It was close to midnight before the fireworks really began in the Oakland City Council chambers Tuesday night.

It didn't matter that the item people were discussing - a motion connected with Occupy Oakland and the Port of Oakland - was voted down by the City Council. Many residents still decided to stay late into the night to voice their concern about the resolution leaving the Council once again caught up in a long discussion about Occupy Oakland.

"If you do this, we'll come after you," said one speaker. "We'll have the whole country come out in support, don't worry."

The policy proposed by Councilmembers Ignacio De La Fuente and Libby Schaaf directs City Administrator Deana Santana to "use whatever lawful tools we have, including enforcement of all state laws and local municipal code regulations and requirements, to prevent future shut downs or disruptions of any port operations."

In addition, the item said the city should not allow the unlawful closure of any Oakland streets that provide access to any entry points to the Port of Oakland. The proposal does not call for any new local policy, nor are any funds to devoted to it being carried out.

The proposal is still, in theory, alive because the vote last night was on whether they would consider it an emergency measure. The emergency measure required a 2/3 majority vote, which council did not have. As a result, the proposal could come back at a later date.

Some Councilmembers said it's imperative that the Port of Oakland stay open. Port officials said the Occupy actions at the port has resulted in losses between $4 million and $8 million. According to the proposal, the average truck worker lost about $600 to $700 a day.

Some business owners at the meeting said the ordinance is needed. Scott Taylor, the president of GSC Logistics said another shut down would be devastating. Port of Oakland Executive Director Omar Benjamin spoke twice in support of the motion in front of City Council.

"We believe the city has to be prepared for the possibility of the port being shut down," De La Fuente said.

But many speakers that night said the motion was a violation of both free speech and the right to assemble. Labor leaders said they also are upset because Council did not consult them prior to placing the item on the agenda.

Josie Camacho, executive secretary-treasurer of the Alameda Labor Council, said none of the members of her organization were consulted until after the item appeared on the city's agenda. The Alameda Labor Council has 120 member organization that represent 100,000 workers.

"You don't just skip a step," Camacho said.

At times, during the latter portion of the meeting, the audience was controlling the proceedings with Councilmembers getting "mic checked" more than once. Many speakers ignored the one minute rule and spoke as long as they wished.

The Council's action comes just a few days after an Oakland Police Department requested guidance from the city on how to handle major demonstrations in Oakland, including ones conducted by Occupy Oakland.

"The city should also determine how it plans to address large scale marches and on-going efforts to “occupy” public and private property," OPD Deputy Chief Jeffrey H. Israel wrote in a Dec. 6 memorandum. "These incidents require resources well beyond OPD and a more detailed review will be productive."

Last night's meeting shows that the City Council's relationship with Occupy Oakland continues to deteriorate.

It was only a month and a half ago that some city officials offered tentative support of Occupy Oakland. Some Councilmembers spent time at Frank Ogawa Plaza and even Councilwoman Desley Brooks spent a night in the plaza with the Occupy Oakland encampment. Councilwoman Nancy Nadel even introduced a resolution at a special meeting in November on Occupy Oakland. That resolution was deferred.

That support changed after the Occupy Oakland encampment was kicked out of the plaza for the second time. Every City Council meeting since then has featured many acrimonious words being exchanged between the Council and people who say they are a part of the Occupy Oakland movement.

"We really need to come together," Councilwoman Jane Brunner said during Tuesday's meeting. "We need to have a dialogue."