Council meetings shall start at 7:30 pm. An Administrative Pubic Forum, Chaired by the Mayor, President of Council or City Administrator shall begin 45 minutes before the start of the Council meeting to receive input from the public.
Adopted Legislation: Posted at five prominent sites in the City for a minimum of 15 days following adoption.
Posting sites are presently:
NCH City Hall Bulletin Board (outside the Postal Station).
Fifth Third Bank at 6800 Hamilton Ave.
Ameristop Food Mart at 2001 West Galbraith (at Simpson).
Union Savings Bank at 6701 Hamilton Avenue.
Greater Cinti. School Employees C.U. at 6828 Hamilton Avenue.
Types of Legislation
Resolutions: Authorize payment of funds, filing applications, specific temporary activities which violate City Law but are for the general good of the Community, etc, bestow honors on individuals or institutions whom have benefited the City in some way; stand in support or opposition to some issue of importance at the local, State, or national level; etc.
Ordinances: Laws passed which set policy, regulate activity, form City budgets and staffing levels, authorize contracts, etc.
Passage of Legislation
All Ordinances and most Resolutions require three "readings," that is, announcement of the legislation's titles' usually at three consecutive Council Meetings. Under such circumstances, legislation requires only a simple majority (four votes) to pass. Frequently, discussion of the efficacy of an Ordinance or Resolution takes place between the time a motion is made and seconded for its passage and the actual vote itself. If the legislation passes, it will not go into effect until 30 days from its passage date.
This 30-day waiting period can be avoided with the inclusion of an "emergency clause." However, to pass, the vote requires a two-thirds majority (5 votes). One or two readings of a piece of legislation can also be avoided, but suspension of readings requires a three-fourths majority (6 votes).
Council Committees:
(A) Standing Committees. There shall be two (2) standing committees of Council and their duties and members shall be as listed below:
Standing Committee:
1) LAWS AND RULES
(a) Review proposals submitted by Department heads that would affect City ordinances and resolutions.
(b) Field suggestions and complaints from City businesses and residents which could result in changes to ordinances and resolutions.
(c) Periodically review the Rules of Council to determine if any changes are necessary.
(2) FINANCE
(a) Work closely with the Auditor to determine the financial picture of the City.
(b) Receive proposed budgets from City departments.
(c) Review department budgets and determine final allowable expenditures.
(d) Keep abreast of and study City assets and income.
(e) Study and suggest methods of increasing income if the need arises.
(f) Study and suggest methods of rebating excess funds back to the citizens of the City.
(3) ADMINISTRATION
(a) Serve as liaison between Council and the Administration and the Recreation Commission.
(b) Work with the administration to make sure the Administration and Tax Departments are meeting city goals.
(c) Study suggestions from the Safety/Service Director and his subordinates for possible passage as ordinances or resolutions
(4) FIRE
(a) Analyze present and proposed fire systems and programs within the City.
(b) Work with the administration to make sure the Fire Department is meeting city goals.
(c) Study suggestions from the Safety/Service Director and his subordinates for possible passage as ordinances or resolutions.
(5)MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Perform other duties as assigned by the President of Council.
Standing Committee
(1) STREETS AND HIGHWAYS
(a) Periodically review (with input from citizens and the Safety/Service Director) the condition of storm sewers in the City to determine means of preventive maintenance and/or renovation.
(b) Work with citizen groups, other Council committees, and City administration to determine priority ranking of City streets and sidewalks requiring renovation and/or repair.
(c) Take an active part in planning, coordinating, and liaison work relating to improvements and renovation by county and state agencies of roadways within the City limits.
(d) Suggest innovative methods for collecting revenue to fund street and sidewalk improvement projects. Work with the Safety/Service Director and Council's Finance Committee in the coordination of such ideas.
(2) PUBLIC RELATIONS
(a) Set up lines of communication, analyze and study results from such exchange of communications between North College Hill City government and those of other municipalities or townships which share many of our City's qualities, problems and/or characteristics.
(b) Suggest plans involving inter community cooperation for the purpose of providing improved service to citizens, greater efficiency, and/or cost savings.
