Policy 7.3.7

PROPOSED

COUNCIL POLICY FORM

SUBJECT:      Seating Arrangements/City Council

POLICY PURPOSE:

Section 613 of the Charter provides that the City Council shall establish rules for the conduct of its proceedings. It is the purpose of this policy to establish a process to determine the seating arrangement of Councilmembers at Council meetings.

POLICY STATEMENT:

I.        Seating of Mayor

          The Mayor shall be seated in the center seat. Should the Mayor be absent, the Vice   Mayor will assume the Mayor's seat.

II.       Seating of the Vice Mayor

          The Vice Mayor shall be seated to either side of the Mayor, with the Vice Mayor receiving preference for obtaining the seat.

III.      Councilmember Seating

          A.       When Determined: Seating arrangements will be determined as the last item of business at a meeting during which a mayor and/or vice mayor is selected.

B.                  How Determined: Councilmembers shall select where they wish to sit on the basis of length of continuous time of service on the City Council.  The selection process shall be in the order of most senior to least senior.  When two or more Councilmembers have equivalent time of service, those Councilmembers shall draw lots to determine their order of selection.  be given priority in seat selection by the highest number of votes in his/her most recent election.

Report to Council Nos.         81-602, 84-673, 85-554, 87-590, 88-701, 89-729, 91-522

Approved by Council on:      October 6, 1981

Amended by Council on:      November 6, 1984

Amended by Council on:      November 12, 1985

Amended by Council on:      November 10, 1987

Amended by Council on:      November 29, 1988

Amended by Council on:      November 14, 1989

Amended by Council on:      November 12, 1991

City Clerk Certification: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­__________________________