§ 2-84. City council meetings.

(a)

Regular meetings. The city council shall meet in regular session on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. The regular session may be rescheduled for reasons of holidays, inclement weather, or any other special circumstances beyond the city council's control. When such special circumstances occur, the regular meeting shall be held on the following Thursday at the same hour. This change will include regularly scheduled committee meetings as well.

(b)

Location. The place of the city council meetings shall be in the city council chambers unless another place has previously been set by the city council.

(c)

Special called council meetings. Special called council meetings may be called by three or more council members or by the mayor. The city clerk shall be notified of the special called meeting by an email sent to all city clerk staff at least three hours prior to the meeting. Notification of a special meeting, including specific items to be considered, shall be given by the city clerk at least three hours prior to the meeting. Such notification shall be made by personal service to each member or by telephone specifying time and place of the meeting. The city clerk or his/her designee shall keep the record of the meeting. Only the council members who requested the special meeting or the mayor, if he/she requested the special meeting, may cancel the special meeting.

(d)

Special called committee meetings. Special called committee meetings may be called by two or more committee members or by the chair of the committee. The city clerk shall be notified of the special called meeting by an email sent to all city clerk staff at least three hours prior to the meeting. Notification of a special called committee meeting, including specific items to be considered shall be given by the city clerk at least two hours prior to the meeting. Such notification shall be made by personal service to each member or by telephone specifying time and place of the meeting. The city clerk or his/her designee shall keep the record of the meeting. Only the committee members who requested the meeting or the chair, if he/she requested the special meeting, may cancel the special meeting.

(e)

Executive session. An executive session may be convened on the request of any member of the city council or the mayor. Executive session will be permitted only for the purpose of considering the employment, appointment, promotion, demotion, disciplining, or resignation of any public officer or employee. A.C.A.§ 25-19-106(c)

(f)

Quorum. A majority of the city council shall be necessary to constitute a quorum to do business. The mayor shall have a vote to establish a quorum of the city council at any meeting of the city council. The concurring vote of a majority of those elected, providing a quorum is present, shall represent the acts of the city council except where otherwise provided by law.

(g)

Public notification and participation.

(1)

The city will, if necessary, go further than legally required in order to inform citizens of the items to be considered by the city council. The means used will include publication in a local newspaper, publication via the internet, special notice to citizens who have shown a direct interest in matters to be considered, and copies of the agenda will be placed at the entrance to the city council meetings.

(2)

Members of the audience will be offered an opportunity to speak on all questions before the city council. Individuals shall provide his/her name and address immediately after being recognized by the presiding officer. Repetitive comments should be avoided; this applies to comments made previously either to the city council or to the planning commission when those planning commission minutes have been provided to the council members. All remarks shall be addressed to the city council as a whole and not to any particular member of the city council. No person other than the city council members and the person having the floor shall be permitted to enter into any discussions without permission of the presiding officer. No questions shall be asked of a city council member or city employee except through the presiding officer. All members of the public are requested to accord the utmost courtesy to members of the city council, to other members of the public appearing before the city council, and to city staff, and are asked to refrain at all times from rude or derogatory remarks, reflections as to integrity, abusive comments, and statements as to motives and personalities.

(h)

Smoking prohibited. There will be no smoking allowed in the city council chambers or in any committee meeting room.

(i)

Cell phones and pagers. With the exception of on-duty emergency services personnel, cell phones and pagers must be turned off or put in silent mode and not used within the council chambers or committee meeting rooms during meetings.

(Ord. No. 17:064, § 1(Exh. A), 8-15-2017)

State law reference

Calling special meetings, A.C.A. § 14-43-502; purposes of executive sessions, A.C.A. § 29-19-106; quorum, A.C.A. § 14-43-501.