(c) Suggest methods of operation not presently utilized by the City which have been proven to be successful by other communities.
(d) Suggest innovative plans that may result from meetings held among members of this Committee alone or from sessions with officials from other communities.
(e) Develop and promote a positive image for the city.
(f) Follow up on complaints/issues presented at council meetings
(3) POLICE
(a) Analyze present and proposed police systems and programs within the City.
(b) Work with the administration to make sure the police and Service Departments are meeting city goals.
(c) Study suggestions from the Safety/Service Director and his subordinates for possible passage as ordinances or resolutions.
(4) CITY DEVELOPMENT
(a) Work with the administration in developing land use plans, reviewing building department fees and permits and developing business in the city.
(b) Receive and review recommendations of the Planning Commission for possible passage as ordinances or resolutions.
(c) Provide input to the Planning Commission for the continual updating of a 10 year plan for the City.
(5) COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES
(a) Set up service networks, community groups, community events and develop an overall sense of community.
(b) Serve as liaison between City government and such special interest groups as the North College Hill Board of Education, the North College Hill Community Seniors, Inc., the North College Hill Business Association, and other similar groups.
(c) Organize at least one meeting per year at which City officials describe their most recent programs and activities and field questions, suggestions and complaints from residents and/or businesses within the City.
(d) Periodically review (with input from citizens and the Safety/Service Director) the condition of waste sewers in the City to determine means of preventive maintenance and/or renovation. (from utilities & sanitation)
(e) Field suggestions and questions relating to garbage collection, rubbish and other non garbage removal, pest and pet control, and other present or past related services and take appropriate action on such suggestions and/or questions.
(f) Serve as a liaison group between concerned citizens and/or City administration and the utility and cable companies that serve the City and sanitation contracts and issues.
(5)MISCELLANEOUS
(a) Perform other duties as assigned by the President of Council. .
(B) Composition of Committees. Each standing committee shall be composed of four (4) members with each Council Member serving on one committee. The President of Council shall serve as a committee member on one (1) committee. At the organizational meeting of Council, membership and chairmanship on the Standing Committees shall be determined by motion. The Chairperson of each committee shall be responsible for reports at the council meetings. The chairperson may delegate reporting responsibility to any committee member. Minority reports, if any, from dissenting members shall be given at the council meeting
(C) Special Committees:
From time to time as may be necessary special committees may be created to consider special problems that do not fall within the areas of any one of the standing committees. No matter which has been referred to or is pending before a standing committee may be referred to or considered by a special committee, without the consent, unanimously expressed, of such standing committee. Membership on any special committee shall be determined by motion.
(D) Public Notice of Committee Meetings. When a committee meeting is scheduled during the course of a regular or special council meeting, the Clerk shall note the date, time and place of the committee meeting and shall make arrangements with the front office for posting written notice of such meeting in a conspicuous and public place in city hall at least twenty-four (24) hours before the scheduled committee meeting. If a scheduled committee meeting is canceled or rescheduled or is scheduled outside a regular or special council meeting, the committee chair shall make arrangements with the front office for posting written notice of the cancellation or rescheduling of the committee meeting along with the rescheduled date, time and place, if any, in a conspicuous and public place in city hall within a reasonable time after the committee meeting is canceled or rescheduled. All standing committees should have at least one committee meeting per month.
(E) Legislation. Council will consider for passage only legislation submitted to it through the Council Committees, unless by majority vote the Council decides at its meeting to consider legislation presented by other methods.
(F) Committee of the Whole. When a particular matter or issue merits consideration by both standing committees or the entire Council, the President of Council may refer the matter to the Committee of the Whole consisting of all members of Council.
Annual pay for City Council Members:
The eight members of Council each receive $4,353 per year. They are expected to attend, and actively take part in, a minimum of 21 Council meetings each year. This requires at least a small amount of private preparation and study of the issues. It would be reasonable to expect that each Council member attends a minimum of 40 other sessions each year including Committee meetings,Town Meetings, Student Government Day, joint sessions, visitations, and other events sponsored by some aspect of City government or service.