HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTIONS-2006-008-R-06• 1 /23/2006
1 /9/2006
11 /7/2005
8-R-06
A RESOLUTION
Adopting Rules and Organization of the
City Council of the
City of Evanston
BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Evanston,
77th Session Cook County, Illinois, adopts as its Rules and Organization the
Rules 1 to 26 inclusive, dated January 23, 2006, attached hereto and incorporated
herein as Exhibit A.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all Rules, Order of Business and
• Organization of the City Council heretofore adopted are hereby expressly
rescinded and repealed.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that said Rules and Organization be
published in pamphlet form.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the attached Rules 1 to 26
inclusive shall be in full force and effect from and after the date of its passage,
January 23, 2006, and approval in the mann r provided by la
L rraine H. Morton, Mayor
Attest:
Mary o is, ity Clerk
• Adopted: I a 7 , 2006
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EXHIBIT A
GLOSSARY
"Acting Mayor" is a member of the City Council elected by the Council to fill a
vacancy in the office of the Mayor until filled by a regular or special election. The
Acting Mayor shall possess all the rights and powers of the Mayor.
"City Council" and "Corporate Authorities" shall mean the nine Aldermen and
the Mayor and may be used interchangeably.
"Journal" is the official record of the City Council, wherein are recorded the yeas
and nays taken on the passage of designated ordinances, resolutions, motions,
and other actions of the Council.
"Mayor pro tem" is a member of the City Council, who is elected by the Council
to perform the duties and possesses all the rights and powers of the Mayor if a
temporary absence or disability of the Mayor prevents the performance of Mayoral
duties, but does not create a vacancy in the office. (Exception: See Rule 14.4)
"Quorum" is six members'of the Corporate Authorities for a City Council meeting.
"Temporary Chair" is a member of the Council, who in the absence of the Mayor, •
acting Mayor, or Mayor pro tem for a portion of a meeting, is elected by the Council
to act as a temporary chair. The temporary chair shall have only the powers of a
presiding officer and has a right to vote as Alderman. (Exception: See Rule 14.4)
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INDEX*
page
1.
ADJOURNMENT
4
2.
AGENDA: ORDER AT COUNCIL MEETINGS
4
3.
AMENDMENT, REPEAL, OR SUSPENSION OF RULES
5
4.
APPEALS
5
5.
APPOINTMENTS
6
6.
CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
7
7.
CITY MANAGER
8
8.
CLOSED SESSIONS
8
9.
COMMITTEES
9
10.
CONDUCT OF MEMBERS
12
11.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND ABSTENTIONS
12
12.
DEBATE
13
13.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
14
• 14.
MAYOR
14
".14.7
MAYOR PRO TEM
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'°14.8
ACTING MAYOR
15
.-: 15.
MEDIA
16
16.
MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL
16
17.
MINUTES
17
18. -
MOTIONS
17
19.
OMNIBUS AGENDA (CONSENT AGENDA)
18
20.
ORDINANCES
19
21.
QUORUM
19
22.
RECONSIDERATION
20
23.
ROBERT'S RULES
20
24.
TOWNSHIP
20
25.
VOTES
21
26.
EXTRAORDINARY VOTES
21
•
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1. ADJOURNMENT •
1.1 A motion to adjourn the Council shall always be in order except while a vote
is being taken.
1.2 A motion to adjourn cannot be amended or debated, but a motion to
adjourn to a specific date or time may be amended and debated.
2. AGENDA: ORDER AT COUNCIL MEETINGS
2.1 The first order of business at each meeting of the City Council shall be the
calling of the roll of Alderman by the City Clerk, who shall mark the absentees and
announce whether a quorum is present; the Council shall then be called to order
by the Mayor. Thereupon, the Council shall proceed to the business before it,
which shall normally be conducted in the following order. The Mayor or the
Council may vary the order of business:
(1) Mayor and City Manager Public Announcements and Report of the
City Manager.
(2) Communications addressed to the Council.
(3) Special Order of Business. •
(4) Citizen Comment.
(5) Consent Agenda and approval of the minutes of the preceding
meeting.
(6) Report of Standing and Special Committees.
(7) Call of the Wards, at which time each Alderman shall be called upon
by the Mayor to announce or provide information about any Ward or City matter.
(8) Executive Session.
2.2 All matters relating to priority of business shall be decided by the Mayor
without debate.
2.3 The Mayor shall preserve order and decorum and shall decide all questions
of order.
