Explanation
BACKGROUND:
In order to clarify, and more clearly delineate, the requirements of the Organization Chapter containing the official action sections of the Columbus City Code for the Historic Architectural Review Commissions, revisions to be made to include that an affirmative vote of a simple majority of a seated quorum of commissioners constitutes commission approval and a Certificate of Appropriateness shall be issued. It is proposed that this criterion for simple majority action by the Brewery District Commission, German Village Commission, the Victorian Village Commission and the Historic Resources Commission be included in existing City Code Chapter 3119.07 'Organization' and Chapter 3117.03 'Organization'.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No funding is required for this legislation.
Title
To amend various sections of Title 31 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, concerning the organization and official action of the Brewery District Commission, German Village Commission, the Victorian Village Commission and the Historic Resources Commission, in order to allow for approval by a simple majority of a seated quorum.
Body
WHEREAS, the Brewery District Commission, the German Village Commission, the Victorian Village Commission, and the Historic Resources Commission are charged, in part, with identifying structures of historic and architectural significance, maintaining a list of these structures and other historic resources, and providing regulations through design review; and
WHEREAS, the Brewery District Commission, the German Village Commission, the Victorian Village Commission, and the Historic Resources Commission are charged with reviewing applications for Certificate of Appropriateness in their appointed historic districts; and
WHEREAS, the Brewery District Commission, the German Village Commission, the Victorian Village Commission, and the Historic Resources Commission are each composed of seven (7) appointed members; and
WHEREAS, four (4) seated members of the Brewery District Commission, the German Village Commission, the Victorian Village Commission and the Historic Resources Commission constitute a quorum; and
WHEREAS, additional language for the organization and official action criteria of the Brewery District Commission, the German Village Commission, the Victorian Village Commission and the Historic Resources Commission will serve to clarify the code stipulations; and
WHEREAS, this code change will not alter the current appointment process or the final approval process of Columbus City Council; now therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That section 3117.03 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, is hereby amended to read as follows:
3117.03 Organization.
Within thirty (30) days after the appointment of all members by the mayor, the commission shall meet and organize by the election of a chairman and vice-chairman. The commission shall adopt rules of procedure which shall be published in the City Bulletin and provide for regular and special meetings. Four (4) members shall be required for official action and constitute a quorum. The commission shall take official action only by a vote of a majority of the members voting on the question on the table, during a public meeting at which there is a quorum. A quorum exists when a majority of the members appointed to and serving on the commission are physically present at the meeting. All commission meetings shall be open to the public. A record of proceedings shall be maintained and available for inspection.
Notices of all commission meetings shall be published in the City Bulletin.
Section 2. That section 3119.07 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, is hereby amended to read as follows:
3119.07 Organization.
Unless otherwise specified, as soon as convenient after the members of each commission are appointed by the mayor, the commissions shall meet and organize by the election of a chairman and secretary. The commissions shall adopt rules of procedure and provide for regular and special meetings. A majority of the members appointed to and serving on each commission shall be required for official action and constitute a quorum. The commissions shall take official action only by a vote of a majority of the members voting on the question on the table, during a public meeting at which there is a quorum. A quorum exists when a majority of the members appointed to and serving on the commission are physically present at the meeting. All commission meetings shall be open to the public. A record of proceedings shall be maintained and available for inspection. Notices of all commission meetings shall be published in the City Bulletin.
Section 3. That section 3119.33 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, is hereby amended to read as follows:
3119.33 Italian Village-Organization.
As soon as convenient, after the members are appointed by the mayor, the commission shall meet and organize by the election of a chairman and secretary. The commission shall adopt bylaws governing its procedure and provide for regular and special meetings. The commission shall take official action only by a vote of a majority of the members voting on the question on the table, during a public meeting at which there is a quorum. A quorum exists when a majority of the members appointed to and serving on the commission are physically present at the meeting. All commission meetings shall be open to the public. A record of proceedings shall be maintained and available for inspection. Notices of all commission meetings shall be published in the City Bulletin.
Section 4. That existing sections 3117.03, 3119.07 and 3119.33 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, are hereby repealed.
Section 5. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period provided by law.