City Attorney
Roger Baker
Tooele City Attorney
90 North Main Street
Tooele, UT 84074
Phone: 435.843.2120
Fax: 435.843.2129
Title 1. Chapter 5. City Council
1-5-1. Definitions.
(1) “Meeting” means the convening of the Tooele City Council, with a quorum present, whether in person or by means of electronic equipment, for the purpose of discussing or acting upon a matter over which the council has jurisdiction or advisory power.
(2) “Convening” means the calling of a meeting of the city council by the council chairperson, the mayor or any three members of the council, for the express purpose of discussing or acting upon a subject over which the council has jurisdiction.
(3) “Quorum” means three or more members of the council.
(Ord. 94-12, 03-22-94)
1-5-2. City Council as governing body.
(Ord. 94-12, 03-22-94)
1-5-3. Chairperson.
(Ord. 94-12, 03-22-94)
1-5-4. Regular meetings - Special meetings.
(2) Special meetings may be called by the council chairperson or any three council members, provided that at least 24 hours notice is given by the city recorder to each councilmember. No business shall be transacted at any special meeting except that stated in the noticed agenda.
(Ord. 2012-11, 04-04-12); (Ord. 94-12, 03-22-94)
1-5-5. Meetings open to the public - Exceptions.
(2) A closed meeting may be held upon the affirmative vote of a quorum present at an open meeting for which notice is given pursuant to Section 1-5-6. No closed meeting is allowed except as to matters declared in Subsection (3); provided, no ordinance, resolution, rule, regulation, contract, or appointment shall be approved at a closed meeting. The reason or reasons for holding a closed meeting and the vote, either for or against the proposition to hold such a meeting, cast by each member by name shall be entered on the minutes of the meeting. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to require any meeting to be closed to the public.
(3) A closed meeting may be held for any purposes allowed by Utah law, including the following:
(a) discussion of the character, professional competence, or physical or mental health of an individual;
(b) strategy sessions with respect to collective bargaining, pending or reasonably imminent litigation, or the purchase, exchange, lease, or sale of real property, including water rights;
(c) discussion regarding deployment of security personnel, systems, or devices;
(d) investigative proceedings regarding allegations of criminal misconduct.
(4) This chapter shall not apply to any chance meeting or social meeting. No chance meeting or social meeting shall be used to circumvent this Chapter.
(Ord. 2012-11, 04-04-12); (Ord. 94-12, 03-22-94)
1-5-6. Public notice of meetings; emergency meetings.
(2) In addition to the notice requirements of Subsection (1), the council shall give not less than 24 hours’ public notice of the agenda, date, time and place of each of its meetings.
(3) Public notice shall be satisfied by:
(a) posting written notice at Tooele City Hall;
(b) providing notice to
(i) at least one newspaper of general circulation within Tooele City, or
(ii) a local media correspondent; and,
(c) posting written notice on the Utah Public Notice Website.
(4) When because of unforeseen circumstances it is necessary for the council to hold an emergency meeting to consider matters of an emergency or urgent nature, the notice requirements of Subsection (2) may be disregarded and the best notice practicable given. No such emergency meeting of the council shall be held unless an attempt has been made to notify all of its members and a majority votes in the affirmative to hold the meeting.
(Ord. 2012-11, 04-04-12); (Ord. 94-12, 03-22-94)
1-5-6.5. Electronic meetings.
(2) The anchor location for an electronic meeting shall be Tooele City Hall.
(3) The City Recorder and at least one City Council member shall attend an electronic meeting at the anchor location.
(4) To schedule an electronic meeting, a member of the City Council shall make a request to the Council Chairperson for the meeting at least three days before the meeting, except as provided in Section 1-5-6 for emergency meetings.
(5) Notice of an electronic meeting shall be given to all members of the City Council at least 24 hours before the meeting so that they may participate in and be counted as present for all purposes, including the determination that a quorum is present. The notice shall include a description of how the City Council members will be connected to the electronic meeting.
(6) A quorum of the City Council must be present, in person or via electronic means, to convene the meeting, and shall indicate their presence with a City Council member roll call. The roll call shall indicate which City Council members are attending electronically.
(7) The City Council shall provide space and facilities at the anchor location so that interested persons and the public may attend and monitor the open portions of the meeting.