2.4 During the meetings of the City Council only city officers and staff, former
Aldermen, Jormer Mayors and persons connected with the accredited media shall
be admitted to the Council floor except upon invitation of the Mayor.
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• 2.5 In the case of disturbance or disorderly conduct the Mayor shall have the
power: (1) to remove the offenders; (2) to clear the Council Chamber of all
spectators; or (3) to suspend or adjourn the meeting.
2.6 Committees or individual Alderman who intend to ask for official Council
action -shall ask the City Manager to put such matters on the printed agenda prior
to the Council meeting.
3. AMENDMENT, REPEAL, OR SUSPENSION OF RULES
3.1 Any rule may be amended or repealed at any regular meeting of the City
Council, upon a prior submission thereof in writing, by the Rules Committee or by
three or more Aldermen. The requested changes must be distributed to members
of City Council at least one week in advance of the vote thereon. The proposed
amendment or repeal must be approved by a majority of the Aldermen currently
holding office.
3.2 Any rule may be temporarily suspended for the matter under consideration
at any time by a two-thirds vote of the Aldermen present, except as provided
in Rule 20.1.
4. APPEALS
• The rulings of the Mayor may be appealed to the City Council and shall be decided
by a majority vote without debate.
5. APPOINTMENTS - EXCEPT AS DESIGNATED BELOW
5.1 The Mayor shall have the sole right and power, with the advice and consent
of the City Council, to make all appointments to the commissions, boards, and
advisory bodies of the Council unless otherwise provided by ordinance or
resolution. All appointments shall be introduced at least one week in advance of
their consideration by the City Council. The Mayor shall precede introduction by
transmitting to each Alderman in confidence a written biography of the prospective
appointee no later than the Friday prior to introduction.
5.2 The Mayor shall submit to Council appointees to a board, commission or
committee at least three weeks prior to making her nomination.
5.3 A board or commission appointee may be reappointed only once. When a
vacancy is created by the resignation of the member prior to expiration of that
member's term, the member appointed to fill this vacancy shall be appointed to a
• full term unless otherwise provided by City Ordinance or State Statute. All
vacancies shall be published in such communications of general circulation within
the community that the Mayor deems appropriate. Vacancies shall also be listed
on the City Cable channels.
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5.4 The term for board or commission membership shall be three years, except .
where otherwise provided by statute or ordinance.
5.5 No board or commission member shall be appointed to serve on more than
one board or commission concurrently, except where required by official position.
5.6 The City Council shall be given notice of the reappointment of any board or
commission appointee in the same manner as established for original
appointments.
5.7 Committee Chairs
5.7.1 Committees consisting of all aldermen shall have their initial chair appointed
by the Rules Committee.
5.7.2 Committees consisting of Aldermen and citizens, which report directly to the
Council, shall have an Aldermanic Chair appointed by the Rules Committee for a
term determined by the Rules Committee.
5.7.3 Committees consisting of Aldermen and citizens, which report to Standing
Committees, shall have a citizen chair elected by the members of the committee.
5.7.4 Boards, Committees and Commissions composed entirely of citizens shall •
elect their chairs, except the Zoning Board of Appeals, which is required by the
City Code to have a chair appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of
the City Council.
5.7.5 Special Committees (Ad Hoc) shall have a chair appointed by the Mayor
with the advice and consent of the City Council.
6. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION
6.1 Any citizen may address a committee at the invitation of the chair of the
committee. Official Public Hearings for citizens shall allow for comments by the
City Council and citizens.
6.2 The Council, as part of the agenda, shall, at the commencement of each
regular Council meeting, provide a period for Citizen Comment. Interested
persons shall sign their name, address and the agenda item or other topic to be
addressed on a designated citizen participation. A speaker may address the
Council for no more than three minutes. The maximum time period for citizen
participation is forty-five minutes. If there are more than 15 speakers, the Mayor
will allocate time among the speakers to ensure that citizen comment does not •
exceed forty-five (45) minutes. The business of the City Council shall commence
no later than forty-five (45) minutes after the beginning of Citizen Comment.
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• 6.3 Persons who sign up to speak on an agenda item marked for decision at
this meeting may be given priority and should indicate an agenda item or subject to
be addressed.
6.4 A person invited to address the Council as specified herein, when accorded
the floor, shall limit comments to include items within the jurisdiction of the
Evanston City Council as determined by the Mayor and be governed by these
rules to the extent applicable.
