PCR-1-23 SUB A  THE CITY OF WARWICK STATE OF RHODE ISLAND  RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL  NO.----R-23-7.. APPROVEDS A RESOLUTION Resolved that,  ATE/-9-23  ..MAYOR  RULES FOR 2023-2024   ADOPTINEHE  OF THE CITY COUNCIL  WHEREAS, the City Council desires to adopt the Rules ofthe City Council for 2023-2024. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the following Rules are hereby adopted as the  Rules of the Warwick City Council for the ensuing term 2023-2024.  ORGANIZATION  RULE1: The President shall preside over meetings ofthe Council. Int the absence ofthe President, the President Pro-Tempore shall preside and shall exercise all the powers, and perform all the  duties, of the President.  The President shall preserve decorum and order, and shall decide all questions and points oforder subject to an appeal to the City Council by any one member, pursuant to these Rules and Robert's] Rules ofOrder. No other business shall bei in order until the question on appeal shall have been decided by the Council President, although said decision may be overturned by a majority of RULE2: A: simple majority ofa all members ofthe City Council shall constitute a quorum.. Al lesser number of members of the City Council may convener from time to time and attendance of absent members in such a manner and under such penalties as may be prescribed compel Ordinance. Seating assignments of Council members on the Council floor for meetings during the by RULE3: Biennially, members of the majority party shall elect from their membership a majority leader, and members oft the minority party shall elect from their membership a minority leader. RULE 4: The City Council is a continuing body, and unfinished business pending before it shall the City Council, or the corresponding committee, for the next succeeding Council year, and may  the members present.  the  term shall be determined and assigned by the Council President.  not lapse with the previous Council year. All pending business before the  Council, or City  committee  any  thereof, at the termination of any Council year, shall be considered as pending before  1    be acted upon or disposed oft by the Council ofs such succeeding year in the same manner and with RULE 5: Standing Committees of the City Council shall be immediately appointed after the organization oft the City Government, the members of which shall hold office on such committees until the expiration oft the period for which such members are elected to the City Council and until  the same effect as ifr no change in such City Council had taken place.  the expiration oft the current municipal terms.  Each of the Standing Committees shall consist of three (3) members of the City Council, ofwhich at least one (I) member thereof shall be a member of the party having a minority of the Council. Said three (3) members of Standing Committees of the City Council shall be appointed by the President oft the City Council, and al list oft the members appointed to each Committee shall be filed by the President with the City Clerk. The President shall name one (1) member as Chair and one (1) member as Vice-Chair, in the event that the Chair is absent or otherwise unable to  perform his or her duties.  RULE6: The Standing Committees are: a. Finance Committees; C. Public Safety Committee; d. Ordinance Committee; Intergovernmental Relations Committee; Appointments Committee; g. Economic Development Committee; h. Health, Education and Welfare Committee.  b. Public Properties, Land Use, and Community Affairs Committee;  The several Committees shall consider all matters referred thereto and, in general, subject to the provisions of Rule No. 30 governing referral to the Committees. The Council President shall have the authority assign proposed resolutions or ordinances to Committees. For the purpose of  this Rule, "consider" shall mean a vote on:  (i) AJ motion to report the resolution or ordinance to the Council with the (i) A motion to report the resolution to the Council with the recommendation of (iv) An motion tos report the resolution or ordinance to the Council as being held to a date Noi resolution or ordinance having been referred to any committee shall be tabled or held in committee indefinitely, and upon the written request of the principal sponsor of said proposed resolution or ordinance to the Council President, shall be discharged to the Council floor with one ofthe above recommendations: for consideration and vote byt the Council nol later than the meeting scheduled two (2) months after the meeting at which the: request was submitted.  recommendation of favorable action;  unfavorable action; (ii) No recommendation; or certain.  2    The Committees shall have, respectively, the following suggested duties and areas of  consideration: Finance Committee  1. All reports of the Finance Director, City Treasurer, City Assessor and all matters relative to the City debt or to the revenue and expenditures of the City. It shall also be their duty to report to the Council their recommendations on such matters herein mentioned, including  resolutions and ordinances.  Public Properties, Land Use and Community. Affairs Committee  1. All matters relating to the maintenance, erection, location and repair of City property and buildings, the sale or exchange of tax title or surplus City property, the leasing of real and 2. All requests from various bureaus, fraternal or other organizations, and all matters relating  personal property by the City of Warwick. to City playgrounds and recreation.  3. All matters relating to transportation of garbage, dumps, camps, and parks.  