(8) If comments from the public will be accepted during the electronic meeting, the City Council shall provide space and facilities at the anchor location so that interested persons and the public may attend, monitor, and participate in the open portions of the meeting.
(9) Compliance with the provisions of this Section by the City Council shall constitute full and complete compliance by the City Council with the corresponding provisions of the Utah Open and Public Meetings Act.
(10) Public notice of an electronic meeting shall be given:
(a) in accordance with UCA Section 52-4-202; and,
(b) by posting written notice at the anchor location.
(Ord. 2020-16, 03-18-2020)
1-5-7. Minutes of open and closed meetings - Public records - Recording of meetings - Approval of minutes.
(a) the date, time and place of the meeting;
(b) the names of members present and absent;
(c) the substance of all matters proposed, discussed, or decided, and a record, by individual member, of votes taken;
(d) the names of all citizens who testified during a public hearing and the substance in brief of their testimony;
(e) any other information that any member requests be entered in the minutes.
(2) Written minutes shall be kept of all closed meetings. Such minutes shall include:
(a) the date, time and place of the meeting;
(b) the names of members present and absent;
(c) the names of all others present except where such disclosure would infringe on the confidence necessary to fulfill the original purpose of closing the meeting.
(3) The minutes of open meetings are classified as public records. The minutes of closed meetings are classified as protected records.
(4) All or any part of an open meeting may be recorded by any person in attendance; provided, the act of recording does not interfere with the peaceful and orderly conduct of the meeting, in the discretion of the council chairperson.
(5) Minutes shall be deemed the official record of the meeting upon the approving vote of the City Council and the approving signature of the City Council chairperson or designee.
(Ord. 2012-11, 04-04-12); (Ord 2009-14, 11-21-09); (Ord. 94-12, 03-22-94)
1-5-8. Achieving a quorum - Voting.
(2) The vote of each council member voting for or against an ordinance or resolution shall be recorded upon the original thereof. The concurrence of three council members shall be necessary for the passage of any ordinance, resolution or other business item.
(Ord. 2012-11, 04-04-12); (Ord. 94-12, 03-22-94)
1-5-9. Reconsideration.
(Ord. 2019-06, 04-03-2019) (Ord. 1994-12, 03-22-1994)
1-5-10. Claims approval.
(Ord. 94-12, 03-22-94)
1-5-11. Compensation of city officers and employees.
(2) The council shall adopt a salary schedule for all Tooele City employees with each fiscal year’s budget.
(Ord. 94-12, 03-22-94)
1-5-12. Council members not to hold created office.
(2) Subsection (1) shall not apply to a council member serving on any board or appendage of Tooele City government during that member’s term of office and as a part of that member’s duty as a council member.
(3) As used in this section, “compensation” means anything of economic value which is paid, loaned, given, granted, donated or transferred to any person or business entity, for or in consideration of personal services, materials, property, or anything whatsoever.
(Ord. 2012-11, 04-04-12); (Ord. 94-12, 03-22-94)
1-5-13. Rules.
(Ord. 94-12, 03-22-94)
1-5-14. Disciplinary powers.
(Ord. 2012-11, 04-04-12); (Ord. 94-12, 03-22-94)
1-5-15. Standards of conduct.
(2) Use of profanity is not permitted by the city council. Any council member who uses profanity will be warned once and then fined, by vote of the council, for any subsequent use of profanity in that or subsequent meetings.
(3) Council members are encouraged to be prepared for meetings. Any apparent unpreparedness may result in the balance of the council not allowing the unprepared council member to participate in the discussion. An unprepared council member may still vote on the issue.
(4) Council members shall perform their duties in a professional manner. They shall make no personal attacks on other council members, city employees, or on any citizen in attendance at council meetings.
(5) Because council members are elected representatives of the community, they are expected to participate in parades, social functions, and any civic activity, where possible, to show support of the activity by the city government.
(Ord. 2012-11, 04-04-12); (Ord. 94-12, 03-22-94)
Click Here for a .pdf copy of Title1 Chapter5
Please Note: Every attempt has been made to keep this online Tooele City Code up-to-date; however, there may be discrepancies between this online code and that which is actually adopted. If you have questions about the Tooele City Code or for the most recent update, please call (435) 843-2120 or email attorney@tooelecity.org.
Site Shortcuts: | | |