AGENDA
An agenda is an official working guide from which the City Council conducts it meetings. It includes the order of business for the meeting.
While items are usually placed on the agenda at the request of the Council members, citizens who want Council to review a particular item may send a written request to the City Clerk at 571 W Bankhead Hwy. The request will be reviewed to determine if it should be (1) handled administratively, (2) added to the next appropriate agenda, or (3) referred to a particular City Department for action. The applicant will be notified of the disposition of each request.
All items for the agenda must be presented to the City Clerk prior to noon on the Thursday before the Council Meeting. Copies of the agenda are available at City Hall beginning the Friday before the Council Meeting or can be found here.
AGENDA format
- Meeting called to order by Mayor or Mayor Pro Tem
- Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
- Approval of previous month's minutes
- Ceremonial matters " special presentations, announcements, proclamations and introduction of visiting dignitaries.
- Business "Old, Unfinished, and New " this includes, but is not limited to, Zoning and Annexation Requests, Variances, Requests for Issuance of Alcohol License, first and second readings of Ordinances, adoptions of Resolutions, financial approvals, and other City Business.
- Public Comment
- Executive Session " if necessary
- Adjournment
Addressing the City Council
Any citizen who wishes to speak concerning an item listed on the agenda will have the opportunity to address the Council at the appropriate time as directed by the Mayor. A citizen who wishes to speak on an item not listed on the agenda will have the opportunity to address the Council during the Public Comments session.
Speakers will speak from the podium, one at a time, and will address the Mayor and Council directly. Before addressing the Council, a speaker must first give his or her name and address to the City Clerk for the legal record. Presentations should be clear and concise. Groups or organizations are asked to designate one spokesperson whenever possible to avoid repetition.
Every effort will be made to ensure that citizens have ample opportunity to address the Council.
Council Actions
- Ordinances " Legal instruments or laws necessary for the security, welfare, convenience and interest of the City and its citizens and for preserving the health, peace, order and good government of the City.
- Resolutions " formalized Council actions which become effective upon adoption.
- Motions [concerning business other that motions made for ordinances and resolutions] " less formal Council action used to approve, deny or continue items, accept reports or establish policy or procedure.
Council meetings
- Regular Scheduled Meetings " meetings held on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm in Council Chambers/Municipal Courtroom, Holt-Bishop Justice Center, 501 Main Street, Villa Rica.
- Special Called Meetings " held as needed to provide Council action on emergency issues. Special meetings may be called under the following conditions:
- On call of the mayor with the consent of at least two members of the Council, or
- On call of a Councilmember with the consent of at least two other members of the Council. Notice of such special meeting shall be served on the Mayor and all other members of the Council personally, or shall be left at their residence at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the meeting. Such notice shall not be required if the mayor and all council members are present when the special meeting is called
- Executive Sessions " Held for the specific purpose of addressing personnel matters or litigations. For reasons of confidentiality, these sessions are closed to the Public. Any action taken in Executive Session is brought back to the open, public forum for an official vote.
All City of Villa Rica Council meetings are held in accordance with the provisions of
ยง50-14-1 et seq. of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.
Except for Executive Sessions,
all meetings are opened to the Public. |