6.5 During periods of citizen participation, comments from Aldermen shall be
limited to requests for information, referrals to the appropriate committee, or the
City Manager for response.
7. CITY MANAGER
7.1 The City Manager shall be appointed by a two-thirds vote of the Council
(seven (7) votes).
7.2 The Manager may at any time be removed from office by a two-thirds vote
of 'the Council (seven (7) votes).
•7.3. The Manager shall attend all meetings of the City Council with the right to
: take part in discussion but with no right to vote.
7.4. No committee or its individual members shall in any way assume or attempt
to assume any executive or administrative function delegated to the City Manager
or appointees thereof.
7.5. In the case of absence ef-or disability of the Manager for a period exceeding
thirty (30) days, the Council may designate a qualified administrative officer of the
municipality to perform the duties of the Manager during such absence
or disability.
8. CLOSED SESSIONS
8.1 At any Council meeting for which proper notice under Section 42.02 of the
Open Meeting Act, (Illinois Compiled Statutes, Chapter 120) has been given, the
Council may decide to hold a closed session for any purpose authorized by
Section 120/2 of the Act. Such closed session must be approved in open meeting
by a majority vote of a quorum present, and each vote and the purpose of the
closed session shall be recorded in the minutes of the open meeting.
. 8.2 Only topics specified in the vote to close may be considered during the
closed session. No final action may be taken at a closed session. Minutes of the
same quality and detail as regular meetings shall be kept at all closed sessions
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and shall remain confidential unless the Council determines otherwise. The Rules •
Committee shall be responsible for compliance with the Open Meetings Act.
8.3 All proceedings of a Closed Session shall be kept in strict confidence by all
those in attendance.
8.4 Consideration of confidential information shall be consistent with the Open
Meetings Act. An Alderman who has a question about the confidentiality of an
item should exercise a good faith effort in contacting the Mayor first to discuss the
confidentiality of the item before requesting that the City Council consider its
confidentiality.
9. COMMITTEES (62-R-00, June 12, 2000)
9.1 Open Meetings. All regular and special meetings of committees, boards
and commissions shall be open to the public and to the press, except closed
sessions as authorized by the statutes of the State of Illinois.
9.2 . Standing Committees. There shall be four standing committees of the City
Council: (1) Rules Committee; (2) Administration and Public Works; (3) Human
Services; and (4) Planning and Development. The Planning and Development
Committee and Administration and Public Works Committee shall meet before the
regular Council meetings. The Human Services Committee and the Rules •
Committee shall meet in accordance with a published schedule, but in no event
less than once per month. Standing Committees may establish subcommittees as
needed to assist them in more efficiently conducting their business. (29-R-04,
May 24, 2004)
9.3 Rules Committee (nine (9) ^ice,e,,;)eAldermen)
9.3.1 The jurisdiction of this committee shall be as follows:
(1) Assignment of Aldermen to standing committees, Economic
Development Committee, Parking Committee and the Housing and Community
Development Act Committee, which recommends to the Council expenditure of
Federal funds.
(2) Determination of jurisdictional disputes between committees.
(3) Revision of Council Rules.
(4) Preparation and maintenance of the list of mayor pro tem.
(5) Insure compliance with the Illinois Open Meetings Act. •
(6) Appointment of chairs to standing committees.
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a(7) Coordination of the City Manager evaluation.
(8) Such other matters as are referred to it by the Council, an individual
Alderman, or the Mayor. (64-R-97, September 22, 1999)
9.4 Administration and Public Works Committee (five (5) Aldermen). The duties
of this committee shall include matters relating to bills and purchases; finance; fire;
legal; licensing; personnel; and public works (including streets and alleys, lighting,
refuse disposal, water and sewers, traffic control, and parking); public buildings;
public transportation; public utilities; safety (including civil defense); liaison with the
police and fire pension boards; and capital improvements. This committee shall
meet at 5:30 p.m. on the night of regularly scheduled City Council meetings.
9.5 Human Services Committee (five (5) Aldermen). The duties of this
committee shall include matters relating to the Department of Health and Human
Services (including public health, mental health, youth, aging, emergency
assistance and community purchased human services); liaison with human
service -related boards and commissions, private and public organizations funding
or providing human services within the City, and matters relating to the arts,
recreation, library, environment, unemployment, the Township, unified budgeting,
the Farmers' Market, and Police services; and Americans with Disabilities Act
("ADA") Grievance Appeals relating to Title II of the ADA (Accessibility). The
committee will sit as the Township Committee when dealing with all matters related
to the Township. The Human Services Committee shall meet on the first Monday
�LL of each month. (14-R-03, March 24, 2003)
9.6 Planning and Development Committee (nine Aldermen). The duties of this
committee will include matters relating to planning; physical development, zoning,
building.. conservation, _preservation, housing, and relocation. The Committee shall
review and advise the City Council on the use and planning of all City park land.
