Explanation
This legislation is to permit the scheduling of the meetings of the Council and the committees thereof so as to enable the Council to expeditiously carry out its business without undue delay.
Title
To amend Chapter 111.01 of Columbus City Codes, 1959, regarding meeting times of Columbus City Council, and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, it is the desire of City Council to amend Columbus City Codes, 1959 to establish the starting time of Council's Zoning Committee Meetings on Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m and to allow the Council President discretion when establishing the calendar of Council meetings; and,
WHEREAS, there is an emergency in the usual operation of the City in that it is immediately necessary to permit some flexibility in the scheduling of the meetings of the Council and the committees thereof so as to enable the Council to expeditiously carry out its business without undue delay, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; now therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That Chapter 111.01 of Columbus City Codes, 1959, is hereby amended to read as follows:
111.01 Regular meetings.
In accordance with Section 8 of the city charter, or by ordinance or resolution, regular meetings of council shall be held in the usual place for holding meetings on Monday of each week at 5:00 p.m. with Zoning Committee Meetings beginning at 6:30 p.m. except during the month of August, and except when such meeting day falls on a holiday established by ordinance. The Council President may establish an alternative date and time of the meetings of Council and the committees thereof on a case by case basis if the Council President determines at his or her discretion that it is necessary to designate an alternative meeting date and time so long as proper notice is given.
A representative of the city attorney, auditor, city treasurer, and each department shall attend all council meetings and give necessary service and advice; provided, however, that the president of the council, in his discretion may excuse any or all of said representatives from attending any council meeting when it appears to him from the calendar that the matters to be considered at a particular meeting will not require their services.
Any member of city council may attend any and all meetings of the city council, its standing committees created by the president, or the council itself, including all such meetings which may be conducted in executive session.
Section 2. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.