Sec. 2-19.  Rules of debate.

 

(a)   The presiding officer may debate any matter coming before the council.  The member of the city council as may be presiding in the absence of the mayor, may move, second, debate and vote from the chair, subject only to such limitations of debate as are imposed by these rules on all members, and shall not be deprived of any of the rights and privileges of a councilman by reason of his acting as presiding officer.

 

(b)   Every member desiring to speak shall address the chair, and upon recognition by the presiding officer, shall confine him­self to the question under debate, avoiding all personalities and indecorous language.

 

(c)   A member once recognized, shall not be interrupted when speaking, unless it is to call him to order or as otherwise provided in this article.  If a member, while speaking, is called to order, he shall cease speaking until the question of order is determined, and if in order, he shall be permitted to proceed.

 

(d)   A member having the floor shall yield the same for a point of order addressed to the chair, a question of personal privilege raised by any member and an inquiry for information addressed to the chair.  He may, upon request of any other member, temporarily yield the floor for any interrogation or a statement by any member, at the conclusion of which he will again be entitled to the floor.

 

(e)   The council may, by general rule, limit debate or discussion on any matter, or may, by motion adopted at the time, limit debate or discussion on any particular subject or motion, and may by majority of the members present, extend any such limit.

 

(f)    The councilman moving the adoption of an ordinance or resolution shall have the privilege of closing the debate.

 

(g)   A motion to reconsider any action taken by the council may be made only on the day such action was taken.  It may be made either immediately during the same meeting or at a recessed or adjourned meeting thereof.  Such motion must be made by one (1) of the prevailing side, but may be seconded by any member, and may be made at any time and have precedence over all other motions or while a member has the floor and it shall be debatable.  Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent any member of the council from making or remaking the same or any other motion at a subsequent meeting of the council.

 

(h)   A councilman may request, through the mayor, the privi­lege of having a transcript of his statement on any subject under consideration by the council entered in the minutes.

 

Source:  Ord.  No. 2992, § 11, 6-1-81