4. All matters relating to the use of land, building or buildings, location, construction, petitions for rezoning, applications for approval to alter wetlands under the Wetlands Act, 5. All matters relating to the protection, development, regulation and use oft the natural shore,  so-called, and petitions to abandon public highways within the City.  harbors, and park resources oft the City of Warwick.  Public Safety Committee  1. All matters relating to claims against the City arising from damage done by animals, damage to property or on account of injury to persons, and all matters pertaining to the 2. All matters relative to street lighting and pole location, the Fire Department, the location ofs street hydrants and fire alarm signals, the extension of the water system, and the storage of petroleum products, hydro carbons or other hazardous materials, including hazardous  Police Department.  waste. Ordinance Committee  1. All proposed ordinances, including matters which would otherwise be referred to another Committee, except ordinances relating to expenditure ofCity funds or financial matters.  Intergovermmental Relations Committee  3    1. Shall act as Council liaison between other City and State agencies such as the School Department, General Assembly, Charter Commission, or other agencies as required. 2. All matters relating to litigation, all: matters relating to public service corporations and the 3. Alli matters relating to changes in the City Charter, but excluding those matters specifically relating to the City debt, revenue or expenditures of the City. All matters relative to the  relationship between Warwick and other cities and towns.  jurisdiction or operation of the Municipal Court.  Appointments Committee  1. Shall review all appointments requiring Council approval.  Economic Development Committee  1. All matters relative to job creation, establishment of new businesses or expansion of existing businesses in the City of Warwick, other than those matters under the jurisdiction ofthel Land Use or Finance Committees, and all matters relative to economic development.  Health, Education and Welfare Committee  1. All matters relative to health, education and public welfare issues affecting youth, elderly, RULE 7: The President and President Pro Tempore of the City Council shall serve ex-officio as members ofall standing Committees, but shall not have any vote on Committee business, provided that, in the absence of a member ofa standing Committee, the President Pro Tempore may serve onsaid Committee as a voting member, and provided further that in the absence ofboth a member of a standing Committee and/or the President Pro Tempore, the President may serve on said RULE 8: A written record of all Committee proceedings shall be maintained. All Committee meetings shall be called for the transaction of Committee business by the respective Chair of said Committees. The Chair shall call a meeting of any committee when a majority oft the members of RULE9: From and after the time any member of any Committee of the City Council ceases tol bei a member of the City Council, the member shall thereupon cease to be a member of Committees of which he or she was a member at the time which his orl her office was vacated. any All vacancies on Committees caused by death, resignation, or temporary disability of a member, or RULE 10: Wheneverai member ofany Committee oft the City Council shall be called into service which may interfere with the member's duties as a member of such Committee, military the President of the City Council may appoint another member thereof to act as a member of such  veterans and other social issues impacting the citizens oft the City.  Committee as a voting member.  said Committee are present or request such a meeting.  any other cause, shall be filled by the President oft the City Council.  4    Committee, pro tempore, and during the absence of such member, the member pro tempore shall exercise all the powers and be subject to all the duties of such absent member. The powers and duties of such pro tempore member shall forthwith cease whenever said original member shall report to the President and to the City Clerk that military duties will no longer interfere with duties  as a member of such committee.  MEETING DOCKET  RULE11: The order of business at Regular or Special Business meetings shall be as follows:  1. Executive Communications 2. Appointments 3. Consent Calendar  a. Resolutions relative to bids  b. Resolutions relative to traffic studies (see Rule 13(a)) d. Resolution relative to street lights (see Rule 13(a)) Resolution relative to claims L. Resolution relative to tax abatements a. Second passage ofo ordinances not tabled b. First passage of ordinances not tabled Removal ofitems from the table - Action on items removed from the table b. Action on newly docketed items  Omnibus Resolution ofCongratulations and Condolences (see Rule 13(a))  4. Unfinished Business, to include:  Resolutions  d. Reports ofCommittees on items referred and previously tabled  5. New Business, to include:  a. Reports of Committees on newi items referred at the preceding docket session Provided, however, that at all Special meetings, the special business for which such meeting is called shall be first in order, and shall be taken up and exclusively considered until iti is  finally acted upon at such meeting.  