§ 3. Duties of the president.

(a)

The president of the council shall take the chair at the hour appointed for the meeting. In the absence of the president, a president pro tempore shall be chosen. He shall have the duties and powers of the president as presiding officer at the meeting for which he is elected and no others. The president pro tempore shall be nominated and nominations seconded. The city council president pro tempore shall be elected by a majority with a roll call vote.

(b)

The council president shall serve as presiding officer of the meetings of the council and shall assume the chair at the hour set by ordinance. As presiding officer the president shall ascertain that a quorum is present, shall call the meeting to order, and shall request the reading of the record of the preceding meeting. He shall conduct the meeting in accordance with the order of business as required by Rules of Council and the agenda, subject to such change in order as may be allowed under council rules. He shall recognize members who are entitled to the floor. He shall state such measures as come before the council, as necessary stating the number of votes needed for passage, and shall put to vote such measures as require a vote. He shall enforce the rules relating to debate and decide questions of order as set forth in council rules, subject to such right of appeal as contained therein. He shall declare the meeting adjourned upon the conclusion of business when the council so votes.

(c)

The president shall refrain from debate while presiding. If the president desires to speak on an issue he or she must vacate the chair and select a president pro tempore to preside.

(d)

Upon his election in January, the president shall appoint the standing committees of the council. The president shall assign seating or designate a methodology for assigning seats to the other members of the council.

The president shall appoint such ad hoc committees of the members as the council votes to create. The president shall have the power to create and appoint a special advisory committee by a majority vote of the city council. The special advisory committee shall terminate after one year unless extended by a majority vote of the city council. The president shall have the power to fill a vacancy on a committee whenever a vacancy arises.

(e)

The president shall preside over all public hearings that are required to be conducted by the city council and, for such purposes, shall have, in addition to the duties and powers enumerated at subsection (b), above, such other duties and powers as are required by law, ordinance or the Rules of Council.

(f)

The president shall have the authority to authenticate by his signature, when necessary, all acts, measures, and proceedings of the council.