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AN ORDINANCE relating to council rules and order of business; amending Ordinance 11683, Section 1, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.24.005, Ordinance 11683, Section 3, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.24.025, Ordinance 11683, Section 4, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.24.035, Ordinance 11683, Section 6, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.24.055, Ordinance 11683, Section 10, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.24.095, Ordinance 11683, Section 15, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.24.145, Ordinance 11683, Section 16, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.24.155 and Ordinance 11683, Section 27, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.24.265; and declaring an emergency.
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Findings:
A. Section 220.40 of the King County Charter requires the council to adopt by ordinance rules of procedure governing the time, place and conduct of its meetings.
B. Consistent with the county charter, the council adopted by ordinance rules of procedure, which are codified in K.C.C. chapter 1.24, and passed motions related to the organization and administration of the council.
C. The rules ordinance and the organizational motion have been amended from time to time to reflect desired changes in the council's rules of procedure and organization.
D. Because the council is reorganizing the council and its committees by Motion xxxx (Proposed Motion 2020-0039), effective January 8, 2020, including modifying committees, committee chair and vice-chair positions and duties, this ordinance must be enacted as an emergency ordinance in order to be effective and ensure that the regular meeting times of the council's committees are effective contemporaneously with the reorganization of the council.
SECTION 2. Ordinance 11683, Section 1, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.24.005 are hereby amended to read as follows:
Rule 1: Definitions. The definitions in this rule apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
A. "Administrative committee" means a committee, other than a special or standing committee, established in the organization motion to act and make recommendations to the council on matters assigned to the committee.
B. "Committee" means a standing, special or administrative committee of the council as so designated by rule, motion or appointment by the chair of the council.
C. "Legislation" means a "motion" or "ordinance" as those terms are used in Section 230 and 240 of the King County Charter.
D. "Regional committee" means a regional committee established under Section 270 of the King County Charter.
E. "Special committee" means a committee that goes out of existence as soon as it has completed a specified task.
F. "Standing committee" means a committee, excluding regional committees, composed exclusively of councilmembers created by the council and given the task of reviewing legislation.
G. "Work session" means a committee of the whole assembly held for the purposes of engaging in deliberations, discussions, considerations, reviews and evaluations of issues of interest to the entire council. A final action, meaning the collective decision of the committee or an actual vote by the committee on a motion, proposal, order or ordinance, shall not take place in a work session.
SECTION 3. Ordinance 11683, Section 3, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.24.025 are hereby amended to read as follows: meeting
Rule 3: Powers and duties of the vice-chair - acting chair in absence of chair and vice-chair.
A. The vice-chair shall exercise the duties, powers and prerogatives of the council chair in the event of the chair's absence.
B. If the chair and ((the)) vice-chair are ((both)) absent at a meeting of the council, the remaining councilmember present with the greatest seniority of service in county elective office shall preside as acting chair. In the event more than one member has equal greatest seniority based on service in county elective office, the member with the greatest cumulative seniority in county elective office and state legislative office shall preside as acting chair.
C. If, after recommendation by the employment and administration committee, the chair is the subject of a motion that proposes to censure a councilmember for violating the council's antiharassment policy, the vice-chair shall introduce the motion.
SECTION 4. Ordinance 11683, Section 4, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.24.035 are hereby amended to read as follows:
Rule 4: Meetings.
A.1.a. ((Except for a regular meeting of the council on Monday, April 1, 2019, at 10:30 a.m., t))The time of regular meetings of the council is ((9:30 a.m.)) 1:00 p.m. on ((Wednesday)) Tuesday of each week. However, the regular meetings of the council shall not take place: from ((April 2 through April 12, 2019, from August 1 through August 16, 2019, and from December 19, 2019, through January 3, 2020)) March 30, 2020, through April 11, 2020; from August 1, 2020, through August 14, 2020; and from December 16, 2020, through January 3 2021. All regular or special meetings of council committees shall be regular or special council meetings, in accordance with subsection F. of this rule.
