The hearings before the city council shall be public hearings as aforesaid and all
discussions and deliberations shall be conducted in open meeting provided, however,
that nothing contained herein shall prohibit the city council from going into executive
session for the purpose of discussing legal questions arising due to the matter under
consideration with the city attorney in an attorney-client relationship. At the commencement
of the hearing, the presiding officer, whether the mayor or the mayor pro tem, or
someone designated by the presiding officer, shall give a brief explanation of the
matter under consideration and the issue or issues to be determined. Following such
explanation, the petitioner and proponents of the petition seeking a change in zoning,
or the proponents of any other proposed amendment to this ordinance, as the case may
be, shall be afforded the first opportunity to present their case and evidence to
the city council. After this presentment, all parties in opposition shall be afforded
an opportunity to present their opposition and evidence, and, after all parties have
been so heard by the city council, the city council may, but shall not be required
to permit one person to summarize the evidence and arguments of the proponents, and
one (1) person to summarize the evidence and arguments of the parties in opposition,
limiting the time for the presentation of such summaries to the extent the presiding
officer deems appropriate. After all parties have been heard and such summaries, if
any, have been completed, the city council shall close the floor to open debate and
further evidence, whereupon the city council shall consider the issue to be determined
and the evidence and arguments presented to it during the hearing, and make its decision
by open ballot. Once deliberation begins by the city council on the issue before it,
no further evidence may be presented or arguments made either for or against the proposed
rezoning or other amendments to this ordinance being considered without the expressed
consent of the city council.
Since one (1) of the functions of the planning commission is to consider and plan
for the long-range development of the City of Vidalia, the city council shall give
great weight to the recommendations of the planning commission. However, such recommendations
have advisory effect only and the city council shall not be bound by such recommendations.
If the decision of the city council results in a rezoning of property or any other
amendment to the comprehensive zoning ordinance, such amendment shall be adopted by
ordinance.
