witness shall submit such question(s) to the presiding officer, who will ask the
question(s) to the witness. The presiding officer may at his or her discretion restrict the number
and nature of any questions asked pursuant to this subdivision.
H. Before commencement of Council discussion and action, the presiding officer may order
closed the public input portion of the hearing, at which time no further evidence, either oral or
written, will be accepted by the Council except in response to a question by a Council member;
provided, however, that this rule may be relaxed by the presiding officer where it appears that
good cause exists to hear further evidence concerning the matter which is the subject of the
public hearing. Following completion of questions by Council members, the presiding officer may
order the public hearing closed. A public hearing once closed cannot be reopened on the date set
for hearing unless the presiding officer determines that all persons who were present when the
hearing closed are still present. Nothing in this section, however, is intended to prevent or
January 16, 2018 Item #1 Page 14 of 22
prohibit the reopening of a public hearing at any subsequent meeting, provided notice is first
given in the manner required for the initial hearing.
I. A public hearing may be continued to a date certain any time before the closing of the
hearing in order to permit presentation of additional written or oral evidence, or return the matter
to the planning commission for further consideration. The presiding officer will publicly announce
the date, time and place that the hearing will reconvene, and further evidence will be taken, and
the announcement constitutes sufficient notice to the public of the date, time, and place of the
continued hearing. If the matter is returned to the planning commission for further consideration,
the presiding officer must publicly announce that the matter has been returned to the planning
commission for consideration and may announce the date, time and place that the hearing will be
continued to receive the further report by the planning commission. If the presiding officer
announces the date, time and place of the continued hearing, the clerk will post a notice of
continuance in the same manner as for posting notices of an adjourned meeting, however no
further public notice is required. If the presiding officer does not announce the date, time and
place for continuance of the matter following return to the planning commission, the hearing will
be noticed in the same manner as for the initial public hearing.
1.20.170 Decision following a public hearing.
A. A decision may be made at any time following the close of a public hearing. The Council
may adopt a resolution or ordinance recommended by staff and presented as part of the agenda
packet or may indicate its intended decision and instruct the city attorney to return with the
resolution or ordinance necessary to affect the decision. For decisions that include a quasi-judicial
determination, the Council may adopt the resolution or ordinance, as presented or as may be
amended by the Council, if it determines that the findings contained in the document are
supported by the evidence presented at the hearing and the decision is supported by the findings.
The City Council’s decision is not final until adoption of the documents.
B. A Council member who was absent from all or a part of a public hearing shall not participate
in a decision on the matter unless the Council member has examined all the evidence, including
listening to a recording of the oral testimony or reviewing a videotape or other electronic medium
of the proceedings and represents that he or she has a full understanding of the matter.
1.20.180 Application to administrative hearings.
A. The procedures for conduct of public hearings will apply to any quasi-judicial administrative
hearing conducted by the City Council except as provided in section 1.20.190.
B. During the public hearing for a quasi-judicial matter, Council members must disclose
information received from individuals or groups, site visits or investigations if the information
is not otherwise included in the information presented to the Council in the agenda packet or
presentations by the staff or applicant. The disclosure may be made orally before the time for
receipt of public comment.
1.20.190 Application of procedures required by law.
January 16, 2018 Item #1 Page 15 of 22
Whenever the requirements of this code or other law require that hearings regarding a particular
matter be conducted pursuant to a specific procedure, the provisions of the law establishing the
requirements shall prevail over this chapter to the extent of any inconsistency. Specific rules of
procedure for an administrative hearing established by official action of the City Council, upon
recommendation of the city attorney, will prevail over the provisions of this chapter to the extent
of any inconsistency with respect to that hearing and other hearings of a similar nature.
1.20.200 Evidence – record of proceedings.
A. A decision of the City Council may be based on any relevant evidence provided to the City
Council for its consideration of an item and accepted into the record of the proceedings by the
presiding officer or made a part of the record of the proceedings pursuant to this section. In
addition, to oral presentations and documents presented at a meeting, the City Council may
consider any adopted general plan, specific plan, ordinance, resolution or other record of official
action of the city, and facts of common, general knowledge. The rules of evidence as established by
law for judicial proceedings in the State of California are not applicable to proceedings of the City
Council and any credible, relevant evidence appropriate to afford a full presentation of the facts
necessary or convenient for judicious consideration of the matter which is the subject of the
council’s consideration may be presented at the discretion of the presiding officer. Failure of the
presiding officer to strictly enforce rules of evidence or to reject matters that may be irrelevant or
immaterial does not affect the validity of the hearing. Any procedural errors that do not materially
affect the substantial rights of the parties will be disregarded. Rulings of the presiding officer are
subject to change by the City Council in the same manner as any other procedural order.