No undocketed business shall be acted upon or considered at meetings except  unanimous consent Meetings Act.  by  of the Council members present, subject to compliance with the Open  RULE 12: The order oft business at Regular or Special Public Hearing meetings shall be as follows:  1. Executive Communications 2. Referred business 3. Rule 41 public comment 4. Appointments  a. Public hearings and actions thereon not initiated by petition or application b. Public hearings and actions thereon initiated pursuant toj petition or application  5    5. Consent Calendar  a. Resolutions relative to bids 6. Unfinished Business, to include: a. Second passage of ordinances not tabled b. First passage ofordinances not tabled Removal ofitems from the table Action on items removed from the table b. Action on newly docketed items  Resolutions  d. Reports of Committees on items referred and previously tabled  7. New Business, to include:  a. Reports of Committees on new: items referred at the preceding docket session Provided, however, that at all Special Meetings and special business for which such meeting is called shall bei in first order, and shall be taken up and exclusively considered until iti is  finally acted upon at such meeting.  No undocketed business shall be acted upon or considered at meetings unanimous consent of the Council members present, subject to compliance with except the Open by  Meetings Act.  Only five (5) public hearings plus any previously docketed hearings shall be scheduled for asingle City Council meeting, provided however, additional public hearings may be scheduled if ap public hearing is required to comply with deadlines imposed by law or regulations and provided further, that additional public hearings may be scheduled if in the discretion of the Council President additional public hearings will not inconvenience the public. This rule shall not apply to  matters currently pending or filed with the City Council. RULE13: Consent Calendar Procedure:  a. For each Committee that has Consent Calendar items before it, the Committee will vote on all said Consent Calendar items before it as a whole, rather than each item separately. However, any member of the Council may exercise a right to remove an item form the Consent Calendar prior to said vote, sO that the item may be discussed and receive an individual recommendation by the Committee. All items totaling more than fifty-thousand dollars 550,000.00/100) will be automatically discussed and receive ai recommendation by the Committee. The purpose ofthis rule ist to ensure: meeting efficiency without sacrificing any oversight by the Council, and also to encourage members of the Council to ask b. Int the order set forthi in] Rules 11 and 12, the Council President shall request the Chairperson ofthe Committee referring said matters to the full Council to move for favorable action on the items to be considered on the Consent Calendar. Only items being recommended for favorable action may be placed on the Consent Calendar. Items not receiving a favorable action recommendation from the Committee must be assigned a docket number by the  questions of Department Heads before meetings.  6    Clerk and considered separately by the Council immediately following the vote on the Resolutions relative to traffic studies and the Omnibus Resolution of Congratulations and Condolences shall only appear for action by the City Council on the Consent Calendar docket at the first Regular Business meeting of each year. The number designations tot those Resolutions shall be utilized by the City Clerk during the year for all traffic studies given Resolutions relative to street lights shall only be placed on the Consent Calendar docket if there are street lights to be considered by the City Council at its meeting. Upon receiving a "second" to the motion for favorable action, the Council President shall request the Chairperson of the Committee to describe the items recommended for action d. Prior to voting on the Consent Calendar, a member of the City Council may request that item(s) on the Consent Calendar receive separate consideration by the City Council in order to allow for discussion of the items, to cast a dissenting vote, or to abstain from voting on the item. There shall be one (1) roll call vote on the Consent Calendar, which shall be deemed to be a vote on each of the items on the Calendar. Any item removed from the Calendar for separate consideration shall be taken up and vote upon immediately following  Consent Calendar.  and Resolutions of congratulations and condolences.  on the Consent Calendar.  the vote on the Consent Calendar.  RULEI 14: Notwithstanding anything to the contrary int these rules, as part ofthe Consent Calendar at the first Regular Business meeting each year, an Omnibus Resolution of Congratulations and/or Condolences shall be considered. Upon passage of said Resolution or Resolutions, a number shall  be assigned to the Resolution by the City Clerk.  If during the year, subsequent to a Regular Business meeting, any Council Member considers it appropriate that the congratulations or condolences of the City should be offered to any citizen, the Council Member may contact the City Clerk who shall prepare the congratulations or condolences in resolution form with appropriate language, using the omnibus number previously assigned, followed by an alphabetical letter. The Clerk shall then transmit the document to the Mayor for approval and signature. Upon said signature, the Clerk shall transmit the  document as directed by the Council Member.  MEETINGS  RULE 15: Except in July and August, the City Council shall hold its meetings, both regular business and public hearing, at 7:00 P.M. on the first and third Monday in each month. The  meetings shall be held at Warwick City Hall, unless otherwise specified.  