Ordinance voted down - Can it be brought back again in a future meeting?

[Pascal Jouvence]

At our last city council meeting , an ordinance authorizing a new development was voted down by a 4-3 votes.

Could the members in favor of that ordinance bring it back to a future council and if yes, is there a solution to block that ordinance?

[Rob Elsman]

Insofar as the rules in RONR (12th ed.) control, a main motion rejected in a previous session can be renewed and handled as if it had never been made before. RONR (12th ed.) §38.

[Atul Kapur]

Building on Mr. Elsman's reply, check your council's rules to see if it defines a session. If not, RONR would generally treat each meeting as a separate session.

Some councils also have their own rules restricting renewal of motions (that's the term for bringing a motion again to the council).

[Rob Elsman]

As to "blocking" consideration of an objectionable motion or resolution, the proper procedure is the rejection by two-thirds vote of an incidental motion, Objection to the Consideration of a Question. See RONR (12ed.) §26. Note the form for stating the question, which is not intuitive.

[Richard Brown]

Agreeing with the responses of my colleagues, and especially that of Dr. Kapur, I also suggest that you check state law and your city or county charter for any limitation or restriction on resubmitting a proposed ordinance that has been rejected.  There might be a restriction in your rules, your charter, ordinances, or state law.

[J. J.]

I will add that, even if there no procedural bar to renewing a motion, thee may be a requirement to give additional notice for its consideration.