This Committee shall meet at 6:30 p.m. on the night of regular scheduled
Council meetings.
9.7 Committee Chairman. The Rules Committee will establish a schedule of
Standing Committee chairmanship, with no Alderman holding two chairmanships
at the same time.
9.8 Committee of the Whole. By majority vote, the Council may resolve itself
into a Committee of the Whole for the purpose of informally discussing any matter.
The presiding official shall be the Mayor or the appropriate Committee Chairman.
9.9 Standing Committees' Priorities and Procedures.
• 9.9.1 The chair shall confer on a regular basis with staff to review the
committee agenda.
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9.9.2 Each committee shall adopt guidelines for the conduct of its meeting and for
public participation. The chair shall report committee deliberations and actions to
the Council and may appoint, as necessary, a speaker to present majority or
minority committee reports to the Council.
9.9.3 References - Committees, Boards, and Commissions composed entirely of
Aldermen shall consider matters referred to them by the Mayor, Aldermen or staff
without the necessity of a vote of the Council. References by individual aldermen
to standing committee can be made at the call of the wards, during individual
standing committee meetings, or through communication to the standing
committee chair by an individual alderman. References to other Committees,
Boards, or Commissions, which are approved by the City Council, shall be
considered by that Committee, Board, or Commission. Prior to approval of such
reference, the Council shall have the right to debate the motion for such
references. (64-R=99, September 22, 1999)
9.9.4 The Chair of the Standing Committees may appoint subcommittees with the
approval of the committee for better operational efficiency and/or greater
community involvement to consider particular issues or problems. The sub-
committee shall report to the standing committee which created it.
9.11 Special Committees (Ad Hoc) 04
9.11.1 Special committees may be appointed to consider particular problems. At
the time of creating of any special committees, the appointing body shall also
designate to whom the special committee will report and the time frame within
which its work should be completed. There shall be three types of
special committees.
9.11.2 Special Committees of the Aldermen which shall be composed of
Aldermen appointed by the City Council, or the Rules Committee, or by the Mayor.
9.11.3 Special Committees of Aldermen and citizens of the City which shall be
appointed by Aldermen, by the City Council, the Rules Committee, or by
the Mayor.
9.11.4 Special Committees appointed by the Mayor, with the advice and consent
of the City Council, which may be composed entirely of citizens.
9.11.5 Except as provided in section 5.7 of these rules the chairs of these special
committees shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of the
City Council.
9.11.6 All appointments of the above committees shall be with the advice and
consent of the City Council.
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9.12 Special Meetings. Three or more members of a Committee, Board or
Commission may call a meeting of that body when the Chair has cancelled the
meeting. Such call for a meeting shall be in writing, duly signed by the callers and
shall be presented to the Chair. (Resolution 65-R-92).
10. CONDUCT OF MEMBERS
10.1 During Council meetings, no member of the Council shall speak until
recognized by the Mayor.
10.2 An Alderman called to order by the Mayor shall immediately sit down.
10.3 Any Alderman who acts in a disorderly manner at .a Council or standing
committee meeting or who does not obey the order of the Mayor, may be censured
by a majority vote of the members present or expelled for the remainder of the
meeting by a two-thirds vote of the Aldermen present.
10.4 Any Alderman who does not comply with the Evanston City Code of Ethics
may be censured by majority vote of members present at a Council meeting. -
- 10.5 An Alderman shall stand when speaking.
10.6 The • right of a Council member to address- the Council on a question of
personal privilege shall be limited to cases in which the members' integrity,
character or motives are assailed, questioned or impugned.
r 11. CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND ABSTENTIONS
11.1 An Alderman is expected to vote yea or nay on all matters when present
except on any matter which involves a direct personal pecuniary interest or conflict
of interest. The reason for an abstention shall be announced. If the Mayor or any
Alderman believes there is a conflict of interest in any matter before the Council,
consultation with the Board of Ethics is available.
11.2 Aldermen serving on the Board of Directors of an Evanston not -for -profit
agency shall disclose their membership and refrain from participating in Council
discussion or voting on matters pertaining to the not -for -profit agency.