b. Each fifth Wednesday of each month from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. shall be reserved for special regional committee meetings as needed. Each ((fourth)) first and third Wednesday from ((1:30 p.m.)) 1:00 p.m. until ((3:30 p.m.)) 3:00 p.m. is reserved for meetings of the flood control district executive committee. Each Monday at 9:30 a.m. ((and the second and fourth Monday at 3:00 p.m. are)) is reserved for special meetings of standing committees. Each fifth Monday of each month from 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. is reserved for special regional and standing committee meetings. If a special meeting for more than one committee is called for the same time and location, the meeting for which the council clerk first receives written notice shall take precedence for use of the meeting location. In order to allow each member sufficient time to review legislation and to meet with constituents, staff and officials of other jurisdictions, no special committee meeting may be called for any other time than the days and times specified in this subsection for the respective committees without the prior written consent of the council chair or the consent of a majority of the members of the committee. ((If a special meeting for more than one standing committee is called for the same time and location, the meeting for which the agenda was first filed with the council clerk shall have precedence for use of the meeting location.)) This subsection A.1.b. does not apply to special meetings of the budget and fiscal management committee for purposes of considering the county executive's biennial budget proposal, which shall be called by the chair of the budget and fiscal management committee.
2.a. All regular meetings of the King County council and the council's committees, except for the ((employment and administration)) committee of the whole work sessions, shall be held in the council chambers on the tenth floor of the King County Courthouse in Seattle, Washington. All regular meetings of the ((employment and administration)) committee of the whole work sessions shall be held in the southwest conference room on the twelfth floor of the King County Courthouse in Seattle, Washington.
b. Whenever, due to an emergency, as defined in K.C.C. 12.52.010, it is imprudent, inexpedient or impossible to conduct the affairs of the council at the regular or usual place or places, the council may meet at any place within or without the territorial limits of the county on the call of the chair or any two members of the council. After an emergency relocation, the affairs of the council shall be lawfully conducted at the emergency location for the duration of the emergency.
B.1. Except as provided in subsection B.2. of this rule, the times for regular and special committee meetings are as follows:
a. Budget and fiscal management committee: the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at 9:30 a.m.;
b. Committee of the whole((:)), except for ((April 1, 2019,)) work sessions, which are the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 12:30 p.m: the ((first)) second and ((third)) fourth Mondays of each month at 1:30 p.m;
((b. Budget and fiscal management committee: the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 9:30 a.m.;))
c. Community, health and housing services committee: the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 9:30 a.m.;
d. Employment and administration committee: the ((first and)) third ((Mondays)) Tuesday of each month at ((3:00 p.m)) 1:30 p.m.
((d.)) e. Government accountability and oversight committee: the ((second)) first and ((fourth)) third Tuesdays of each month at ((3:00 p.m.)) 9:30 a.m.;
((e. Health, housing and human services committee: the first and third Tuesday of each month at 9:30 a.m.;))
f. Law and justice committee: the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at ((1:00 p.m.)) 9:30 a.m.;
g. Local services((, regional roads and bridges)) committee: the ((second)) first and ((fourth)) third Mondays of each month at 1:30 p.m.;
h. Mobility and environment committee: the ((first)) second and ((third)) ((Tuesdays)) fourth Wednesdays of each month at ((1:30 p.m.)) 1:00 p.m.;
i. Regional policy committee: the second Wednesday of each month at 3:00 p.m.;
j. Regional transit committee: the third Wednesday of each month at 3:00 p.m.; and
k. Regional water quality committee: the first Wednesday of each month at 3:00 p.m.;
2. The regular meetings of the committees shall not take place during ((the)) the times when the council meeting does not take place, as prescribed in subsection A. of this rule.
C. Council and committee meetings must be held in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act of 1971, chapter 42.30 RCW.
D. A meeting may be continued, in accordance with chapter 42.30 RCW, to another date and does not conclude until adjourned in accordance with these rules.
E.1. An executive session may be held during a council or committee meeting if one of the specific grounds under chapter 42.30 RCW for an executive session exists.
2. Before convening in executive session, the chair of the council or committee shall publicly announce the purpose for excluding the public from the meeting place and the time when the executive session will be concluded. The executive session may be extended to a stated later time by announcement of the chair.
3. Only members of the council or committee, special invitees and those employees or staff members the council or committee determines to be necessary are allowed to remain in the room. Persons attending an executive session shall maintain the confidentiality of the proceedings.