B. All materials included in the agenda packet for a meeting are evidence and part of the
record of the proceedings for the agenda item to which they pertain. It is not necessary for
materials included in the agenda packet to be read in full or referenced at the meeting; however,
the staff may present a summary of the information as part of the staff presentation or upon
request of the presiding officer. In addition, any of the following may be presented to the City
Council during the meeting and, if presented are evidence and part of the record:
1. Exhibits and documents not included in the agenda packet that are used during the
presentation by members of city staff and any persons addressing the City Council
and are provided to the City Council;
2. Maps and displays used at the meeting; provided that, whenever practicable, they
shall be displayed in full view of the participants and the audience;
3. All written communications and petitions concerning an item presented at a
meeting if a request for inclusion in the record is made and the presiding officer
grants the request; however, reading of communications and petitions is not
required and will generally be permitted only upon authorization by the presiding
officer; and
4. Information obtained outside the Council Chamber, such as a view of the site,
provided the information, to the extent it is relied upon in a quasi-judicial matter,
is disclosed for the record.
C. The city clerk will retain all the agenda packet, exhibits, reports, maps and other physical
January 16, 2018 Item #1 Page 16 of 22
evidence placed before the Council as public records. Such records may be released by the clerk
with the approval of the city attorney. Items that are large, perishable, bulky or otherwise difficult
to store may be returned to the person submitting the item provided that the clerk retains a
photographic, video or digital record of the item. The clerk may make and retain photographic,
video or digital records of proceedings of meetings subject to the same requirements applicable to
other public records of the city.
D. Whenever any law requires that testimony presented to the City Council under oath or
affirmation, the presiding officer or the city clerk may administer the oath or affirmation.
1.20.210 Subpoenas.
The Council may order the city clerk to issue, and the chief of police or representative to serve,
subpoenas for any witnesses or records necessary for the production of evidence at any duly
scheduled public hearing or quasi-judicial administrative proceeding.
1.20.220 Enforcement of decorum.
A. The chief of police or such member of the Police Department as the chief, or authorized
agent, may designate, is the sergeant-at-arms of the City Council. The sergeant-at-arms is required
to be available to respond to all meetings immediately upon call, and will attend meetings at the
request of the mayor, city manager or majority of the City Council. The sergeant-at-arms is
responsible for enforcing the orders of the presiding officer given for the purpose of maintaining
order and decorum at the Council meetings. The sergeant-at-arms may, at any time, request
assistance from other members of the police department to accomplish that purpose. The City
Council may require the presiding officer to enforce the rules upon approval of a motion by any
Council member.
B. Any person, including any member of the Council or city staff, who by voice or conduct
engages in loud, boisterous or unruly behavior that substantially disrupts a Council meeting or
otherwise disrupts a meeting by failing to comply with the rules established by this chapter, and
continues to do so after the presiding officer has directed the person to stop, commits an offense
punishable as an infraction.
C. Any person arrested under subsection B of this section and who thereafter returns to
the same meeting and again violates the provisions of subsection B of this section, commits an
offence punishable as a misdemeanor.
D. Any person previously convicted under subsection B of this section, who again
violates the provisions of subsection B of this section, commits an offence punishable as a
misdemeanor.
1.20.230 Motions.
A motion is the formal statement of a proposal or question to the Council for consideration and
action. Every Council member has the right to present a motion. A motion may be made at any
time during consideration of a matter on the agenda; however, the presiding officer may defer
recognizing a motion until after presentation of a report of staff, public comment and questions by
January 16, 2018 Item #1 Page 17 of 22
members. It is not necessary for a motion to be pending for deliberation of a matter on the agenda.
If a motion is properly made, the presiding officer will call for a second. No further action is
required on a motion that does not receive a second. If a motion contains two or more divisible
propositions, the presiding officer may divide it and call for a separate vote on each proposition. A
motion once made and seconded may not be withdrawn by the maker without the consent of the
second. The presiding officer may, and upon request of any member of the Council will, restate a
motion before a vote, provided, however, that the presiding officer may request the restatement
be made by the city clerk or city attorney.