If any regular meeting shall fall on a legal holiday, the meeting shall be held on the following Wednesday. The President shall take the chair at the hour designated for the meeting of  the City Council, and shall promptly call the members to order.  7    There shall be one (1) regular meeting in July and August that combines the Regular Business Meeting and the Public Hearing Meeting to be held on the second Monday oft the month  ofJuly and the third Monday of the month of August.  The above may only be changed by a vote oft the Council.  RULE 16: It shall not be necessary for a proposed Ordinance or Resolution to be read ini full when presented on1 the Council floor for consideration. It shall be sufficient for such proposed Ordinance or Resolution to be considered by title and proposed number as assigned by the City Clerk, RULE17: Members desiring to speak shall address the President, or the Chair of the Committee in the case of Committees, and after their right to speak has been recognized, they shall not be interrupted while speaking, except by a call to order, or for the correction ofa mistake, or to yield to another member. They shall confine their remarks to the question under debate and shall avoid  pursuant to Rule No. 30.  making personal attacks on others.  No member shall speak more than once on the same question until all other members desiring to speak thereon shall have done SO. There shall be no conversation among members while a member is speaking, while a roll call is being taken, while any paper is being read or while a question is being stated by the President or the Chair ofthe Committee, in the case of Committees. No member's remarks on any item may exceed ten (10) minutes; however, the ten (10). minute RULE 18: No persons, other than members of the City Council, members of the City Clerk's office, members of the City Sergeant's office, members of the Law Department and members of the press shall be allowed inside the rail and on the floor ofthe City Council without invitation from the President or from ai member ofthe City Council, through and with the receiving approval  limitation may be waived by a majority voice vote.  an  oft the President.  Upon request ofai majority of the members of the City Council, a department head or any employee of the City of Warwick shall appear before the City Council to answer questions of members and explain any matter members may desire information about. No person within the rail RULE19: The President shall enforce order and decorum among persons outside the rail and any person addressing the City Council, by permission or by request shall, while speaking, be subject to the same rules and shall be entitled to the same privileges oforder as pertain to a member ofthe City Council, provided however, that a member of the City Council may interrupt such speaker RULE 20: Any citizen of the City of Warwick may be heard on any docketed Resolution or Ordinance prior to passage by the City Council by appearing before the Committee to which the proposed Resolution or Ordinance has been referred for hearing, before the Council when an item isr referred for Public Hearing/Comment or considered under Unanimous Consent, or otherwise  shall speak unless requested to do sO by the Council President.  for the purpose ofasking a question or obtaining information.  8    upon the favorable majority vote oft the City Council as compliant with the Open Meetings Act. No citizen's remarks on any item may exceed ten (10) minutes; however, the ten (10) minute limitation may be waived by a majority voice vote. This time limitation shall not apply to any individual, entity or designee thereof,s speeificallyinvitedtos appear and speak on aj properly: noticed  topic.  RULE21: Meeting curfew.  a. Non new Resolution or Ordinance shall be introduced for discussion after 11:30P.M. :. Any business before the City Council not completed by midnight will be tabled to the next available meeting. The date shall be announced and determined by the Council  b. The City Council shall adjourn no later than midnight.  President.  d. Waiver ofthis rule requires unanimous consent.  RULES OF ORDER  RULE22: The Order of Precedence of motions shall be as follows:  1. Fix the time at which to adjourn. 2. Adjourn. 3. Take a recess. 4. Raise a question of privilege. 5. Lay on the table. 6. Suspension oft the rules. 7. Previous question. 8. Limit or extend limits of debate. 9. Postpone to a certain time. 10. Commit or refer. 11. Amend. 12. Postpone indefinitely. 13.A main motion.  The lowest rank is at the bottom of the list, and the highest rank is at the beginning oft the list. When any one oft them is immediately pending, the motions before it on said list are in order  and shall be acted upon first, and those below are out oforder. RULE 23: The following motions shall be undebatable: 1. Fix the time at which to adjourn. 2. Adjourn. 3. Take a recess. 4. Raise a question of privilege. 5. Lay on the table. 6. Suspension of the rules. 7. Previous question.  9    8. Limit or extend limits of debate.  RULE 24: Only the following motions may be amended: 1. Fix the time at which to adjourn. 2. Take ai recess. 3. Postpone to a certain time. 4. Commit or refer. 5. Amend. 6. Amain motion.  RULE25: Votes on the following motions cannot be reconsidered:  1. Adjourn. 2. Take a recess. 3. Lay on the table. 4. Take from the table.  5. Suspend the rules or order of business.  6. Reconsider, including the reconsideration of a Resolution or Ordinance vetoed by the  Mayor.  VOTING  RULE 26: The President of the City Council shall distinctly state every matter to be considered by the Council and every question to be voted upon. No motion shall be debated until it has been seconded. Any motion may be withdrawn by the mover at any time before the taking of a vote  thereon, or before an amendment is made to such motion.  