§ 3.13. Procedures for Enacting Ordinances and Resolutions; Publications.

(A)

Ordinances and resolutions may be passed at any regular meeting or special meeting called for that purpose provided notice has been given in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, V.T.C.A., Government Code ch. 551. Every ordinance and resolution shall require on final passage the affirmative vote of at least four (4) members of the Council, unless more is required by state law.

(B)

Every ordinance shall be introduced in written or printed form and shall take effect upon passage thereof at the time indicated therein, provided that any ordinance imposing a penalty, fine or forfeiture for a violation of its provisions shall become effective not less than ten (10) days from the date of its passage. The City Secretary shall give notice of the passage of every ordinance imposing a penalty, fine, or forfeiture for a violation of the provisions thereof by cause the caption or title, including the penalty, of such ordinance to be published in the official newspaper of the City of Lumberton at least once within ten (10) days after passage of said ordinance. He/she shall note on every ordinance, the caption of which is hereby required to be published, and on the record thereof, the fact that same has been published, as required by the Charter, and the date of such publication, which shall be prima facie evidence of the legal publication and promulgation of such ordinance; provided that the provisions of this section shall not apply to the correction, amendment, revision and codification of ordinances of the City for publication in book or pamphlet form. Except as otherwise provided by this Charter, it shall be necessary to the validity of any ordinance that it shall be read twice, and considered at two (2) regular sessions of the City Council. Every ordinance shall be systematically recorded and indexed in an ordinance book in a manner approved by the Council.

(C)

An ordinance required to be published takes effect when the publication requirement is satisfied, unless the ordinance provides otherwise, and an ordinance that is not required to be published takes effect when adopted unless the ordinance provides otherwise.

(D)

All ordinances and resolutions may be admitted and received in all courts, subject to the rules of evidence and laws of jurisdictions where proof of such ordinances and resolutions are tendered, without further proof.