Explanation
In November of 2000, City Council enacted a new procedure to expedite routine business matters at the weekly City Council meeting - this being the Consent Action portion of the Agenda (Ordinance #2301-00). This change enabled council members to discuss more "significant" legislation and policies, and to allow the public to better understand City Council actions and decisions.
Along those same lines, City Council now wants to enact a new procedure to waive reading the titles of the First Reading of 30-Day Legislation to make the weekly Council meeting more instructive for the public and enhance opportunity for debate.
The State Legislature already conducts its business in a similar manner.
By amending section 111.16(a) of the Columbus City Code, City Council will not be waiving any part of the deliberative process, and hence, will still be in compliance with Section 20 of The City Charter, which reads:
"No ordinance, unless it be an emergency measure, shall be passed until it has been read at two regular meetings, not less than one week apart, or the requirement of such reading has been dispensed with by an affirmative vote of at least five members of council."
Title
To amend Section 111.16(a) of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, dealing with the waiver of reading the titles of First Reading of 30-day legislation for the purpose of expediting routine business at City Council meetings, and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, City Council has enacted new procedures to expedite routine business matters at the weekly City Council meeting, including the Consent Action portion of the Agenda, to enable council members to discuss more "significant" legislation and policies, and to allow the public to better understand Council actions and decisions; and
WHEREAS, the regular waiving of reading the titles of the First Reading of 30-Day Legislation is another step to reduce time spent on routine business to make the weekly Council meeting more instructive for the public and enhance opportunity for debate; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City of Columbus in that it is immediately necessary to amend Section 111.16(a) of the Columbus City Code dealing with First Reading of 30-Day Legislation to expedite routine business matters at weekly City Council meetings for the preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety, and welfare; now therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the following Section of Chapter 111.16(a) of the Columbus City Codes be amended to read as follows:
111.16 Reading of legislation.
In accordance with Section 20 of the Columbus City Charter the reading of legislation at a city council meeting shall be defined as follows:
(a) First Reading of Thirty (30) Day Legislation. The city clerk, or designee, shall read aloud the assigned number and title only of each ordinance or resolution.
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.