11.3 An Alderman shall give testimony before the Zoning Board of Appeals or
the Plan Commission in the following circumstances a) when presenting the official
recommendations of a Council committee or subcommittee on a matter within its
jurisdiction and upon which a formal vote by that committee or subcommittee has
been taken; b) may testify before the Plan Commission when the Plan
. Commission is considering amendments to the zoning ordinance which are not
site -specific; c) may testify when the alderman is the petitioner; d) may give such
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1.
testimony only when the alderman is the appellant before the Zoning Board of
Appeals or Plan Commission. 40
11.4 Nothing herein shall be construed to prohibit an Alderman from attending
Zoning Board of Appeals or Plan Commission meetings or from giving testimony
on those items for which the Zoning Board of Appeals is the final authority.
12. DEBATE
12.1 No Alderman shall speak for longer than five (5) minutes on the same
subject except by consent of a majority of the Council. Council consent shall be
assumed in the absence of objections by any Alderman or the Mayor.
12.2 No Alderman shall speak twice on the same subject until all Aldermen who
wish to speak have had an opportunity to be heard at least once.
13. GENERAL PROVISIONS
13.1 The powers of the City Council shall be purely legislative.
13.2 The City Council shall approve for payment all expenses and liabilities of
the municipality.
13.3 An alderman, at all times, may examine and inspect the books, records and
papers of any agent, employee or officer of the city when such examination and
inspection is reasonably., necessary for the exercise of the alderman's legislative
function, and such books, records and papers are kept in the ordinary course of
the duties of the agent, employee or officer.
.14. MAYOR
14.1 The Mayor is the presiding officer at all meetings of the City Council and is
an ex officio member of all City Council committees.
14.2 The Mayor shall be an ex offilcio member of all committees, boards
and commissions.
14.3 All ordinances and resolutions passed by the Council shall be deposited
with the City Clerk. The Mayor shall indicate approval of these by signing them.
Those disapproved shall be returned to the Council accompanied by written
objections at the next regular meeting occurring not less than seven (7) days after
passage. The Mayor may disapprove of any one or more sums appropriated in
any ordinance or resolution making an appropriation, and, if so, the remainder
shall be considered approved. However, the Mayor may disapprove entirely of an i
ordinance or resolution making an appropriation. If the Mayor fails to return any
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ordinance or resolution with written objections within the designated time, it shall
be considered approved even though it lacks the Mayor's signature.
14.4 When the Mayor votes:
14.4.1 The Mayor shall vote on Ordinances, Resolutions and motions in the
following instances:
A. When the vote. of the Aldermen has resulted in a tie.
B. When a vote greater than a majority of the Corporate Authorities
(Aldermen and Mayor) is required -by statute to adopt an ordinance, resolution
or motion.
C. On the appointment of a City Manager.
14.4.2 The Mayor shall not vote in the following instances:
A. To break a tie vote on an incidental motion. (Incidental motions
consider procedural issues and are used to enforce correct rules of procedure.)
A.tie vote on an incidental motion sustains the decision of the Mayor.
B. On any ordinance, resolution or motion when there is no tie.
i�
14 4.3 An Acting Mayor or Mayor pro tem shall not be accorded the voting
privilege of Mayor; however nothing in this section may deprive an Acting Mayor or
Mayor pro tem of the voting privilege of Alderman.
14.5 The Mayor shall have authority to refer any matter to the agenda of any
committee of the City Council, or to any Aldermanic committee, board,
commission, or advisory body of the City Council.
14.6 The Mayor shall at all times have access to any and all records, documents,
and information relative to any and all functions of the municipal government as
allowed by law.
14.7 MAYOR PRO TEM
14.7.1 If a temporary absence or temporary disability of the Mayor prevents the
performance of Mayoral duties, but does not create a vacancy in the office, the
City Council shall elect one of its members to act as Mayor pro tem. The Mayor
pro tem during such absence or disability shall perform the duties and shall
possess all the rights and powers of the Mayor.
14.7.2 The City Clerk shall maintain at all times the list of Aldermen by seniority to
serve as either Mayor pro tem or Temporary Chair (as defined in glossary) as
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prepared by the Rules Committee. The chair of the Rules. Committee shall
nominate as Mayor pro tem in the order of succession from said list. W-1
14.8 ACTING MAYOR
14.8.1 A vacancy occurs in the office of Mayor by reason of resignation, failure to
elect or qualify, death, permanent physical or mental disability, conviction of a
disqualifying crime, abandonment of office, removal from office or by removal of
residence from the City.
