A city council is the legislative branch for small communities incorporated as towns in the US and some other countries. It can pass local laws on various issues, such as whether you can build a new apartment building in your town or where different kinds of businesses can open (you can’t have a liquor store near a school). City councils also manage budgets and employ staff that helps with the day-to-day running of government services.
Most council members are elected during municipal elections, although the way they are chosen varies between cities. For example, some councils use an at-large system where all residents vote for every member of the city council, while others divide the city into districts or wards so that one council member represents a specific area in the city.
Regardless of how a city council is organized, all council meetings must follow certain meeting procedures. These procedures ensure the public can voice their opinions and ideas during the council meeting, as well as reduce time-wasting activities.
At the beginning of each council meeting, the chair takes a roll call to note who’s in attendance. This is important because many state laws require city councils to capture the names of everyone who attends their meetings. This information is crucial in case an official or other representative like an HOA head needs to sign off on any action taken during the meeting. Then the chair puts across the meeting’s agenda, specifying everything to be discussed or acted upon during the current council meeting.