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(The following rules were originally adopted by Council on

March 13, 2000, unless otherwise indicated as an amendment)

ARTICLE I

MEETINGS

The following meetings shall have minutes taken, and these minutes shall be approved by a majority of City Council and filed with the Clerk of Council.

1.01.     ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

The Council organizational meeting is to be held before January 7 of each year following a regular municipal election. The Council shall meet in the Council Chambers for the purpose of organization. At such organization meeting or as soon as practical thereafter the Council shall elect one (1) of their membership as the President of Council to serve until a successor shall have been elected, unless such member shall cease in the meantime to be a member of Council. No gathering of persons elected as members of Council, prior to the start of their term, shall be considered a Meeting of Council. (Charter 3.06)

A. The President of Council, the Vice President of Council, the Planning Commission representative, and the Clerk of Council and any deputies all shall be elected by the members of Council at this meeting.

B. The Committee and Commission assignments shall be based on the seniority of the Members of Council. Council members shall list desired assignments in order of preference. Should more than one member of Council vie for seat on a particular committee, the senior member shall be assigned the seat. The committee appointments made at this meeting shall be for two years, unless otherwise voted on by Council.

C. Seniority for the selection of committee assignments shall be determined by the length of uninterrupted councilmanic service only.

D. No meeting of a Standing Committee of Council, Board or Commission shall convene during January of an even numbered year, prior to the Organizational Meeting of Council.

1.02.     REGULAR MEETINGS

All meetings of the Council shall be held in Council Chambers in City Hall unless otherwise ordered by the Council. Regularly scheduled meetings shall be held on the second and fourth Monday of each calendar month, at 7:00 p.m., unless ordered by motion, resolution, or ordinance, at least 96 hours before the meeting.

1.021.   REGULAR MEETINGS DURING THE HOLIDAYS

Whenever the regularly scheduled Council meeting date falls on a holiday, then such meeting shall be held on the next day available, when another City meeting is not scheduled.

For the months of November and December of each year, Council will hold one regular meeting in November, on the Third Monday, and two regular meetings in December, on the first and third Mondays. The Finance Committee meetings will be held on the second Mondays of November and December. (amended 2-25-2002, 2-23-2004)

1.03.      SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETINGS

Special Council meetings may be called by a vote of the majority of members of Council, the Mayor, President of Council, or any three members of Council. Unless an emergency exists requiring a shorter notice confirmed by at least two-thirds of the members of Council, there shall be given at least twenty-four (24) hours notice in writing of such special meeting served personally on each member of Council or left at their usual place of residence. Such notice shall state the subjects to be considered at the meeting and no other matter shall be considered except on the approval at that meeting by at least two-thirds of the members of Council. City officials requested to attend the special Council meeting shall also be notified in the above manner. (Charter 3.07) (amended 3-13-2006)

1.035     WORKSESSIONS

Worksessions may be called by the President of Council, three members of Council, or by a motion of Council. There shall be given at least twenty-four (24) hours notice in writing of such worksession served personally on each member of Council or left at their usual place of residence. Such notice shall state the subjects to be discussed at the meeting and no other matters shall be discussed. City officials requested to attend the worksession shall also be notified in the above manner. No legislative deliberation is to take place during a Worksession. Citizens’ comments shall not be permitted at worksessions, as they will have the opportunity to comment on the issue prior to its approval at a subsequent Council meeting. (amended 2-25-2002)

1.04.      PUBLIC HEARINGS

Public hearings are a mandated forum for City Council to listen to the concerns and comments of its constituents, and answer any questions on a particular issue or piece of legislation in front of Council for consideration. No legislative deliberation is to take place during a Public Hearing. Council will not approve the legislation the same night as the hearing, in the event that the timeline necessitates approval earlier, this provision may be waived. (amended 2-25-2002, 2-23-2004, 3-13-2006)

A.    Public hearings in front of City Council must be held for the following issues:

        1. Zoning Map and Regulation Changes

2. Budget Commission Tax Rate and Levy Certification

        3. Annual Tax Budget Approval

4. Other issues as advised by the Law Department

        5. Upon the request of the majority of Council

6. Building Regulation Changes (amended 2-23-2004)

7. CAUV Applications(amended 3-13-2006)

B.    Notification

1. Date of hearing must be set by a motion of City Council

2. Hearing must be advertised in at least one newspaper of general circulation

3. Hearing advertisement must occur at least 30 days prior to the public hearing

4. Advertisement must state the title of the legislation, the time, date and place of the hearing

5. All "Aurora-reporting" press should be notified

1.05.     QUORUM

A majority of the members of Council shall constitute a quorum to transact business, but a lesser number may adjourn from time to time and compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as may be prescribed by Council rules and regulations duly adopted. (Charter 3.08)

In the absence of a quorum at the hour appointed for the meeting the members present may, by majority vote of those present, recess for a period not exceeding thirty minutes.

1.06.     TIME LIMIT

Council meetings shall not exceed three (3) hours, not including Executive Sessions and the Mayor’s Report, unless Council suspends the Rules of Council to continue the meeting. The questions and answers regarding the Mayor’s Report are to be considered as a part of the report. (amended 11-13-2000, 2-23-2004)

The Mayor’s Report shall be limited to seven (7) minutes, not including questions and answers, unless a longer period of time is approved by the Chair.   (amended 2-23-2004)

1.07.      EXECUTIVE SESSION

All meetings of Council shall be public. In other words, take place in Open Session. However, the Council may go into Executive Session to consider only those subjects permitted by Ohio Law. (amended 2-23-2004, 3-13-2006)

Council must return to Open Session prior to the consideration of any order of business. (O.R.C. 121.22)

Executive Sessions are privileged and confidential, and information shall not be shared with anyone other than the participants. (amended 2-25-2002, 3-13-2006).