14.8.2 In accordance with the state election code, if a vacancy occurs in the office
of the Mayor and there remains an unexpired portion of the term, the office shall be
filled for the unexpired portion of the term by special election at the non -mayoral
consolidated election provided that the vacancy occurs more than one hundred
thirty (130) days before that election. If the vacancy occurs less than one hundred
thirty (130) days before the non -mayoral consolidated election, the vacancy shall
be filled at the next consolidated election when the office of Mayor is normally on
the ballot. The City Council shall elect one of its members Acting Mayor who shall
perform the duties and possess all the rights and powers of the Mayor until a
successor to fill the vacancy has been elected and has qualified. (Exception:
See Rule 14.4)
15. MEDIA •
All official meetings of the City Council and its committees shall be open to the
media, freely subject to recording by radio, television, and photographic devices at
any time, provided that such arrangements do not interfere with the orderly
conduct of the meeting.
16. MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL
16.1 All meetings of the City Council shall be open to the public and the press,
with the exception of closed sessions as specified in the Open Meetings Act [5
ILCS 120/2].
16.2 A quorum of the City Council shall be six (6) members of the City Council
(Corporate Authorities) including the Mayor, acting Mayor or Mayor pro tem,
currently holding office. Except as required by the statutes of this State, enacted
ordinances of this City, or these rules, action may be taken by a majority vote
of a quorum. (Moved to 21.1)
16.3 Special meetings may be held at any time upon proper public notice as
specified in the Open Meetings Act', by call of the Mayor, or by the call of three (3) 40,
1 Public notice under the Open Meetings Act requires that the notice of a special, rescheduled
regular, or a reconvened meeting must be given at least forty-eight (48) hours beforehand, and
must also include the agenda for the meeting. The notice must be posted in the Civic Center or
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• or more Aldermen. Such call for special meetings shall be in writing, duly signed
by the callers, and shall be presented to the City Clerk, who shall prepare and
issue notices of the same to the Mayor and all members of the Council at least
forty-eight (48) hours before the meeting. Such notices shall describe in brief the
nature or object of the special meeting. At every special meeting the call for said
meeting shall be read and afterwards filed by the Clerk and no business other than
that proposed by the call shall be in order at such meeting.
16.4 Emergency meetings. Notice of an emergency meeting shall be given as
soon as possible, but in any event, prior to the holding of such meeting, to any
news medium which has filed an annual request for notice.
16.5 The City Council shall convene twice monthly, except for the months of
August and December when the Council shall convene but once. The Council
shall convene on the 2nd and 4th Monday of the month, except for April when the
first meeting shall be a joint Annual Township and City meeting (second Tuesday
of the month.
17. MINUTES
17.1 A journal of the minutes
be kept by the City Clerk, and
• meeting shall be delivered to
regular meeting.
of the City Council and standing committees shall
a copy of the minutes of the immediately preceding
each Alderman prior to the convening of the next
17'2 In all cases where a motion is entered in the minutes of the Council, the
name of the Alderman moving the same and the name of the seconding Alderman
shall be recorded, except for a motion to adjourn.
17.3 Approved City Council and its Standing Committees' minutes shall be posted
in a timely manner to the City of Evanston website: www.cityofevanston.org.
18. MOTIONS
18.1 A motion is not before the Council until it has been seconded. A motion
shall be reduced to writing if requested by an Alderman, the Clerk, or the Mayor.
18.2 A motion may be withdrawn by the proposer at any time before a
vote is called.
18.3 All ordinances and authorizations to expend or disburse monies shall be
passed only by a roll call vote, duly recorded (five (5) votes).
at the building in which the meeting is to be held. Copies of'the notice must be supplied to all
media who have filed an annual request for such service.
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18.4 Upon motion of any Alderman, the vote shall be by roll call, and shall •
be recorded.
18.5 The Mayor shall announce the result of the Council's vote on every roll call.
Prior to such announcement, Aldermen may change their vote.
18.6 A motion to table any matter is not debatable, and, if adopted, by majority
vote of Aldermen present, shall end all further debate of the subject. A motion to
take a matter from the table may be proposed at the same meeting or at any
subsequent meeting.
18.7 An amendment to modify an original motion shall be in order at any time,
but no amendment to a motion shall be made which changes the intent of an
original motion or relates to a different subject.