On all Ordinances, Resolutions and questions in relation to and involving the expenditure of City Funds, the selling and leasing of City Property, acting on a veto from the Mayor, and the confirmation of appointments, the vote shall be by roll call. All roll calls shall be taken alphabetically except the name ofthe President oft the Council shall be called first. The "yeas"and "nays" of the members of the Council shall be taken and entered on the records of said  Council.  City or including  After a roll call vote has been ordered, said roll call shall not be interrupted, stopped by the President or any member of the City Council for any reason whatsoever, delayed points of order, personal privileges, or for a member to explain his orl her vote. explain their vote. In the case ofat tie vote, the motion is not carried or passed.  After the roll call and before the President announces the results, members may change or  RECONSIDERATION  Rule 27: When a vote has been passed, it shall be in order for any member voting with the prevailing side to move reconsideration thereof, in accordance with the provisions of these rules,  10    at either the same or next subsequent meeting. The same Ordinance, Resolution or vote shall come but once before the City Council for reconsideration. A motion for reconsideration must be seconded by a member and must be voted upon at the same meeting in which it is made.  Ifthe motion for reconsideration is made at the next: subsequent meeting and adopted, then the vote on the merits of the matter being reconsidered shall be docketed and voted upon at the following meetings, unless notice oft the: reconsideration matter was posted in accordance with the Open Meetings Act, in which case, the vote on the merits of the matter being reconsidered shall RULE 28: Upon adoption of a motion to reconsider any Ordinance or Resolution, vetoes or disapproval ofa any separate appropriation item or items vetoed or reduced by the Mayor, the Council may reconsider the same, provided that said motion shall be adopted and City the reconsideration of such ordinance, resolution or appropriation item be taken up and voted the next Regular or Public Hearing meeting immediately following the Mayor's transmittal upon oft the  take place at the same meeting as the motion for reconsideration was adopted.  at  same to the City Clerk.  If upon reconsideration six (6) members shall vote in favor of passage, such Ordinance, Resolution or appropriation item shall become effective notwithstanding the Mayor's action in regard thereto.. Ifsaid Ordinance, Resolution or appropriation item is not reconsidered and adopted as provided hearing, the measure or item shall be lost, or stand reduced, as the case may be. The  vote upon such motion and reconsideration shall be by roll call.  UNANIMOUS CONSENT  RULE 29: No undocketed business shall be acted upon or considered at meetings unanimous consent ofthe Council Members present and after compliance with the notice except and by other  the  provisions of the Open Meetings Act.  Any member desiring to place an item before the Council under unanimous consent notice of the matter to be posted in compliance with the provisions of the Open Meetings Act, and at the meeting, the member shall state the title and give a brief description of the item. The Council President shall then inquire if there be any objection from any member to the item's consideration under unanimous consent. Ifthere be no objection, the Council President shall ad docket number to said item and the moving Council Member may move said item for action. assign If there be objection, the item shall not be assigned a docket number and shall not be considered  cause  shall  under unanimous consent.  DOCKETING  RULE30: The following shall govern the Docketing Procedure for Resolutions and Ordinances: a. There shall be a docketing session at the conclusion of each regular City Council meeting. b. Items being docketed shall be announced by the Council Member wishing to docket the same, whereupon the President shall announce that the item is docketed and it shall be  11    referred by the President to an appropriate Committee for study. Once the item is placed on the docket in accordance with Rule 30(0), the Committee to which the item is referred shall report on the same with its recommendations at the next Council meeting following the completion ofits study and adoption ofits report and recommendations. The City Clerk shall prepare and cause to be printed a docket on which there will be a definite statement of all Ordinances, Resolutions, orders and any other business to be considered at each meeting of the City Council. The docket, which shall consist solely of legislation that has been drafted and approved by the Sponsor for placement on said docket, and shall include: the title oft the proposed Ordinance, Resolution; a brief description ofits contents; the name of the Council Member proposing the same; and the Committee to d. Ins said preparation, the City Clerk shall assign to all proposed Resolutions and Ordinances a" "Proposed Resolution Number" or "Proposed Ordinance Number" as the case Such numbers shall be in addition to the docket numbers assigned to each item, and may may be designated as "PCR" or PCO,'respectively. Such "PCR" or "PCO" numbers, together with the title ofthe proposed Resolution or Ordinance to be assigned herein provided, shall be the official designation for the Resolution or Ordinance to which it is assigned at all - The Mayor and Members of the Council having