§ 3.9. ORDINANCES IN GENERAL.  


Latest version.
  • A.

    Form and Introduction. Ordinances and resolutions shall be introduced at Council meetings only in written form; but amendments to ordinances and resolutions may be made orally at the same meetings. No ordinance shall concern more than one subject, and that shall be expressed clearly in the title. The enacting clause of all ordinances shall read: "Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of El Paso." Any ordinance which repeals or amends an existing ordinance or other part of the City Code shall summarize the ordinance, sections or subsections to be repealed or amended.

    B.

    Legislative Procedure. Except as provided in Section 3.13, an ordinance may be introduced by any Council member at any meeting of the Council. A proposed ordinance must be filed with the City Clerk in sufficient time for inclusion on the agenda for the Council meeting at which it is to be introduced. Upon such filing the City Clerk shall distribute copies to each member of the Council and to the City Manager. A reasonable number of copies shall be available in the office of the City Clerk, and at such other public places as the Council may designate, for examination by interested persons. No ordinance shall be adopted finally except at a regular open meeting of the Council following notice, publication, and a public hearing. The notice shall contain:

    1.

    The proposed ordinance or a brief summary thereof;

    2.

    The places where copies of it have been filed and the times when they are available for public examination; and

    3.

    The time and place for the public hearing. The notice shall be published by any contemporary means of information sharing, including but not limited to publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the City or placement on a web site at least five days prior to the public hearing. The hearing may be held by a designated Council committee or the Council separately or in connection with any Council meeting and may be adjourned to a specified time. All interested persons present shall have an opportunity to be heard. As soon as practicable after adoption of any ordinance, the City Clerk shall publish it again, with notice of its adoption, in abstract form, by any contemporary means of information sharing. These abstracts must state, at a minimum, the purpose of the ordinance and, where penal, the penalty provided. In any event, the publication must be written so as to be understood by an average person.

    C.

    Actions Requiring Ordinances. The Council may exercise the following powers by ordinance only:

    1.

    Authorize the conveyance of any City real property;

    2.

    Adopt or amend any administrative code and establish, abolish, alter or combine any City departments, so long as such action is not in conflict with this Charter;

    3.

    Amend, extend, or repeal any ordinance previously adopted;

    4.

    Prescribe a fine or penalty or establish any rule or regulation for the violation of which a fine or other penalty is imposed;

    5.

    Adopt Civil Service Rules.