Article 2 The Legislative Branch


Section 2.1 County council composition

The legislative power of the county not reserved to the people or executive branch shall be vested in a county council. The council shall consist of five (5) members. The voters of each of these districts shall nominate and elect one (1) council member to represent their district.  

[Amended, Sec. 1, Resolution 2021-3, Nov. 2021]


Section 2.2 Organization

  1. The council shall at the first regular council meeting of each year elect one of its members to be the chair of the council.
  2. The chair shall preside over council meetings and ensure the orderly and efficient conduct of council meetings. The chair, or his or her designee, will be the county's spokesperson to articulate council policies, vision, strategies and plans; represent the county before the governor, state legislature and other state and federal agencies; meet and greet important visitors; supervise constituent response processes for the council as a whole; and serve as the county's lead representative at dedications, ceremonial activities and other public events.
  3. The council shall annually elect one (1) of its members as vice-chair, who shall act in the absence of the chair.
  4. The council shall vote to appoint its members to boards and commissions.
  5.  A majority of the council shall constitute a quorum at all meetings.
  6. The council shall take action by and pursuant to the vote of at least a majority of its members, except where a different vote is required by this charter. A two-thirds majority of members equals four (4) votes.
  7. Except as otherwise provided in this charter, the council shall be responsible for its organization and rules of conduct for business.

[Amended, Sec. 2, Res. 2021-3, Nov. 2021]


Section 2.3 Terms of council members

The term of office of each council member shall be four (4) years, and until a successor is elected and qualified.


Section 2.4 Powers of the council

The enumeration of particular legislative powers shall not be construed as limiting the legislative powers of the council. The council shall be the policy-determining body of the county. The council shall exercise its legislative power by adoption and enactment of ordinances, resolutions and motions. Subject to state and federal law, it shall have the power to:

  1. Levy taxes, appropriate revenue, and adopt budgets for the county.
  2. Provide compensation for all county employees and provide for the reimbursement of expenses.
  3. Adopt by ordinance comprehensive plans and land development codes, including improvement plans for present and future development in the county.
  4. Conduct public hearings on matters of public concern to assist in performing its legislative responsibilities.
  5. Carry out other legislative duties as authorized and required by law.
  6. Set collective bargaining guidelines and approve collective bargaining agreements.
  7. Confirm or reject appointments to boards and commissions forwarded by the county manager.
  8. Have concurrent authority with the county manager to nominate members to the following boards and commissions. Members are appointed by the council.
    1. Clark County planning commission.
    2. Clark County historic preservation commission.
    3. Board of equalization of assessment.

[Amended, Sec. 1, Res. 2021-7, Nov. 2021]


Section 2.5 Rules of procedure

  1. Subject to limitations provided by this charter, the council shall adopt by ordinance rules of procedure governing the time, place and conduct of regular meetings and hearings and the introduction, publication, consideration and adoption of ordinances.
  2. All meetings shall be open to the public, except to the extent executive sessions are authorized by law. A verbatim public record of each public meeting shall be kept. The record shall be retained in the form provided by ordinance and as required by state law for a reasonable period of time. Written minutes shall be promptly recorded and include a summation of actions from each council meeting and a record of votes by each councilmember.
  3. The council shall meet regularly and no fewer than twenty-two (22) times in a calendar year.


Section 2.6 Relationship with other branches

  1. Council members shall not interfere in the administration of the executive branch. They shall not issue orders to or direct, either publicly or privately, any officer, agent, employee, contractor or vendor subject to the direction and supervision of the county manager or other elected official.
  2. Nothing contained herein shall prohibit a council member from:
    1. Referring a citizen complaint or submitting a request for information to the county manager or another elected official.
    2. Submitting a request to the county manager to work with a department head to investigate a constituent issue.
    3. Requesting information or advice pertinent to the legislative deliberations and actions of the council from any officer, agent, employee, contractor or vendor subject to the direction and supervision of the county manager or other elected official.