18.8 A substitute of any original motion or proposition may be entertained and if
adopted by the Council shall entirely supersede the original motion or proposition. .
18.9 When a motion is made and seconded to "call for the question", a vote shall
then be taken without debate unless one of the following motions is interposed —
namely, a motion to adjourn, a motion to adjourn to a specified time, a motion to
recess, or a motion raising a point of personal privilege. If the motion to call for the
question is carried, all further motions and debate shall be excluded and the •
question before the Council shall then be put. If a roll call vote is requested on a
motion to call for the question, a two-thirds (2/3's) vote of the Aldermen present is
required for passage.
18.10 A motion to limit further debate to a specified period of time, being duly
seconded, shall be carried if it is approved by a majority of the Aldermen present.
This motion is not debatable.
18.11 Any matter before the Council may be made a special order of business for
any future time by action of the Council. A special order of business refers to
Council consideration of a docket item which will be considered at a specified date
previously agreed upon by a majority vote of the Council.
18.12 At the request of two Aldermen, any matter except a special order of
business may be held over for consideration until the next regular meeting of the
Council. Any matter so held over may not be held over a second consecutive time
by this procedure. An Alderman may ask either the City Manager or the Alderman
requesting the holdover to explain the impact of the holdover at the time the
holdover is requested. If a request to hold the matter over is contested by a
motion to overrule the request, duly made and seconded, the motion to overrule
will be sustained if at least two-thirds (2/3's) of the Alderman present vote in favor •
of the motion. A motion to overrule is debatable. Any citizen may inspect the
matter under such deferred deliberation at the office of the City Clerk.
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• 19. OMNIBUS AGENDA (CONSENT AGENDA)
19.1 Consent agenda items are- marked by an asterisk (*) on the regular
Council agenda. Items so marked on the consent agenda shall be presented to
the City Council by a reading of the title of the action [65 ILCS 5/3.1-40-40].
19.2 All items on the consent agenda are decided by one roll call vote without
discussion or debate.
19.3 An item may be removed from the consent agenda by the request of either
the Mayor or an Alderman. Such a request does not require a second or a vote.
19.4 An item removed) from the consent agenda will be considered separately as
called by the appropriate committee.
19.5 An Ordinance to be introduced may remain on the Consent Agenda, if it
was approved by the Committee.
20.- ORDINANCES
201 No ordinance may be adopted by the Council at the same meeting at which
it is introduced. During the period between introduction and consideration, any
citizen may inspect any such proposed ordinance at the office of the City Clerk.
However, an ordinance may be adopted by the Council at the same meeting at
which it is introduced after the rules are suspended by a unanimous vote of
the Aldermen.
20.2 An ordinance, to pass, requires a majority vote (five (5)) of the nine (9)
Aldermen, unless otherwise specified, i.e., unless an extraordinary vote is
required. (See Council Rule 26.) If the Mayor's vote to break a tie constitutes
the fifth vote, the item passes.
21. QUORUM
21.1 A quorum of the City Council shall be six members of the City Council
(Corporate Authorities) including the Mayor, acting Mayor or Mayor pro tem,
currently holding office. Except as required by the statutes of this State, enacted
ordinances of this City, or these rules, action may be taken by a majority vote
of a quorum.
21.2 A quorum of the Admiinistration and Public Works Committee shall
• be three (3) Aldermen.
21.3 A quorum of the Human Services Committee shall be three (3) Aldermen.
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21.4 A quorum of the Planning and Development Committee shall be five (5) •
Aldermen.
21.5 A quorum of the Rules Committee shall be five (5) Aldermen.
22. RECONSIDERATION
22.1 - Any vote to approve a purchase, contract, bond sale, zoning variation or
special use, whether by motion, resolution or ordinance, or to confirm an
appointment by the Mayor to a commission, board or advisory body, or to convene
into a closed session, may be reconsidered but only at the same meeting at which
said vote was taken, upon an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3's) of the Aldermen
present. The vote taken on any other motion, resolution or ordinance may be
reconsidered but only at the next regular meeting held after the meeting at which
said vote was taken, upon the vote of the majority of the Aldermen present. A
motion for reconsideration may be made as set forth herein only once. A motion to
reconsider must be made by an Alderman who voted on the prevailing side;
however, when a motion, resolution, ordinance fails to pass by reason of not
having received a required extraordinary vote, a motion to reconsider, properly
made, may be seconded by any other Alderman.
