2.08.130 Meeting Attendance:
A. City Council. Following roll call, the Mayor shall inform the Council of the member’s absence, state the reason for such absence, and inquire if there is a motion to excuse the member. This motion shall be nondebatable. Upon passage of such motion by a majority of members present, the absent member shall be considered excused.
1. Council members shall inform the Mayor or City Clerk if they are unable to attend any Council meeting, or if they will be late to any meeting.
2. If a Council member has an unexcused absence due to an extraordinary circumstance which precluded the Council member from the notification procedures as described within this article and their presence may have changed the outcome of an action, at the next meeting that the Council member attends, the Council member may request that the Council reconsider their previous motion. The Council member must ask for reconsideration prior to the conclusion of the next meeting that they attend and state the reason for his or her absence or tardiness. The Council would then have the opportunity to rescind the original motion and the motion shall be debatable.
3. In the case of a Council member’s extended excused absence or disability, a pro tem Council member selected by a majority of the sitting Council shall be appointed to serve during the absence or disability. (RCW 35A.13.035.)
4. A Council member may forfeit his/her office by failing to attend three (3) consecutive regular meetings without being excused by the Council. (RCW 35A.12.060.)
B. City Manager. The City Manager shall attend all meetings of the Council unless excused. At the discretion of the City Manager, department heads and other staff members shall attend. The City Manager may make recommendations to the Council and shall have the right to take part in the discussions of the Council, but shall have no vote.
C. Department Directors. The Mayor, or any member of the City Council, may, through the City Manager, request the attendance at any meeting of the City Council of any department head, officer, or employee of the City.
D. Citizens and Media.
1. All public meetings of the City Council shall be open to citizens.
2. All public meetings shall be open to the media who may record by radio, television or photographic services at any time; provided, that such arrangements do not interfere with the orderly conduct of a meeting.
3. The Mayor has the authority to limit the number of speakers or otherwise exercise such control over the meeting to ensure citizen comments do not interfere or impede with the Council’s ability to conduct its business. Public communications will not be permitted on pending quasi-judicial matters which will come before the Council later in the same meeting or at a future meeting. (Ord. 2972, 5/25/21)