1.20.240 Rules relating to motions.
A. When a main motion is pending, no other motion may be entertained except the
following which shall have precedence, one over the other, in the following order:
1. Adjourn;
2. Recess;
3. Defer;
4. Call the question;
5. Limit or extend debate;
6. Refer to commission, committee, or staff;
7. Amend;
8. Continue;
9. Main motion.
B. A motion may not repeat a motion made previously at the same meeting unless there has
been some intervening Council action or discussion. A motion may not be made if a motion to call
the question is pending, and if the question has been called, until after the vote on the question. A
motion may not be made while a vote is being taken. A motion may not be made to interrupt of a
Council member while speaking. A motion regarding a point of order or to direct the presiding
officer to enforce a provision of this chapter may be made at any time.
C. The purpose and salient criteria of the motions listed in this subdivision A are as follows:
1. Motion to adjourn:
Purpose. To terminate a meeting.
Debatable or Amendable. No, except a motion to adjourn to another date, time, or
place is debatable and amendable as to the date, time and place to which the
meeting is to be adjourned.
2. Motion to recess:
Purpose. To permit an interlude in the meeting and to set a definite time for
continuing the meeting.
Debatable or Amendable. Yes but restricted as to time or duration of recess.
3. Motion to defer:
Purpose. To set aside, on a temporary basis, a pending main motion; provided that,
January 16, 2018 Item #1 Page 18 of 22
it may be taken up again for consideration during the current meeting or at the
next regular meeting. A motion to defer is also known as a motion to table.
Debatable or Amendable. It is debatable but not amendable.
4. Motion to call the question:
Purpose. To prevent or stop discussion on the pending question or questions and to
bring such question or questions to vote immediately. If the motion passes, a vote
shall be taken on the pending motion or motions.
Debatable or Amendable. No.
5. Motion to limit or extend debate:
Purpose. To limit or determine the time that will be devoted to discussion of a
pending motion or to extend or remove limitations already imposed on its
discussion.
Debatable or Amendable. Debate and amendments are restricted to duration of the
proposed limit or extension.
6. Motion to refer to commission, committee or staff:
Purpose. To refer the question before the Council to a commission, committee or
to the city staff for the purpose of investigating or studying the proposal and to
make a report back to the Council. If the motion fails, discussion or vote on the
question resumes.
Debatable or Amendable. Yes.
7. Motion to amend:
Purpose. To modify or change a motion that is being considered. An amendment
may be in any of the following forms: to "add" or "insert" certain words or phrases;
to "strike out certain words or phrases and to add others"; to "replace" certain
words, phrases or actions on the same subject matter as the one pending; to "divide
the question" into two or more questions to allow for a separate vote on particular
points. A motion to amend shall relate to the subject of the main motion. A motion
to amend, including a motion to substitute an entire motion for the one pending,
shall not be used to change the nature of the main motion, for example a motion to
replace the word “approve” with the word “disapprove” is prohibited where the
nature of the main motion is changed. If a motion to amend passes, then the main
motion should be voted on as amended.
Debatable or Amendable. It is debatable if the main motion to which it applies is
debatable. It is amendable, but a motion to amend an amendment is not further
amendable.
8. Motion to continue:
Purpose. To prevent further discussion and voting on the main motion until a future
date or event. If the motion fails, discussion and voting on the main motion
resumes. If it passes, the subject of the main motion shall not be brought up again
until the specified date or event. Debatable or Amendable. It is debatable and
January 16, 2018 Item #1 Page 19 of 22
amendable, however amendments are limited to the date or event.
9. Main motion:
Purpose. The primary proposal or question before the Council for discussion
and decision.
Debatable or Amendable. Yes.
1.20.250 Council action.
City Council action will be taken by motions approved by vote of Council members. Action required
by law to be taken by resolution or ordinance may be taken upon approval by the required number
of affirmative votes of a motion to approve or adopt the resolution or ordinance. Action not
requiring adoption of a resolution or ordinance, including providing direction or authorization to a
city officer or employee, may be taken by motion recorded in the minutes of the meeting.
1.20.260 Resolutions.
Whenever feasible, resolutions implementing a staff recommendation will be included in the
agenda packet. Resolutions will be prepared or approved by the city attorney before submission to
the City Council. It is not necessary to read the resolution by title or in full; provided it is identified
by the presiding officer. Where a particular resolution has not been prepared in advance, a motion
may direct the city attorney to prepare the document and return it to the council.When necessary,
a resolution may be presented verbally in motion form together with instructions for written
preparation. Upon execution of such a resolution, it shall become an official action of the Council.