Ordinances, Resolutions, orders, reports and other business to present to the Council for consideration, other than Executive Communications and the reports of Committees regarding items appearing on the docket which have been referred to the reporting Committee, shall submit a brief outline of said Ordinance, Resolution, order or report that may bej printed on the docket. I Its shall be the responsibility of the Council Solicitor to prepare a complete draft of the proposed item, including its title, and to present the same to the City Clerk. The Council Solicitor shall drafta all Ordinances and Resolutions utilizing asystem whereby the text of a proposed new Ordinance shall be underlined, and any amendment to any existing Ordinance will provide for new language to be added to be underlined. Any language deleted shall be crossed through. An amended version of an Ordinance or Resolution shall be identified as "Sub. A."I If the Ordinance or Resolution is amended a second time it shall be identified as "Sub B." Each subsequent amendment shall be identified using the next letter of the alphabet. All proposed Ordinances and Resolutions shall be printed on paper delineating line numbers for ease in reference to specific h. Except for items appearing on the Consent Calendar, no items or business shall be considered as having been introduced unless it shall have been SO presented at the docket session and ordered to appear on the printed docket, as is so] prepared and presented in final and complete proposed form to the City Clerk, all as required by these rules, unless the Council by unanimous vote ofthose present shall allow the introduction of such from the floorv without it having been sO presented, docketed, prepared orj presented to the City Clerk.  which said matter has been referred.  be.  stages of proceedings prior to it becoming effective.  of parts  the proposed Ordinance or Resolution.  12    - The City Clerk shall cause to be prepared copies of the docket and copies of each item thereon and shall cause a copy of said docket and of each of said items to be delivered electronically to each member of the Council by the 7th calendar day preceding ai meeting. Ifa Council member wishes to receive a physical copy of said materials, then he or she Copies of all claims pending before the City Council shall be e-mailed to each member of k. All petitioners for matters to bel heard at the Public Hearing meeting shall provide eleven (11) copies of reports and other exhibits to be presented at the Public Hearing meeting, to the City Clerk at least ten (10) days in advance oft the public hearing sO that the City Clerk can e-mail said items with the docket for the Public Hearing meeting. This requirement to pre-submit reports and exhibits shall: not preclude aj petitioner from submitting amended or Ont the day ofe-mailing ofs said docket, the City Clerk shall cause tol be posted on al bulletin board in the lobby of City Hall a copy of the City Council and Committee dockets as delivered to the Council members, and on the City's website and the Rhode Island Secretary of State's website in compliance with the Open Meetings Act. m. On the day oft the Regular Business session or the Regular Public Hearing, as the case may be, the City Clerk shall cause to be printed and available a sufficient number of copies of the docket for the benefit oft the public who may be in attendance at such Council meeting. n. Upon becoming effective, the City Clerk may be assigned to such proposed Resolution or Ordinance any number consistent with the indexing and filing requirements of the Clerk's 0. Council members must provide ample information for the Council Solicitor to effectively draft their proposed Resolutions and Ordinances. When the Council Solicitor has received sufficient information from the Sponsor to draft the desired legislation, it shall be drafted and submitted to the Sponsor for review. Until the Sponsor confirms that the drafted legislation is acceptable and requests for it to be docketed, the legislation shall not appear on the docket. However, once the Sponsor confirms said legislation is acceptable and requests it appear on the docket, it shall be placed on the agenda. The City Clerk will then add the proposed Ordinance/Resolution to the next scheduled City Council Docket.. p. Sponsors ofl legislation that request such be on the docket have a responsibility to seek to have their legislation addressed at the meeting for which it is docketed, barring unforeseen circumstances. Legislation that has appeared on the docket for two (2) meetings but is not discussed and voted upon by request oft the Sponsor shall be removed from the docket until such time as the Sponsor is prepared to have the legislation discussed and voted upon. APPOINTMENTS; CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENTS  must request such.  the Council five (5) days prior to the Regular Business meeting.  revised reports and exhibits at the Public Hearing meeting.  office.  13    RULE31: For any City Council appointment to a board or commission, no Iater than sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of the term oft the position which is to become vacant, the City Clerk shall notify the Chair of the Appointments Committee of said position and the date upon which the term expires. The City Clerk shall also send a copy of said notice to every member oft the  Council.  