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Council declines to suspend rules on proposed electric-deposit ordinance after members raise business concerns
Summary
Council voted down a motion to suspend statutory rules that would have allowed immediate multiple readings of an ordinance to repeal and replace city code on electric-utility commercial deposits. Council member Hazy said he wanted more data and said the measure "could be anti-business;" the motion failed and the ordinance proceeded on first reading only.
Council considered Ordinance 10,062, which would repeal and replace city-code section 15.50 on electric utility commercial deposits and repeal section 15.15. A motion to suspend statutory rules so the ordinance could be advanced immediately failed, with several council members saying they wanted more data and the opportunity for discussion.
"I wanna vote no on this motion, not because I'm against it at this point, but what I there's more information that I wanna hear," Council member Hazy said, adding he feared the ordinance could be "anti business" and detrimental to small businesses without the supporting numbers. City Attorney Carrie Fisk advised that proceeding via continuance would be the better procedure if the council wanted multiple rounds of discussion, while noting that statutory reading procedures limit debate on first reading.
Because the rules-suspension motion failed, the clerk read the ordinance heading and the item was recorded as a first reading under statutory procedure; council will have further opportunity for discussion and a vote at subsequent readings or after a continuance.
Next steps: staff will provide requested data and the ordinance will return for additional readings and discussion in accordance with statutory rules.
