SECTIONS 36801-36815 - California Statutes

GOVERNMENT CODE

SECTION 36801-36815

36801. The city council shall meet at the meeting at which the
declaration of the election results for a general municipal election
is made pursuant to Sections 10262 and 10263 of the Elections Code
and, following the declaration of the election results and the
installation of elected officials, choose one of its number as mayor,
and one of its number as mayor pro tempore.

36802. The mayor shall preside at the meetings of the council. If
he is absent or unable to act, the mayor pro tempore shall serve
until the mayor returns or is able to act. The mayor pro tempore has
all of the powers and duties of the mayor.

36803. The mayor may make or second any motion and present and
discuss any matter as a member of the council.

36804. If the city clerk is absent, the deputy city clerk shall
act. If there is none, the mayor shall appoint one of the council
members as city clerk pro tempore.

36805. The city council shall hold regular meetings at least once a
month at times fixed by ordinance or resolutions. It may adjourn any
regular or adjourned meeting to a date specified in the order of
adjournment. When so adjourned, the adjourned meeting is a regular
meeting for all purposes.

36807. At any special meeting the city council shall act only on
matters referred to in the notice or consent.

36809. When an order of adjournment of a regular meeting fails to
state the hour at which the adjourned meeting is to be held, it shall
be held at the hour specified for regular meetings.

36810. A majority of the council constitutes a quorum for
transaction of business. Less than a majority may adjourn from time
to time, and compel attendance of absent members in the manner and
under the penalties prescribed by ordinance.

36811. If all council members are absent from any regular meeting,
the city clerk shall declare the meeting adjourned to a stated day
and hour. The city clerk shall cause a written notice of the
adjournment to be delivered personally to each council member at
least three hours before the adjourned meeting.

36812. After incorporation, the city council is judge of the
qualifications of its members and of election returns. It shall
determine contested elections of city officers.

36812.1. If a written statement to contest the election of a city
officer pursuant to Sections 16400 and 16401 of the Elections Code is
filed with the city clerk prior to the commencement of any
proceeding by the city council, pursuant to Section 36812, the
authority of the city council to commence those proceedings shall be
suspended for the applicable period of time specified in Section
16401 of the Elections Code for the filing of the statement of
contest.
Upon the expiration of the period of time, the city council may
proceed pursuant to Section 36812 if no proceedings have been
instituted pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 16500) of
Chapter 6 of Division 16 of the Elections Code, or those proceedings
are terminated without judgment being rendered by the court.

36812.5. A city may defend any person elected to the city council
or to the office of city clerk or city treasurer in any election
contest instituted for any of the causes set forth in subdivisions
(a), (d), or (e) of Section 16100 of the Elections Code.

36813. The council may establish rules for the conduct of its
proceedings. It may punish a member or other person for disorderly
behavior at a meeting.

36814. The council shall cause the clerk to keep a correct record
of its proceedings. At the request of a member, the city clerk shall
enter the ayes and noes in the journal.

36815. Any reference to "councilman" or "councilmen" shall also
mean and include "councilwoman" or "councilwomen." A female member of
a city council may designate herself "councilwoman." Any member of a
city council may designate himself or herself "councilmember."