22.2 No vote of the Council shall be reconsidered or rescinded at a
special meeting. 0
22.3 Every resolution, motion, and every ordinance that is returned to the City
Council by the Mayor shall be reconsidered by the City Council at the next regular
meeting following the regular meeting at which the City Council receives the
Mayor's written objection. If two-thirds (2/3's) of all the Aldermen then holding
office on the City Council agree at that regular meeting to pass an ordinance,
resolution or motion, notwithstanding the Mayor's refusal to approve it, then it shall
be effective. The vote on the question .of passage over the Mayor's veto shall be
by yeas and nays, and shall be recorded in the journal.
23. ROBERT'S RULES
The rules of parliamentary practice comprised in the latest edition of Robert's
Rules of Order shall govern the Council in all cases to which they are applicable
and in which they are not in conflict with these Rules of the Council.
24. TOWNSHIP
The Aldermen and Mayor of the Evanston City Council are the Trustees of the
Town of the City of Evanston, and all matters relating to Township affairs may be
considered and acted upon by the City Council acting as the Town Board of •
Trustees. Prior to -consideration of any Township matter, the Mayor shall
announce that the item of business is before the Town Board of Trustees.
CW.Z
• 25. VOTES
25.1 Votes may be taken on motions, resolutions, and appointments, except
where a roll call vote is specifically called for by statute, rule of the Council, or by a
request of any Alderman.
25.2 Roll call votes are required on all ordinances, expenditures, calling a closed
meeting, items requiring an extraordinary majority, or when requested by
an Alderman.
25.3 The order in which Aldermen shall be called for roll call votes shall be
alternated. The order of voting for the year shall be published by the City Clerk at
the beginning of the year.
25.4 A Mayoral vote is required in the instances specified in rule 14.4.
25.5 An Alderman may abstain from voting in the instances asset forth in 11.1.
26. EXTRAORDINARY VOTES
A. Three-quarters (3/4) of (elected) Aldermen then holding office
• (seven (7) votes).
1. Vacation of streets and alleys. 65 ILCS 5/11-91-1.
2. Passage of Map amendment when thirty percent (30%) of
property owners within five hundred feet (500') of the boundary of an area to be
amended file written protest with the City Clerk. (City Code: 6-3-4-7).
3. Passage of a unique use when thirty percent (30%) of
property owners within a thousand -foot (1,000') radius of the area boundary file
with the City Clerk a written protest. (City Code: 6-3-7-6).
B. Three-quarters (3/4) of Aldermen Present.
C. Two-thirds (2/3's) of (elected) Aldermen then holding office (six
(6) votes).
1. Sale or lease of real property. (City Codes: 1-17-4-1;-
1-17-4-2; and 1-17-5).
• 2. Purchase of goods and services over $20,000 (twenty
thousand dollars) without public bids, except for federally funded programs, which
may have requirements that supersede the City's. (City Code: 1-17-1).
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3. Passage of an ordinance over veto of the Mayor. (City
Code: 1-6-4 (B). •
4. Overrule Liquor Commissioner in rejection of application.
(City Code: 3-5-2(C)5).
5. Passage of modification of a site development allowance in
excess of that established in zoning district, upon Plan Commission
recommendation and City Council written finding. (City Code:! 6-3-6-6).
6. Passage of a text or map amendment to the zoning
ordinance. (City Code: 6-3-4-6(F)).
D. Two-thirds (2/3's) of Aldermen present (number will vary).
1. Temporary suspension of any rule (except Rule 20.1).
(Council Rule 3.2e).
2. A roll call vote on a motion to call for the questions. (Council
Rule 18.9).
3. A motion to overrule the request of two Aldermen to hold a
matter over until the next regular meeting. •
4. A motion to reconsider made at the same meeting at which
original vote was taken. (Council Rule 22.1).
5. Expulsion of an Alderman for the remainder of a Council
meeting. (Council Rule 10.4).
E. Two-thirds (2/3's) of Corporate Authorities. (seven (7) votes)
1. To appoint a City Manager. (Council Rule 7.1).
2. To remove a City Manager
3. To amend the budget.
The Mayor cannot vote on extraordinary votes except to break a tie. (See Council
Rule 15.4. Note: Although the Mayor's vote is required by break a tie vote, the
item will fail unless the extraordinary vote numbers are met.)
F. Unanimous Vote
To suspend the rules for the purpose of adopting an ordinance at the same •
meeting at which it is introduced. (Council Rule 20.1).
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