2008 Resolutions - Laserfiche WebLink

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a) Voting Requirement; Abstention. Each member present, when a question is put, shall vote either "aye" or "nay" except as provided in this section. No member shall abstain from voting on any matter unless such vote is prohibited by applicable provisions of the Virginia State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act or would constitute an act of impropriety under the circum stance S2 . In all cases of abstention, the member shall advise the Council of the intention to abstain and the reasons therefore; and thereafter the member shall not participate in the transaction in any other way. b) Electronic Roll Call Votes; Roll Call Votes. (1) Electronic roll call votes, in which the name of each member voting and how that member voted are publicly displayed on the electronic voting board and duly recorded, shall be required for any official vote, unless an electronic roll call vote is not feasible. (2) If an electronic roll call vote is not feasible for any reason, there shall be a roll call vote. On all roll call votes, each member of the City Council shall vote as the member's name is called in alphabetical order, except that the Mayor or other Presiding Officer shall vote last.3 c) V oice Votes; Verification. Any vote for which an electronic roll call vote is not required shall be by voice vote, in which the members vote by voice and individual votes are not required. On the request of any member for verification of the outcome of any voice vote, the Mayor shall poll the members individually, in the order set forth in the preceding paragraph. d) Votes on zoning matters. No ordinance or resolution relating to any zoning matter may be finally adopted by the Council at the meeting where it was first considered.4 A zoning item shall proceed to a second reading, regardless of the vote on the first reading, unless Council votes to strike the item from the agenda. e) Votes on all other matters. All other ordinances, resolutions, and motions may be adopted on the date of their introduction. 2This same requirement for abstention is also imposed by Portsmouth City Code S2-74. 3Matters upon which Council votes are generally passed by affirmative vote of a majority of members present. Robert's Rules of Order, S 46. However, there are certain types of votes for which a special vote requirement is imposed. For any ordinance or resolution appropriating over $500, imposing taxes, or authorizing the borrowing of money, there must be a recorded affirmative vote of a majority of all members elected to Council, not just members present. Portsmouth City Code S2-29. For any action to sell the rights of the City in and to its waterfront, wharf property, public landings, wharves, docks, streets, avenues, parks, bridges, and other public places, there must be a recorded affirmative vote of "three-fourths of all the members elected to the Council," which is six votes. Portsmouth City Charter S2.09. After final rejection of an ordinance or resolution, another ordinance or resolution "of substantially the same import" shall not be placed on the agenda or considered by Council for three months without the "petition" of five members of Council. Portsmouth City Code, S2-71. No petition for rezoning shall be accepted by the Planning Director within one year of final action by City Council on a prior petition for a zoning change for any or all of the same parcel ofland. Portsmouth City Code S40-91.5 (See S40-104 for a similar provision for use permits). 4This requirement is imposed independently of these Rules, by Portsmouth City Code S2-29. Thus, it applies even if the rules are suspended. -5-