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City Government Information
Council-Manager City Government
The City Charter prescribes the Council-Manager form of government for Oklahoma City. The Mayor and eight council members are elected by the registered voters of Oklahoma City. The City Manager is appointed by the Mayor and Council and serves as the chief administrative official of the City.
City Council Meetings
The City Council meets every Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. in Council Chambers in Oklahoma City Hall, 200 N. Walker. An agenda is prepared in advance. Official action can be taken only on items which appear on the agenda. Agendas are available in the City Clerk's office on Monday and at City Council meetings. A quorum of five Council members is required to do City business.
The Mayor and Council
The City is divided into eight geographical areas called wards. Each council member is elected by the voters who live in his or her ward. Council members represent the special concerns of the people in their wards as well as the entire city.
The Mayor, elected by all the citizens of Oklahoma City, presides over City Council meetings, votes on all City Council business and appoints members to serve on City boards, commissions, trusts and committees.
The Mayor and City Council set City policy, enact City laws and authorize all expenditures of City money. These elected officials serve overlapping four year terms. The Mayor is paid $2,000 a year and council members are paid $20 a meeting. The offices are not considered full time jobs, although elected officials devote much of their time to City business.
The City Manager
The City Manager makes policy recommendations to the City Council and appoints department heads. Through the Personnel Department, control is exercised over all City employees except the Municipal Counselor and City Auditor, who are appointed by the Mayor and Council. The City Manager is responsible for the orderly, efficient day to day operations of all aspects of City government in carrying out City Council policies.
City Business
Business brought before the Council is disposed of by one of the following actions:
Ordinances An ordinance or amendment to an ordinance is a legislative act and requires action at two Council meetings. The ordinance is "introduced" at one meeting and a date is set for a final hearing. At the final hearing, citizens may comment before the Council acts on a proposed ordinance. A simple majority is required to pass an ordinance. Ordinances usually take effect 30 days after Council approval. In certain situations the Council makes ordinances effective immediately by a second vote called an emergency. Seven "yes" votes are required to pass an emergency.
Referrals and Deferrals When more information is needed to act on an item, the Council may refer the matter to the City Manager, Municipal Counselor, to Council standing committees or to a Board or Commission for additional study and recommendations. The Council may also defer action to a specific later date, strike an item from the agenda or continue it indefinitely.
Resolutions Resolutions may be passed expressing the "intent" of the Council or directing certain types of action. A resolution requires only one reading and may be changed by later resolution. Resolutions do not have the binding effect of laws or ordinances.
Motions Motions are used for procedural action, such as approving a report or recommendation.
Public Hearings In addition to proposed ordinances, public hearings are held on planning and zoning decisions, traffic and parking decisions, annexations, public improvement districts, dilapidated building actions, and other matters. All interested parties may address the Council during a public hearing.
Addressing the Council
Citizens may address the Council on individual concerns as well as during public hearings. Those who wish to address the council on matters other than a scheduled public hearing may place their names on the agenda by calling the City Clerk's office, 297-2397, before 4 p.m. on the Tuesday prior to the next Council meeting.
Time is also set aside at the end of the meeting for citizens who are not scheduled to speak to the Council. Citizens not scheduled to speak are requested to turn in a request form from the table outside Council Chambers. Submitting this form to the Council office assures being called on by the Mayor and not missing the opportunity to address Council.
When addressing the Council, go to the rostrum at the front of the Council Chambers. Give your name and address for the record. Identify your subject and make your presentation. Remarks should be limited to three minutes or less.
Consent Docket One section of the agenda is called the "Consent Docket." These items are approved as a block with the motion, "I move the consent docket subject to individual consideration." At this time a council member or a citizen may request discussion or individual action on any item on the consent docket.
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