VI. PROCEDURES FOR COMMITTEE REFERRAL

VI.A. Referral to Committee: Prior to the “introduction of ordinances and resolutions” portion of each Business Meeting of the Council, the President of the Council shall refer each ordinance or resolution to be introduced at that Business Meeting to a Standing Committee for consideration and recommendation as provided herein. During the “introduction of ordinances and resolutions” portion of every Business Meeting of the Council, the City Clerk shall read the heading of each ordinance and resolution introduced and announce the Standing Committee to which it has been referred along with the date and time of the public meeting at which the Standing Committee will consider the ordinance or resolution.

VI.B. When Referral Excused:

VI.B.1 Each ordinance and resolution shall be referred to the appropriate Standing Committee for consideration and recommendation by that Standing Committee prior to any vote by the Council on that ordinance or resolution.

VI.B.2 However, if both the President of the Council and the Chairperson of the appropriate Standing Committee agree prior to the “introduction of ordinances and resolutions” portion of the Business Meeting, an ordinance or resolution shall not be referred to a Standing Committee as provided in this Rule VI, and the City Clerk shall instead schedule such ordinance or resolution for the next appropriate Business Meeting of the Council and announce such during the “introduction of ordinances and resolutions” portion of the Business Meeting.

VI.B.3 The requirements of this Rule VI(B) shall not apply to appointments and reappointments to Standing Committees of Council and to authorities, boards and commissions.  However, the Council may refer such appointments to an appropriate Standing Committee of Council by adopting a motion to refer the matter to a committee.

VI.B.4 Should the President of the Council indicate that an ordinance or resolution is to be referred to the City Planning Commission, such referral shall be in lieu of referral to a Standing Committee of Council.  Under this paragraph, the President of the Council shall refer to the City Planning Commission only ordinances and resolutions that are appropriate for review by the City Planning Commission pursuant to other applicable law. Notwithstanding this paragraph, the Council may at any time after such referral provide by motion for the referral of such ordinances or resolutions to a Standing Committee in addition to review by the City Planning Commission.

VI.C. Consideration by Committee: Each Standing Committee shall consider each ordinance and resolution referred to it, holding such public hearings as it deems appropriate, and make a recommendation to the Council as provided by Rule VI(D) within sixty (60) days of the referral of that ordinance or resolution to such Standing Committee.

VI.D. Recommendation by Committee: Following its consideration of an ordinance or resolution referred to it, each Standing Committee shall vote to recommend that the Council adopt, amend or strike the ordinance or resolution.  The Standing Committee shall compile a report of all such recommendations, which shall include, for each ordinance or resolution considered, (i) the recommendation, (ii) the vote and (iii) the text of any recommended amendment, if any.  The Standing Committee shall issue such report to the Council, the City Clerk, the City Attorney and such other parties as may be appropriate.  If a majority of the Standing Committee’s members recommend that the Council strike the ordinance or resolution, a motion to strike the ordinance or resolution shall be included with the amendments to the agenda considered at the next appropriate Business Meeting of the Council. If the Standing Committee fails (i) to make a recommendation by majority vote, whether due to the absence of one or more of its members or otherwise, or (ii) to make a recommendation by any vote within the sixty-day period as required by Rule VI(C), the affected ordinance or resolution shall be scheduled for consideration by the Council at the next appropriate Business Meeting of the Council.

VI.E. Advertisement by City Clerk: Upon the introduction of an ordinance or resolution, the City Clerk shall schedule the ordinance or resolution for the next Business Meeting of the Council following the meeting of the Standing Committee to which the ordinance or resolution is referred and shall publish such advertisements as section 4.10 of the Charter of the City of Richmond or other applicable law requires for such ordinance or resolution.

VI.F. Override of Recommendation to Strike: Any Council Member may move to override a Standing Committee’s recommendation to strike an ordinance or resolution. Such motion shall require five (5) votes to prevail.  If such motion prevails, the ordinance or resolution shall not be stricken, and the Council shall consider such ordinance or resolution at the Business Meeting of the Council for which it is scheduled.