Ordinance Procedures
Definition
An ordinance is City law that regulates people or property and provides penalties for violations; they must be consistent with State law. Ordinances are effective upon publication unless an effective date is stated in the ordinance.
Format
Author: Council Member(s) sponsoring the ordinance. Insert the last name(s) on the line below "An Ordinance of the City of Minneapolis."
Title: Identifies the title, chapter and subject of the ordinance. (see Ordinance Section Headings)
Ordaining Clause: "The City Council of the City of Minneapolis do ordain as follows:" Required on all Code of Ordinance amendments.
Sections: Identifies location of the amendment in the Code. (see Ordinance Section Headings)
Ordinance amendment format
Single space
Underline new language, figures and punctuation (see Sample A), except when adding an entirely new chapter or section (see Sample B).
Strike through language, figures and punctuation to be deleted (see Sample A, Sections 3 & 4) and When an ordinance only repeals a title, chapter or section (see Sample C).
Use bold face or italics if it is to be that way in the Code (see Sample A, Section 1).
When amending a subdivision, it is not necessary to include the entire section, only the subdivision. (see Sample A, Section 5).
Type the initials of the preparer of the ordinance and the typist in the upper left-hand corner of the form, as well as the date prepared, i.e. MN:jl 3/21/99.
Use the latest revised version of the Code when preparing amendments. The Minneapolis Code of Ordinances is updated every three weeks. It is available on the Internet ( City of Minneapolis Home Page), or Council Information (Anita Roby, 673-2654) will provide you with the up-to-date section.
Process
The originator of the ordinance must first obtain a Council Member’s support to author the proposed amendment.
The Council Member requests assistance from the City Attorney’s office in preparing a draft ordinance.
The draft is submitted to the Council Committee Coordinator for inclusion on the next City Council agenda for introduction, and first reading and referral to the proper Council Committee.
Or
Prior to the draft ordinance being available, the Council Member may submit the subject matter of the proposed ordinance along with a description to the Council Committee Coordinator for inclusion on the next City Council agenda for referral to the appropriate Council Committee.
After referral, the subject matter of the ordinance will be included on the next Council Committee agenda.
The Council Committee considers the draft ordinance and may:
a) set a public hearing
b) amend the draft ordinance
c) refer the draft ordinance to staff for additional research
d) recommend passage of the ordinance
e) recommend returning the ordinance to its author(s)
If the Council Committee recommends approval or return of the ordinance to its author(s), it is included on the next City Council agenda.
Upon Mayoral approval, a summary of the ordinance is published in Finance and Commerce. The ordinance becomes effective upon publication (unless an effective date is stated in the ordinance).
Public hearings
Some ordinance amendments legally require a public hearing. The Committee Chair may set a public hearing, when not legally required, when the subject matter is determined to be of sufficient interest to the public.
If a public hearing has been set by the Committee Chair, the notice of public hearing date and time may be included on the City Council agenda at the time of ordinance introduction and referral.
Ordinances Not Codified
The above guidelines may not apply to ordinances that are not codified or those that do not amend the text of an ordinance. Such ordinances include amendments to the salaries of city employees, amendments to locations in Chapters 474, 478 & 482 of the Traffic Code, and zoning map amendments to Chapter 521 of the Zoning Code.
Refer to samples of amendment to Salaries, the Traffic Code and Zoning Code.
Council Committee Coordinator - councilcommitteecoordinators@minneapolismn.gov
Last updated Mar. 8, 2012