Chapter 4: Council
Section 15. Meetings. The Council shall hold a regular meeting at least once each month at a time and place in the City which it designates and shall adopt rules for the government of its members and proceedings. The Mayor upon their own motion may, or at the request of three members of the Council shall, by giving lawful notice, call a special meeting of the Council for a time not earlier than 24 hours nor later than 72 hours after the notice is given. In case of an actual emergency, a meeting may be held upon such notice as is appropriate under the circumstances, with the minutes describing the nature of the emergency justifying less than 24 hours notice.
[As amended by special election November 2, 2021; general election November 7, 2006.]
Section 16. Quorum. A majority of the members of the Council shall constitute a quorum for it to do business, but a smaller number may meet and compel the attendance of absent members in a manner provided by ordinance.
[As amended by general election November 7, 2006 (section renumbered).]
Section 17. Journal. The Council shall cause a journal of its proceedings to be kept. Upon the request of any of its members the ayes and nays upon any question before it shall be taken and a record of the vote entered in the journal.
[As amended by general election November 7, 2006 (section renumbered).]
Section 18. Meetings to Be Public. All deliberations and proceedings of the Council shall be public, except as provided by State law.
[As amended by special election, November 7, 1995; and general election November 7, 2006 (section renumbered).]
Section 19. Mayor's Functions at Council Meetings. The Mayor shall be chair of the Council and preside over its deliberations. The Mayor shall not vote except in the case of a tie vote of the members of the Council present at the meeting. The Mayor shall have authority to preserve order, enforce the rules of the Council, and determine the order of business under the rules of the Council.
[As amended by special election November 2, 2021; general election November 7, 2006 (section renumbered).]
Section 20. President of the Council. At its first meeting after this Charter takes effect and thereafter at its first meeting of each odd-numbered year, the Council by ballot shall elect a president and a vice-president from its membership. In the Mayor's absence from a Council meeting, the president shall preside over it; in the absence of both the Mayor and the president, the vice-president shall preside. Whenever the Mayor is unable, on account of absence, illness, or other causes to perform the functions of the office, the president of the Council shall act as Mayor; in the absence of both the Mayor and the president, the vice-president shall act as Mayor.
[As amended by special election, November 7, 1995; and general election November 7, 2006 (section renumbered).]
Section 21. Vote Required. Except as this Charter otherwise provides, the concurrence of a majority of the members of the Council present at a Council meeting shall be necessary to decide any question before the Council.
[As amended by general election November 7, 2006 (section renumbered).]