F.1. A legal analysis of the Open Public Meetings Act by the office of the Attorney General, 2010 AGO No. 9, has advised that when a committee meeting is attended by a quorum of the governing body it must be noticed not only as a committee meeting but also as a meeting of the governing body. For this reason, all meetings, including work sessions, of council committees shall be noticed both as committee meetings and as council meetings whose agenda is limited to the committee business.
2. In all committee meetings, which are council meetings in accordance with subsection F.1. of this rule, only the rules and procedures applicable to committees apply, and not those rules and procedures applicable to full council meetings. This includes, but is not limited to:
a. only those members who serve on the committee have the right to exercise parliamentary rights in the meeting, including, but not limited to, raising points of order, making motions and voting;
b. attendance shall be recorded only for members serving on the committee, and the quorum for the meeting shall be the committee quorum; and
c. committee meetings shall be chaired by the committee chair.
SECTION 5. Ordinance 11683, Section 6, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.24.055 are hereby amended to read as follows:
Rule 6: Standing committees. The standing committees shall operate as follows:
A. A majority of a committee constitutes a quorum. A committee is considered to have a quorum present unless the question is raised by a member of the committee. If a member objects to proceeding because of the lack of a quorum, the committee may not conduct official business, except to conduct a hearing. The appointment or use of alternate members is not allowed for a standing committee. Any member of the council may attend and participate in any committee meeting by asking questions and offering comments on any matter before the committee. Only members of the committee may exercise parliamentary rights in the committee, including, but not limited to, raising points of order, making motions and voting.
B. During its consideration of a vote on legislation, the deliberations of a committee must be open to the public.
C. A vote to report legislation out of committee must be taken by the "ayes" and "nos," with the committee clerk recording the names of the members voting for and against, as well as the names of the members absent. On any matter, including but not limited to an amendment, a vote must be taken by oral roll call if requested by a member of the committee. A standing committee may not vote by secret ballot on an issue. Except for a regional committee, legislation may be reported out of committee by less than a quorum of the committee, subject to signature by a majority of the members of the committee, unless a member present requests a vote on the recommendation by a quorum of the committee. If a member so requests, the legislation may not be reported out of the committee at that meeting without an affirmative vote by a majority of the quorum of the committee. The committee's recommendation on legislation reported out of committee subject to signature by a majority of the members of the committee is not effective unless signed by a majority of the committee and delivered to the clerk by the close of the second business day after the committee action. A vote in a committee must be recorded and the vote must be preserved as prescribed by the clerk of the council.
D. Legislation reported to the council from a standing committee must have a majority recommendation report, which must be prepared upon a printed standing committee report form and must be signed by a majority of the committee with one of the following recommendations:
1. Do pass;
2. Do pass -- consent;
3. Do pass substitute;
4. Do pass substitute -- consent;
5. Do not pass;
6. Postpone indefinitely;
7. Pass out of committee with no recommendation; or
8. Refer to another committee.
E. The rules and procedures contained in this chapter must be observed, when applicable, in all proceedings of a standing or special committee of the council.
F. The chair of the committee shall set the agenda for the committee, including whether and when to include on a specific agenda for action proposed legislation referred to the committee by the council chair. A change to the last distributed and posted agenda made at a meeting must be announced by the chair and is subject to appeal to the full committee present by any two members of the committee. A majority of the members present shall decide an appeal under this subsection.
G. Notice of a special meeting must be made in compliance with the Open Public Meetings Act of 1971, chapter 42.30 RCW. The committee chair may call up to six special meetings per calendar year. An additional special meeting may be called only upon the request of the chair and the written consent of either the vice-chair of the committee or the chair of the council before the meeting. A special meeting may be called only when:
1. There is time-sensitive legislation or information that cannot be presented and considered in the ordinary committee meeting schedule;
2. A joint meeting of two or more committees is necessary to consider a matter; or
3. An unusual and extreme workload of a committee does not allow its full consideration during the ordinary committee meeting schedule.
H. A committee may not recess a meeting for longer than eight hours unless consent is given consistent with Rule 6.G, K.C.C. 1.24.055.G. Such a recess constitutes a special meeting solely for the purpose of counting the six discretionary special meetings provided for in this rule. If recess is until the next day but less than twenty-four hours, then the maximum possible notice must be given. If recess is for greater than twenty-four hours, then at least twenty-four hours' notice must be given.
