City Ordinances

Passing ordinances is perhaps the best-known part of the Hopkins City Council’s .

Ordinances are the local laws that set the rules and procedures within a city’s boundaries. These ordinances aren’t passed haphazardly. and city code mandate a specific process.

Nearly all ordinances must:

Receive at least three votes: With a five-member council, this may seem obvious. Yet ordinances must receive three votes even when all the council members aren’t present and when some of them must abstain.

Use specific language: Every ordinance must contain one of two so-called enacting clauses: “Be it ordained by the Council of the City of Hopkins” or “The Council of the City of Hopkins hereby ordains as follows.” They also must specify any part of the city code that the ordinance amends or repeals.

Be presented in writing: Perhaps not surprisingly, ordinances cannot just be proposed by voice.

Pass two readings: Unlike with state and federal legislation, the Hopkins City Council must approve an ordinance twice for it to take effect. The council can’t just pass two votes in quick succession either. The charter requires that at least three days pass between the first and second readings, although councils in practice often just wait until the next regularly scheduled meeting. Emergency ordinances are the only exception.

Have the appropriate signatures: The mayor and the city clerk must both sign any measure passed by the council. The ordinance must also be filed with the city clerk.

Be published: The city has 30 days after council passes an ordinance to print it at least once in the city's official newspaper. Unless there is a date in the ordinance specifying when it takes effect, the new ordinance goes into effect once it is published. Emergency ordinances are the exception.