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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 4457-05-2015 A Resolution NO. 4457-05-2015 AMENDING THE CITY COUNCIL RULES OF PROCEDURE TO PROVIDE FOR ATTENDANCE AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS BY VIDEOCONFERENCE CALL WHEREAS, Chapter III, Section 5 of the City Charter provides that the City Council shall determine rules of procedure for its meetings: and WHEREAS, the City Council adopted its current rules of procedure on January 8, 1960, and have amended the rules from time to time; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to further amend the rules as set forth herein in order to conform the rules to current City procedures and to amend the current rules concerning types of meetings to provide for attendance at meetings by videoconference call and WHEREAS, the proposed amendments to the rules in the attached Exhibit A were introduced at the City Council's meeting of May 12, 2015 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS: 1 That the Rules of Procedure, City Council of the City of Fort Worth, (adopted 1/8/60), as amended) are hereby amended as follows: (a) Section 3.1 is amended to provide that the City Council will meet in the Council Chamber each Tuesday at 7:00 p.m., unless otherwise officially changed by the City Council (b) Section 3.1.1 is added to establish the procedures for the attendance of City Council members at City Council Meetings by videoconference call. All amendments are as shown on the attached copy marked Exhibit A, and hereby incorporated into this Resolution. 2. That the City Attorney and City Secretary are directed to prepare a new printing of the Rules of Procedure as amended, and distribute same to members of the Cit Counc' it Manager. Y a i Y g Adopted this 19th day of May, 2015.p °°°O°O°0°°p o0 0 ATTEST: P P06 By: — --- — -------- °�rr0000c°°° d Mary J. Ka Cii Secretary aa4 �11�4�aecr ORT WORT Exhibit A 3. TYPES OF MEETINGS 3.1 Regular Meetings: The Council shall meet in the Council Chamber at the City Hall on Tuesday of each week at ., exeept that the first and seeend T-iiesday meetings T eaeh mepAh shall be sehe ule f r 7:00 p.m., unless otherwise officially changed by the City Council. 3.1.1 Attendance at Meetings by Videoconference Call: a. Definitions. i. Designated Remote Meeting Location means the meeting location where a meeting takes place and a Councilmember or members of the public are present at the location other than the Physical Meeting Location and participate remotely in a meeting of the City Council by means of a videoconference call that meets the requirements of Texas Government Code §551.127. ii. Governmental Body means the Fort Worth City Council. iii. Physical Meeting Location means the meeting location where a meeting takes place in a physical space, the member of the Governmental Body presiding over the meeting is present at the physical space and the meeting meets the requirements of Texas Government Code §551.127. b. Notice Requirements. i. The notice of a meeting to be held by videoconference call must specify the Physical Meeting Location and specify the intent to have the member of the Governmental Body presiding over the meeting at the Physical Meeting Location; and ii. If members of the public will be present at a Designated Remote Meeting Location via videoconference call, the notice must specify the remote location and be posted in compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act and other applicable laws. c. Meetings by Videoconference Call: i. Videoconference Call by Individual Councilmember(s): A Councilmember may individually participate remotely in a meeting of the City Council by means of a videoconference call if: (1) the video and audio feed of the Councilmember's participation is broadcast live at the Physical Meeting Location and complies with the provisions of this section and state law; (2) the Councilmember, while speaking, is clearly visible and audible to each Councilmember participating in the meeting at the Physical Meeting Location; (3) the Councilmember, while speaking, is clearly visible and audible to the members of the public in attendance at the Physical Meeting Location during the open portion of the meeting; and (4) No members of the public are present at the Designated Remote Meeting Location. ii. Designated Remote Meeting Location.: If a Councilmember or members of the public are present at the Designated Remote Meeting Location, the Councilmember or the members of the public may participate remotely in a meeting of the City Council by means of a videoconference call if: (1) the video and audio feed of the Councilmember or the-members of the public participation is broadcast live at the Physical Meeting Location and complies with the provisions of this section and state law; (2) the Councilmember or the members of the public, while speaking, are clearly visible and audible to each Councilmember participating in the meeting at the Physical Meeting Location; (3) the Councilmember or the members of the public, while speaking, are clearly visible and audible to the members of the public in attendance at the Physical Meeting Location during the open portion of the meeting; (4) the members of the public present at the remote meeting location are provided the opportunity to participate in the meeting in the same manner as a member of the public who is physically present at a meeting of the Governmental Body that is not conducted by videoconference call; and (5) the Designated Remote Meeting Location was posted in compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act and other applicable laws. d. Quorum: i. Videoconference Call by Individual Councilmember. a. If a quorum of the City Council is present at the Physical Meeting Location, and one (1) or more of the Councilmember(s) attending the meeting via videoconference call is no longer visible and audible to those in attendance at the Physical Meeting Location, the meeting at the Physical Meeting Location may continue in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act. b. If a quorum of the City Council is not present at the Physical Meeting Location, and one (1) or more of the Councilmember(s) attending the meeting via videoconference call is no longer visible and audible to those in attendance at the Physical Meeting Location, and that causes the loss of the quorum, the meeting at the Physical Meeting Location shall be recessed until the problem can be resolved. If the problem cannot be resolved in one (1) hour, the meeting shall be recessed to the following business day or reposted for a meeting at a later date in compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act. If the quorum is not lost, the meeting may continue. ii. Designated Remote Meeting Location. a. If members of the public attending the meeting via videoconference call at a Designated Remote Meeting Location are no longer visible and audible to those in attendance at the Physical Meeting Location, the meeting at the Physical Meeting Location shall be recessed until the problem is resolved. If the problem cannot be resolved in one (1) hour, the meeting shall be recessed to the following business day or reposted for a meeting at a later date in compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act. b. If the Councilmember attending the meeting via videoconference call at a Designated Remote Meeting Location is no longer visible and audible to those in attendance at the Physical Meeting Location, and that causes the loss of the quorum, the meeting at the Physical Meeting Location shall be recessed until the problem can be resolved. If the problem cannot be resolved in one (1) hour, the meeting shall be recessed to the following business day or reposted for a meeting at a later date in compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act. If the quorum is not lost, the meeting may continue. e. Executive/ Closed Session: i. The City Council may conduct a closed meeting by videoconference call provided that the closed meeting complies with the provisions of this section and the Texas Open Meetings Act. A Councilmember participating in a closed meeting via videoconference call must be in a closed room and must be alone to protect the confidentiality of the closed meeting and to preserve attorney client privilege. f. General Provisions: i. Councilmembers shall notify the City Secretary of their intent to utilize videoconferencing, which includes members of the public participating at a Designated Remote Meeting Location, by 5:00 PM on the Tuesday one week prior to the regularly scheduled Council Meeting. All other requests to utilize videoconferencing should be submitted by the same deadline or as soon as practicable. ii. A councilmember participating in a videoconference call meeting shall be counted as present at the meeting for all purposes. iii. Requests to participate in a meeting via videoconference call will be taken on a first-come/first-served basis. There must be a sufficient number of video feeds to meet the requirements of the Texas Open Meetings Act. iv. Remote meetings by videoconference call with members of the public present will not be available for the budget-related hearings or meetings, unless sufficient notice is given to meet the notice requirements as set forth in the City Charter, the Texas Local Government Code, and the Texas Property Tax Code. V. This Section 3.1.1 shall only apply to meetings of the City Council and shall not apply to meetings of City Council Committees, Citizen Boards, Commissions, Committees, Task Forces, or any other citizen advisory groups or boards.