((I. For the special committee on alternatives to incarceration:
1. The cochairs shall jointly share the agenda setting responsibilities; and
2. The cochairs shall alternate presiding responsibilities at regular and special meetings of the committee as mutually agreed upon by the cochairs.))
SECTION 6. Ordinance 11683, Section 10, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.24.095 are hereby amended to read as follows:
Rule 10: Public hearing and second reading.
A. The council encourages public participation in the legislative process. To preserve order and decorum and in the interest of efficiency, the council or committee chair may impose time and subject matter limits on public comment or testimony. The following rules shall apply at any meeting of the council and its standing committees, regional committees or special committees at which public comment or testimony is taken:
1. It shall be at the discretion of the committee chair whether to allow either public comment or testimony at a committee meeting;
2. At least seven days must elapse after introduction of a proposed ordinance, other than an emergency ordinance, before the council may conduct the required public hearing on the proposed ordinance. The council must conduct a public hearing before adopting an ordinance. Public testimony at the hearing must be germane to the proposed ordinance and must be made in such a manner as to comply with the requirements imposed by the chair under Rule 2.B, K.C.C. 1.24.015.B; and
3. The council shall allow general public comment on matters relating to county government at its meeting on the fourth ((Wednesday)) Tuesday of each month. If the fourth ((Wednesday)) Tuesday is a state or county holiday and the council does not meet, the general public comment shall occur at the next regular meeting of the council. General public comment is limited to fifteen minutes and each person making general public comment may speak for two minutes. General public comment may not be used for the purpose of assisting a campaign for election of any person to any office or for the promotion of or opposition to any ballot proposition. General public comment may not address any ordinance that is on that day’s council agenda for public hearing. General public comment must be made in such a manner as to comply with the requirements imposed by the chair under Rule 2.B, K.C.C. 1.24.015.B.
B. Disruptions of council and committee meetings are prohibited. Engaging in speech or conduct that interrupts, delays or otherwise disrupts the orderly conduct of any meeting is prohibited. Disruptions include, but are not limited to:
1. Speech by an individual after expiration of the time allotted for the speaker's public comment or testimony;
2. Speech by an individual who has not been recognized by the chair for public comment or testimony, who is speaking in a volume louder than a low, conversational level appropriate for communication between persons seated next to each other in the council chambers, or whose speech is audible by others;
3. Comments or testimony that does not comply with subsection A. of this section;
4. Standing, except when: entering or leaving the chambers, providing comment or public testimony after being called on by the chair, or as necessary to obtain a copy of meeting materials from staff; ((or))
5. Holding or placing a banner or sign during a meeting in a way that may endanger other individuals or that obstructs the free passage or view of others attending or viewing the meeting;
6. Whistling, handclapping, stamping of feet, making noise or waving of arms; or
7. Activities by an individual that, in the reasonable determination of the chair, disrupt the meeting.
C. If an individual engages in disruption of the meeting, including but not limited to any of the actions described in subsection B. of this section, the chair may ((rule the individual out of order, direct)) order the individual:
1. ((t))To leave the chambers; or
2. To cease the activity and impose other reasonable conditions for the individual's continued presence at the meeting.
D. If the individual does not immediately comply with the chair's order under subsection C.2. of this section, the chair may direct the removal of the individual from the meeting.
E. Unless otherwise ordered by the chair, any individual ordered to be removed from a meeting is excluded from returning to that meeting, unless the decision of the chair is overruled by a majority vote of those members in attendance. Any two members may place before the body the question of whether to permit the individual to return to the same meeting.
F.1. If, within a fifteen-day period, an individual is removed ((either)) from two or more committee meetings ((within a fifteen day period or)), from two or more consecutive meetings of the council or from one committee meeting and a council meeting, the chair of the council may exclude the individual from participation in public comment or testimony periods at future council or committee meetings or both and may impose other conditions as the disruptive conduct warrants.
2. The chair shall notify the individual in writing of the type of exclusion, the specific reasons for the exclusion and the specific terms and length of the exclusion.
3. The notice of exclusion shall advise that the individual may submit written comments to the clerk for distribution to the councilmembers at future public comment or testimony periods.
4. The notice of exclusion shall be filed with the clerk, who shall post it on the door to the council chambers and on the council's web page, provide a copy of the notice to members and mail the notice to the individual's last known address, if any. The notice is effective when posted. The exclusion order shall remain posted on the door to the chambers for the duration of the exclusion period.
