DOCS-#2440990-v1-Nederland_-_Policies_and_Procedures_regarding_City_Council_MeetingsPolicies and Procedures Page 1
CITY OF NEDERLAND, TEXAS
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
Sectio 3.11 of the City Charter of the City of Nederland, Texas provides that the City Council shall
determine its own rules and order of business. These rules, policies and procedures are adopted
and established under and by the authority of the City Charter and Texas law, including provisions
of the Texas Government Code. These rules, policies and procedures may be amended or new
rules, policies and/or procedures adopted by a simple majority vote of the members of the City
Council present.
ARTICLE I. General Rules of Procedure
1.1. Meetings to be Public
All meetings of the City Council shall be public and notices thereof shall be posted as provided
under the Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, Open Meetings Act, as amended.
1.2. Conduct of Meetings
Meetings of the City Council shall be conducted according to the rules adopted by the City
Council, as well as the terms and provisions of Robert’s Rules of Order, as amended, and when
not inconsistent with the rules, policies and procedures set forth here in.
1.3. Regular Meetings
Regular meetings of the City Council shall be on the second and fourth Monday of each month at
4:30 PM. City Council may, by majority vote at a regular or special meeting, change the days or
times of meetings as circumstances may necessitate.
1.4. Special Meetings.
The Mayor, City Manager or three (3) members of the City Council may call a special meeting by
giving notice to the City Clerk who shall notify each member of the City Council of the time of
such meeting and purpose thereof. Only matters mentioned in the call shall be co nsidered.
1.5. Executive Sessions
Executive Sessions are sessions closed to the public. Such sessions are permitted for the purpose
of discussing matters enumerated in Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, Open Meetings Act,
as amended.
1.6. Old Business and New Business
The agenda for a Regular Meeting shall include a section for “Old Business” or “Unfinished
Business” to address items previously on a City Council agenda that have not been finally resolved
or acted upon and that the Mayor or City Council desire to be brought back for further discussion
and/or action. The agenda for a Regular Meeting shall also include a section for “New Business”
for all other items to be discussed or considered by City Council.
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1.7. Placement of Items on an Agenda
The Mayor, any Councilmember or the City Manager may place an item on the agenda by sending
the item to the Mayor and City Manager. Typically, this should be done at least forty-eight (48)
hours before posting of the agenda. The name of the sponsor or proposer of the item on the agenda
shall be shown after the agenda item.
1.8. Preservation of Order
The Mayor shall preserve order and decorum and, if necessary, shall cause any person speaking
out of order or disrupting the order of the meeting to be silenced or removed from the City Council
Chambers.
ARTICLE II. Citizen Participation and Comments
2.1. Purpose
It is the desire of City Council to hear from the residents of the City of Nederland, to stimulate
discussion and to offer a forum for cordial and meaningful insight and/or debate on matters that
are properly before and considered by City Council.
As provided by Section 551.007(b) of the Texas Government Code, the City Council shall allow
each member of the public who desires to address the City Council on an agenda item to address
the City Council regarding the item at the meeting before or during City Council’s consideration
of the item.
As provided by Section 551.007(c) of the Texas Government Code, the City Council may adopt
reasonable rules regarding the public’s right to address City Council under Section 551.007,
including rules that limit the total amount of time that a member of the public may address the City
Council on a given item.
2.2. Rules for Citizen Comments
1. An individual that desires to address City Council shall sign-in before the meeting with
their name and address. They shall also indicate if they request to speak on a specific
agenda item or general public comment.
2. Before an individual may speak, they must first be recognized by the Mayor. Upon
recognition, the person speaking shall hold the floor and make reasonable efforts to make
their point clearly and succinctly.
3. An individual addressing City Council shall stand at the podium and must speak into the
microphone. The individual must first state their name and address.
4. Each speaker is limited to a maximum timed limit of three (3) minutes.
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5. An individual speaking on an agenda item shall restrict their comments to the subject
matter listed.
6. An individual speaking on non-agenda items must address such items during the public
comment section of the agenda and shall only speak on matters pertaining to city business
or issues which City Council would have the authority to act upon if brought forth as an
agenda item on a subsequent agenda.
7. City Council may not act upon or discuss any issue brought forth as a non -agenda item
except to:
a. Make a statement of specific actual information given in response to the inquiry; or
b. A recitation of existing policy in response to the inquiry.
Any deliberation of or decision about the subject on the inquiry shall be limited to a
proposal to place the subject on the agenda for a subsequent meeting or direction to City
staff to review.
8. Proper respect, decorum and conduct shall prevail at all times. I rrelevant, impertinent,
overly redundant, slanderous or personal attacks are strictly prohibited and violators may
be removed from the City Council Chambers.
9. Arguing, intimidation or other disruptive behavior is prohibited. Discussion and debate
are acceptable only on items specifically listed on the current agenda.
10. The Mayor presides over the City Council meeting and ensures proper conduct and
decorum is in compliance with these policies and procedures.