City  No later than thirty (30) days prior to the expiration oft the term, any Council member who desires to submit the name of a person to be considered for the appointment, must submit to the Chair of the Appointments Committee the name, address and a resume of the person to be considered. First time pinesandr-appointes must always submit said requestedi linformation for the Council's consideration. The Chair of the Appointments Committee shall provide the requested information for each prospective appointee to the City Clerk who shall e-mail the information to each member of the City Council following the expiration of the thirty (30) day period for submitting names. The Clerk: shall also make the request information available publicly. Appointments shall take place during the first Regular Business meeting of the month following  expiration oft the thirty (30) day period.  At its meeting, the Appointments Committee shall review and consider the submitted information about the prospective appointees and re-appointees, as well as take comments from other members of the Council and the public about the prospective appointees and re-appointees. First time appointees shall appear before the Appointments Committee to answer questions from members oft the Committee or members oft the City Council. Re-appointees are any not to appear before the Appointments Committee unless specifically requested by a Member required of the Council. Consideration of appointments may be held to the next Council meeting ift the appointee orr re-appointee is unavailable. Consideration and confirmation of appointments may also be held to the next Council meeting by a majority vote of the Appointments Committee or the  Council.  City  At the same Council meeting, the Appointments Committee shall vote to make a recommendation to the City Council ofaj person to be appointed to the board or commission. RULE 32: Any appointment by the Mayor, Council President or any other appointing authority requiring confirmation ofthe City Council shall be: submitted to the City Council no later than five (5) days before the Regular Business Meeting of each month. Concurrently with the submission of the appointment to the City Council, the name, address and a resume of the considered shall be provided to each Council person for their consideration.  person to be  The Appointments Committee shall review and consider the information submitted oft the prospective appointees and re-appointees, as well as take comments from other members of the Council and the public about prospective appointees and re-appointees. First time appointees shall appear before the Appointments Committee to answer any questions from members of the Committee or members of the City Council. Re-appointees are not required to appear before the Appointments Committee unless specifically requested by a Member of the Council. Consideration of appointments may be held to the next Council meeting ift the appointee or re-  14    appointee is unavailable. Consideration and confirmation of appointments may also be held to the next Council meeting by a majority vote oft the. Appointments Committee or the City Council. The Appointments Committee shall vote to make a recommendation to the City Council of aj person to be appointed to the board or commission with the expiring term at the same Council  meeting.  SPECIAL MATTERS  Wetlands, Zoning, Purchase & Sale ofLand, Abandonments  RULE33: All persons who testify regarding petitions for Wetlands approval, street abandonment or change of zoning pending before the City Council shall offer such testimony under oath or RULE34: Applications under the "Wetlands Act" (R.I.G.L. 21-8ets.Asameaa, R.I.G.L.  affirmation, whenever required by the Council President.  $2-1-22).  1. All applications for approval to alter wetlands pursuant to Chapter 2-1 of the General Laws of Rhode Island, as amended, shall be accompanied by a list of all abutting property owners within two hundred feet (200") of the property in question. Upon receipt of such an application, the City Clerk shall forward the same to each member oft the Council. The Clerk shall also refer the application to the Planning Board, which agency shall make a study of such application and report. its findings and recommendations as soon as possible prior to the scheduled public hearing. 2. The City Clerk shall immediately docket the application for public earliest Regular Business or Public Hearing meeting of the City Council, hearing consistent with the notice requirements as set forth in this section and the Open Meetings Act. At least seven (7) days prior to such Public Hearing, the City Clerk shall cause notices oft the scheduled Public Hearing to be sent to the Petitioner and all abutting owners within the two hundred feet (200") of the property in question and shall property cause an notice of the scheduled Public Hearing to be advertised in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Warwick. All costs incurred by the City Clerk in sending notices and advertising of the scheduled Public Hearing as provided herein shall be 3. In the event any application for approval to alter wetlands is withdrawn or denied, no application seeking approval to alter the same or substantially the same wetland shall come before the City Council for Public Hearing within one (1) year from the date of 4. After final action by the City Council at the Public Hearing, the City Clerk shall cause anotice of such action to be sent to the Department of] Environmental Management of the State of Rhode Island provided however, that final action by the City Council in recommendation wetlands applications shall be contingent upon no changes being  at the  assessed to and pay by the Petitioner.  such denial or withdrawal.  15    made in the application or plans presented in conjunction with said application after passage ofai recommendation by the City Council and that a statement to this effect be  included in each Resolution adopted in connection therewith.  