G.1. In determining the scope and length of an individual's exclusion allowed under subsection F. of this section, the chair may consider the seriousness of the disruptions to the orderly conduct of the meeting, the number of disruptions in which the individual participated and other reasons deemed relevant by the chair.
2. The chair may issue an exclusion from future participation ((in)) at council and committee meetings, including public comment or testimony periods for up to ((twenty-eight)) sixty calendar days.
3. At the next regular meeting of the council, following the filing and posting of the exclusion notice, the exclusion order may be overruled or modified by a majority vote of those councilmembers in attendance. Any two members may place before the body the question of whether to overrule or modify the exclusion decision.
H. Any individual excluded from participation ((in future public comment or testimony periods)) at council and committee meetings may appeal the exclusion by submitting a written appeal to the clerk of the council within five calendar days after the exclusion notice is posted. The clerk shall distribute copies of the appeal to all councilmembers. The council shall consider the appeal at the next regularly scheduled council meeting if any two members place it before the body. The individual's exclusion from public comment or testimony periods shall remain in effect during the council's consideration of the appeal.
SECTION 7. Ordinance 11683, Section 15, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.24.145 are hereby amended to read as follows:
Rule 15: Quorum and voting - standard, emergencies.
A. The requirements for a quorum of a standing committee are prescribed in Rule 6A, K.C.C. 1.24.055.A. The requirements for a quorum of a regional committee are prescribed in Rule 7, K.C.C. 1.24.065. ((Three members constitute a quorum of the employment and administration committee.))
B.1. Five members constitute a quorum of the county council, except as provided in subsection B.2. of this section. If there is a lack of a quorum, the chair shall request the clerk of the council to call members so as to constitute a quorum. Unless otherwise required by the King County Charter, a vote of the majority of those present is necessary for the conduct of council business.
2. In the event that an emergency, as defined in K.C.C. 12.52.010, reduces the number of members, then those members available and present for duty have full authority to act in all matters as the county council. Quorum requirements for the council shall be suspended for the period of the emergency, and where the affirmative vote of a specified proportion of the council is required for approval of an ordinance or other action, the same proportion of those members available shall be sufficient. As soon as practicable thereafter, the available members shall act in accordance with the charter and state law to fill existing vacancies on the council.
3. Members participating by telephone or other electronic means as allowed under subsection C. of this section are present for quorum purposes. The clerk of the council, in consultation with the chair, shall establish authentication and operating procedures, which must comply with all state and county laws regarding open public meetings. It shall be noted in the minutes when members participate by telephone or other electronic means.
C.1. Members may participate and vote in meetings of standing committees of which they are members and in meetings of the full council by telephone or other electronic means under the following circumstances:
a. any regular meeting convened during the time period specified by the chair for the council's annual trip to Washington, D.C., to confer with federal officials and members of Congress on matters affecting the county;
b. under any circumstances up to five times per calendar year per councilmember; and
c. under circumstances constituting good cause, which include:
i. an emergency, as defined in K.C.C. 12.52.010;
ii. special meetings convened during the dates in ((r))Rule 4.A., K.C.C. 1.24.035.A., when the regular meetings of the council shall not take place; or
iii. urgent circumstances as defined in subsection C.5. of this section, if the member's attendance is approved in accordance with subsection C.2. of this section.
2. A member wishing to participate and vote in a full council or standing committee meeting by telephone or other electronic means under subsection C.1.b.iii. of this section shall use the following process:
a. The member shall declare orally or in writing to the chair of the meeting that the member requests to participate and vote by telephone or other electronic means because of urgent circumstances;
b. After receiving the request from the member, the chair shall promptly approve or deny the request and so inform the member, who may accept the chair's ruling or appeal the chair's ruling to the members present at the meeting; and
c. Reversal of the chair's ruling requires an affirmative vote of a two-thirds majority of the members present at the meeting. For a full council meeting, reversal of the chair's ruling also requires that a quorum be present.
3. In notifying the meeting chair of the member's intent or request to participate and vote by telephone or other electronic means under this subsection C., the member shall specify the specific provision of this subsection C. on which the member is relying.
