Part 3. Ordinances, Resolutions, etc.[1]
Sec. 52. Style of ordinances and resolutions.
The style in which ordinances shall be enacted by the council
shall be as follows: "Be it ordained by the Council of the City of
Charlottesville," and that in which resolutions shall be passed shall
be, "Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Charlottesville."
(Code 1932, § 27.)
Sec. 53. Procedure in enacting general ordinances.
Every general ordinance shall be read twice before its final passage.
The first reading shall be for information. If there is no
objection, the ordinance shall be considered and voted upon. If
there be objection, it shall be laid over to the next regular meeting
when action on same shall be taken. Any reading may be dispensed
with by unanimous consent. (Id.)
Sec. 54. To be in writing.
Every proposed ordinance and resolution having the effect of an
ordinance shall be in writing. (Code 1932, § 16.)
Sec. 55. Repealing and amending ordinances.
No ordinance shall be amended or repealed except by an ordinance
regularly introduced and adopted, provided that suspension
of rules may be made by a motion. (Id., § 27.)
Sec. 56. Filling blanks in certain ordinances.
In filling blanks in ordinances or resolutions involving money
or time, the question shall be put first upon the largest sum or
longest time. (Id.)
Sec. 57. Effective date.
Every ordinance shall take effect from the date of its passage
unless otherwise provided. (Id.)
Sec. 58. Appropriating money and imposing taxes, etc.
Every ordinance or resolution appropriating money exceeding
one hundred dollars, imposing or releasing taxes, or authorizing
the borrowing of money, or creating a debt, or donating any property
of the city, where the value of such property is one hundred
dollars or more, a vote of a majority of all members elected to the
council shall be necessary, and the "ayes" and "noes" shall be entered
on the journal of the council.
No ordinance or resolution appropriating money exceeding the
sum of one thousand dollars, imposing taxes, or authorizing the
borrowing of money, shall be passed by the council on the same
day of its introduction, nor shall any such ordinance or resolution
be valid unless at least three days intervene between its introduction
and passage, but this paragraph shall not apply to the annual
appropriations as provided in section 18 of this chapter. (Code
1932, § 18.)
Sec. 59. Appropriating money in excess of annual appropriation.
No money shall be expended on any department of the city government
beyond the amount estimated in the budget for such department
in the general appropriation ordinance for the fiscal year
unless such expenditure be authorized by the recorded vote of
three-fifths of all the members elected to the council. (Id., § 19.)
Sec. 60. Appropriating money for improvements outside
city.
No ordinance or resolution appropriating money for the purpose
of improving highways, airports and bridges located outside of the
city, shall be passed by the council except by a recorded affirmative
vote of four-fifths of all members elected to the council. (Id.,
§ 21.)
Sec. 61. Granting aid to various associations, etc.
No ordinance or resolution granting aid to military, agricultural,
literary or benevolent associations, or to public charity shall be
passed except by the vote of three-fifths of the members elected
to the council. (Id., § 22.)
Sec. 62. Disposition of public property; granting franchise.
No ordinance or resolution granting, leasing, selling or otherwise
disposing of any public property or franchise, shall be
valid unless the same be passed by the council by a recorded
affirmative vote of three-fourths of all members elected to the
council.
No franchise, lease or right of any kind to the use of any such
public property in a manner not permitted to the general public
shall be granted for a period of over thirty years. Before granting
such franchise or privilege for a term of thirty years, except
for a trunk railway, bids therefor shall be advertised once a week
for four successive weeks in a newspaper published in the city.
Such grant, and any contract in pursuance thereof, may provide
that upon the termination of the grant, the plant, as well as the
property, if any, of the grantee in the streets, avenues and other
public places, shall thereupon, without compensation to the grantee,
or upon the payment of a fair valuation therefor, be and become
the property of the city, but that the grantee shall be entitled to no
payment by reason of the value of the franchise. Every such
grant shall specify the mode of determining any valuation therein
provided for and shall make adequate provision by way of forfeiture
of the grant, or otherwise, to secure efficiency of public
service at reasonable rates, and the maintenance of the property
in good order throughout the term of the grant.
All persons to whom privileges or franchises have been or may
be granted by the council, shall pay in advance for the printing
and advertising of all ordinances granting said privileges or franchises
after the approval thereof and all of said printing shall be
done under the supervision and direction of the clerk of the
council.
The rights of the city in its gas, water, electric works and sewer
system, now owned or hereafter acquired, shall not be sold even
after such action of the council as is prescribed in the first paragraph
of this section, until and except such sale shall have been
approved by a majority of the qualified voters of the city, voting
on the question at a special election ordered by the council, and
subject in other respects to the provisions of section 24 of the
charter applicable to a special election. (Id., § 23.)
For charter provisions in regard to sale of public utilities, see char.,
§ 25; for charter provisions in regard to granting franchises, see char.,
§ 33.