1.20.270 Ordinances.
All ordinances will be prepared or approved by the city attorney before submission to the City
Council. The city attorney will not prepare an ordinance unless directed by the City Council or city
manager or on the city attorney’s own initiative.
Ordinances will be adopted according to the procedure established by statute. The title of an
ordinance will be read before introduction and again before adoption.
However, the text of an ordinance will not be read at the time of introduction or at the time of
adoption unless after the reading of the title, full reading of the text is directed by the City Council.
1.20.280 Correction of documents.
The city clerk, with the consent of the city attorney, is authorized to correct any typographical or
other technical or clerical error in any document approved by the City Council. Upon correction,
the corrected document may be executed in the manner required of the original and, when
properly executed, will replace the original document, to be effective as of the date of the original
document, and to be retained in the files of the city clerk.
1.20.290 Failure to observe procedures—waiver.
The provisions of this chapter are adopted to expedite the transaction of the business of the
council in an orderly fashion and are deemed to be procedural only. The failure to strictly observe
such rules shall not affect the jurisdiction of the Council or invalidate any action taken at a meeting
that is otherwise held in conformity with law. Nothing in this section shall preclude the presiding
officer or City Council from taking any action to cure a violation or alleged violation of the
January 16, 2018 Item #1 Page 20 of 22
provisions of this chapter or other applicable law governing the conduct of City Council meetings.
Nothing in this section precludes the City Council from correcting a violation or alleged violation of
the Brown Act according to the provisions of that act.
1.20.300 Limitation on liability.
The procedural provisions of this chapter are directory in nature and shall not be deemed to
create a mandatory duty, the breach of which could result in liability to the city or to any city
officer or employee pursuant to state statute or other law.
1.20.310 Appeals procedure.
Where no specific appeals procedure is established by this code for any decision of a city
commission, committee or official that substantially affects the rights, duties or privileges of an
aggrieved person, such decision may be appealed to the City Council by filing a written notice of
appeal with the city clerk within 10 calendar days of the date of the decision. Fees for filing an
appeal shall be established by resolution of the City Council. The city manager will place the matter
on an agenda for Council consideration in the manner provided in section 1.20.060 and provide
notice to the aggrieved person of the date, time and place of the meeting at which the matter will
be considered. The aggrieved person will be permitted five minutes to make a presentation to the
City Council, but otherwise, the procedures applicable to items not scheduled for public hearing will
apply. The decision of the City Council regarding the matter is final.
1.20.320 Correspondence addressed to the city council.
The city manager is authorized to open and examine all written communications addressed to the
City Council, except correspondence addressed to an individual City Council member. An individual
Council member may authorize the city manager to open and examine correspondence address to
that Council member. The city manager is authorized to take appropriate administrative action to
address constituent concerns consistent with existing city policy. Matters requiring City Council
action may be placed on the agenda by the city manager in the manner provided in this chapter. On
a weekly basis, the manager will provide the mayor and Council members with correspondence
received and a report of any administrative action taken. Correspondence relating to an item on
the agenda for a Council meeting will be provided to the city clerk for inclusion in the agenda
packet. The City Manager’s Office and City Clerk’s Office will coordinate on mail received by the
City Clerk’s Office to effectively accomplish the purposes of this section. Correspondence relating to
an item on the agenda of a meeting and received by the city clerk or city manager before 5 p.m. on
Wednesday of the week before the day of a Council meeting will be included in the agenda packet
for the meeting.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This ordinance shall be effective thirty days after its adoption; and the city
clerk shall certify the adoption of this ordinance and cause the full text of the ordinance or a summary
of the ordinance prepared by the city attorney to be published at least once in a newspaper of general
circulation in the City of Carlsbad within 15 days after its adoption.
January 16, 2018 Item #1 Page 21 of 22
INTRODUCED AND FIRST READ at a Regular Meeting of the Carlsbad City Council on the 9th day
of January, 2018, and thereafter
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of
Carlsbad on the 16th day of January, 2018, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
M. Hall, K. Blackburn, M. Schumacher, C. Schumacher, M. Packard.
None.
None.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY:
CELIA A. BREWER, City Attorney
(SEAL)
January 16, 2018 Item #1 Page 22 of 22