4. To facilitate connection to the broadcasting system, notices or requests for participation by telephone or other electronic means should be made half an hour in advance of the meeting when possible, and the member should promptly inform the clerk of the meeting of the notice or request. When participating by telephone or other electronic means, the member shall speak audibly so that the public can hear the discussion and voting process.
5. For the purposes of this subsection C., "urgent circumstances" means when a member experiences one or more of the following:
a. inclement weather, such as a flood alert or snow in the member's district, that results in circumstances that make it unsafe for the member to attend the meeting; and
b. the member or an immediate family member, as "immediate family" is defined in K.C.C. 3.12.010, has a medically-related issue or other urgent need for assistance, including without limitation the death of an immediate family member, that makes it difficult for the member to attend the meeting.
D. There may not be voting by proxy on a question before the council. A member who is in the council chambers or present via telephone or other electronic means when the question is put shall vote unless excused by the council for special reasons. A motion to excuse a member must be made before the call for "ayes" and "nos" is commenced.
E. A vote before the council must be recorded as to the "ayes" and "nos." Upon the final passage of legislation before the council, the vote must be taken by oral roll call. On any other matter, the vote must be taken by oral roll call if requested by at least one member. When once begun, the roll call may not be interrupted. The order of names on the roll call must be alphabetical by last name except for the chair, who votes last when the "ayes" and "nos" are called.
SECTION 8. Ordinance 11683, Section 16, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.24.265 are hereby amended to read as follows:
Rule 16: Amendments. A member may ((offer)) sponsor amendments to proposed legislation for consideration by the council or a standing committee, in accordance with the following:
A. The clerk of the council shall establish the proper form for an amendment. Except as provided in subsection F. of this rule, an amendment must:
1. Be in writing;
2. Bear the name of the member who ((offers)) sponsors it as well as the page and line number of the proposed legislation to be amended; and
3. Be distributed to each member at the time the legislation is before the council or standing committee.
B. As a courtesy to the clerk, amendments should be filed one-half hour before the beginning of the council meeting.
C. An amendment to proposed legislation may not change the scope and object of the proposed legislation. An amendment must be germane and must embrace the single subject contained within the proposed legislation.
D.1. For the purposes of this subsection D:
a. "line amendment" means an amendment that either adds or deletes, or both, material in a specified portion of legislation. A "specified portion of legislation" includes either or both the legislation's body and any substantive attachment incorporated as part of the legislation; and
b. "striking amendment" means an amendment that deletes the entire text of legislation and inserts new language.
2. Striking amendments should be considered before any line amendments. If a striking amendment is moved, all line amendments to the striking amendment, including amendments to the attachment, must be approved or rejected before the striking amendment is approved or rejected.
3. Line amendments should be considered section by section with perfecting amendments considered first.
4. Only one amendment and one amendment to the amendment are permitted at a time, but any number of each may be ((offered)) moved in succession if a question already decided is not raised again.
5. Title amendments must be considered after the amendments to the proposed legislation.
E.1. Substitute legislation may only come before the council after consideration by a standing committee. A member may demand a vote on the question of whether the committee substitute is to be substituted for the original proposed legislation. A substitute ordinance must be within the scope and object of the original proposed ordinance.
2. A member may ((offer)) move proposed substitute legislation for a standing committee's consideration, but a member may demand a vote on the question of whether the standing committee is to consider the original legislation rather than the proposed substitute legislation. A proposed substitute ordinance must be within the scope and object of the original proposed ordinance.
F. In accordance with Rule 14.A, K.C.C. 1.24.135.A, proposed legislation on the consent agenda is not subject to amendment except as recommended in the committee report.
G. To promote efficiency, the council chair, or the chair of a standing committee at the committee's meeting, may accept for consideration an oral amendment that is easily understood.
SECTION 9. Ordinance 11683, Section 27, as amended, and K.C.C. 1.24.265 are hereby amended to read as follows:
Rule 27: Parliamentary rules. The rules of parliamentary practice comprised in the ((most-recent)) eleventh edition of ((the Scott, Foresman)) Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, published by Da Capo Press, must be used as a guide to address procedural questions to the extent consistent with the standing rules in this chapter.
SECTION 10. The county council finds as a fact and declares that an emergency exists and that this ordinance is necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace,
health or safety or for the support of county government and its existing public institutions.