§ 2-07. Council Meetings and Rules

A.

The council shall meet regularly at least once a month at such times and places as the council may prescribe by ordinance. Special meetings may be held on the call of the mayor, the presiding officer of the council or a majority of the membership of the council with such notice as may be required by state law. To meet a public emergency affecting life, health, property or public safety, the council may meet upon call of the mayor, the presiding officer of the council or a majority of the membership of the council at whatever notice it shall be convenient to give. The call convening a special or emergency meeting of the council shall state the objects of the meeting. The power of the council to act at a special or emergency meeting shall be limited, under penalty of nullity, to the objects specifically enumerated in the call.

B.

All meetings of the council and its committees shall be open to the public in accordance with the provisions of general state law.

C.

The council shall operate under Roberts Rules of Order in all cases which are not inconsistent with this Charter or special rules of order the council may adopt, and the council shall provide for keeping a journal of its minutes and proceedings. This journal shall be a public record. All official action of the council shall be published in the official journal within thirty (30) days of the action taken.

D.

At all regular meetings of the council, the council shall operate from an agenda which shall have been posted in a prominent place in City Hall and made available to the news media within seven (7) days of the meeting. The published agenda may be amended at the meeting upon the favorable vote of a majority of the council membership, but only for routine administrative matters which developed between the time the agenda was submitted for publication and the scheduled meeting. The agenda for special or emergency meetings shall be made available to the public as soon as practical prior to the meeting.

E.

The council shall allow citizens, or their representative, to express views or raise questions concerning items on the stated agenda before action is taken on the items. The council shall hear any citizen wishing to be heard on any matter related to city government prior to conclusion of the regular council meeting.

F.

At the first regular meeting of a newly elected council and annually hereafter, a chairman and vice chairman shall be elected by a majority vote of the council from among the council members. The chairman shall preside at meetings of the council, and in the absence or disqualification of the chairman, the vice chairman shall preside. In the absence or disqualification of both the chairman and vice chairman, the council shall designate one (1) of its other members as temporary presiding officer. The chairman, vice chairman and temporary presiding officer shall be voting members of the council.

G.

All voting on ordinances and resolutions shall be by roll call, and the ayes and nays shall be recorded in the minutes of the council by the individual vote of each council member. Not less than a majority of the membership of the council shall constitute a quorum to transact business but if a quorum is lost during a meeting, a smaller number may recess from time to time and compel the attendance of absent members in the manner and subject to the penalties prescribed by council rules.

H.

All votes of the council shall be based on the authorized membership of the council.