04-14-12 Special Meeting of La Porte City Council (council retreat)

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PARTI- CHARTER CHARTER COMPARATIVE TABLE and twelve hundred dollars ($1,200.00) per year for each councilperson. 2.06. - Original meeting of new council. On the first Monday next following the regular municipal election held on the first Saturday of May, or as soon thereafter as practicable, city council shall meet at the usual place for holding meetings, and the newly elected members shall qualify and assume the duties of office. At such meeting council shall select one of its members to serve as mayor pro tem, who shall serve for a one year term and until his successor is appointed and has qualified. Editor's note— The election date in the city is the first Saturday in May pursuant to V.T.C.A., Election Code § 41.001. 2.07. - Meetings. a. Frequency. City council shall meet regularly at such times as may be prescribed by its rules but not less frequently than once each month. All meetings of council shall be open to the public; special meetings shall be called by the city secretary upon request of the mayor or three (3) councilpersons. b. Rules. City council shall determine its own rules and order of business. c. Journal. City council shall keep a journal of its proceedings. Such journal shall be open to public inspection. State law reference— Public meetings, V.T.C.A., Government Code § 551.001 et seq. 2.08. - Duties of mayor. The mayor shall preside at meetings of council and shall be entitled to vote upon all matters it considers. The mayor shall exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as are or may be conferred and imposed upon him by this Charter and the ordinances of the city. He shall be recognized as the head of the city government for all ceremonial purposes, by the courts for civil process, and by the government for purposes of military law. In times of public danger or emergency, the mayor shall take command of the police, maintain order and enforce the law. If a vacancy occurs in the office of mayor or in the case of his absence or disability, the mayor pro tem shall act as mayor until a successor is elected and has qualified or until the mayor is again able to assume his duties of office. 2.09. - Powers of council. All powers of the city and the determination of all matters of policy shall be vested in city council. Council shall execute the laws and administer the government of the city. Without limitation of the foregoing and among the other powers that may be exercised by council, the following are hereby enumerated for greater certainty: a. Adopt budget of the city. b. Authorize the issuance of bonds by a bond ordinance. C. Inquire into the conduct of any office, department, agency or officer of the city and make investigations as to municipal affairs, and for that purpose may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, and compel the production of books, papers and other evidence. Failure to obey such subpoena or to produce books, papers or other evidence as ordered under the provisions of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by fine. Council shall enact an La Porte, Texas, Code of Ordinances Page 8 of 32