RULE35: Zone Change Petitions.  a. No Petition for change of zone shall come before the City Council for hearing until Petitioners have submitted and had considered by the Planning Board a specific plan, including, but not limited to, all necessary elements, such as drainage, traffic, easements, parking and physical location oft the planned project on the subject parcel. b. Whenever a Public Hearing on a Petition for a change of zone or an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan is continued beyond a second scheduled City Council meeting, and the continuance is requested by or caused by the Petitioner, for the third meeting and each subsequent meeting thereupon, the Petitioner shall send notice, by mail, to the abutters in the same form and manner as was done by the City Clerk for the initial Public The cost of the additional mail notices and advertising shall be paid by the Petitioner. Hearing. At least three (3) business days prior to the scheduled Public Hearing, the Petitioner shall file with the City Clerk an Affidavit of Compliance with this rule, a copy of the notice which  was mailed, and the return receipts for the notice.  RULE: 36: Purchase and Sale ofLand.  a. All Ordinances and Resolutions involving the purchase or acquisition ofl land or the sale or leasing of City owned land or tax sale land, or the change ofa Zoning Ordinance shall be accompanied by a blueprint or plan showing the location, area and other necessary details ofthe same, and copies of such blueprint or plan shall be furnished to each member ofthe City Council at least five (5) days prior to the meeting at which such matter shall be acted In addition, whenever a Petitioner petitions for a change of zoning, and such involves the change of zoning of a portion of a lot, it shall be the responsibility petition of the Petitioner, at least five (5) business days prior tot the hearing thereon, to prepare and submit to the City Clerk a mete and bounds description prepared by a licensed engineer or a licensed surveyor oft the portion of said lot sought tol be included in the change of zoning. b. Thei City Treasurer shall prepare completed packages on all matters concerned with the sale or leasing of land and submit to the City Clerk at least seven (7) days prior to the Regular Business meeting at which such matters shall be acted upon. The City Clerk shall remit copies of these completed packages to all members of the City Council at least five (5) days prior to said meeting at which such matters shall be acted upon.  upon.  RULE 37: Street or highway abandonment. Any petition for street abandonment shall require passage at two (2) Council meetings before approval shall become effective. The Council must  make a finding that abandonment is appropriate pursuant to relevant state law.  16    RULE38: Effect or denial ofwithdrawal.  1. Should any Petition for a change ofzoning brought pursuant to the Zoning Ordinances of the City of Warwick be denied or withdrawn, no Petition seeking the same change of zoning for the same or substantially same land shall come before the Council for Public Hearing within one (1): year from the date ofs such denial or withdrawal. 2. Any Petition, application or abandonment, other than al Petition seeking a change which is denied or withdrawn may not come before the City Council within one ofzoning, from the date of such denial or withdrawal. All withdrawals shall be treated as a denial. (1): year 3. Upon withdrawal of Petitions, any person who is in opposition to such Petition shall be able to sign a sheet furnished by the City Clerk indicating their objection, which shall then AMENDMENT OF RULES; LEGAL OPINIONS; PUBLIC COMMENT  be included in the official record oft the Council meeting.  RULE 39: Unless otherwise stated within, the foregoing rules shall not be altered, amended, suspended, or repealed at any time except by the vote of the majority of the whole number of  members elected to the City Council.  RULE 40: All written legal opinions prepared by the Council Solicitor at the Council member shall be remitted to each Council Member as soon as the opinion request has of been any RULE 41: After General Communications and prior to the Consent Calendar at the last scheduled meeting of the City Council each month, there shall be a period of time, not to regularly exceed thirty (30) minutes, during which citizens may comment about Warwick City Government issues a. The total period of time for public comment shall not exceed thirty (30) minutes. Comments need to be brief in order to allow as many citizens as possible to participate. Each citizen signed up and present shall have not to exceed fivei (5) minutes to speak, provided, however that if more than six (6) Citizens are signed up and present the (30), minutes will be: split evenly amongsts speakers. Time shall not be transferable amongst thirty b. The topics for comment shall be issues directly affecting City government. City Council members will not respond to questions during the public comment d. The public comment session will terminate at the expiration of the earlier of all period.. speakers concluding their allotted time or thirty (30) minutes. Waiver of this provision  completed.  subject  to  the  following  stipulations:  speakers.  unanimous vote of the Council.  requires a  This Resolution shall take effect upon passage.  The Clerk is directed to post a copy of the City Council rules on the  website.  City of Warwick  17    SPONSOR: COMMITTEE:  COUNCIL PRESIDENT: MCALLISTER NTERGOVERNMENTAL  18