§ 2-73. Meetings.

(a)

Regular meetings. The city council, at its organizational meeting following the runoff election, shall fix the day to hold regular meetings. When the day fixed for any regular meeting falls on a day designated by law as a legal holiday, the meeting may be held on the next succeeding day or may be canceled, at the discretion of the city council. Regular meetings may be otherwise postponed or canceled by resolution or motion adopted at a regular meeting by a majority of the councilmembers present. Notice of the postponement or cancellation of any regular meeting shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation by the city clerk for at least one publication. All regular meetings shall be held in the council chambers in city hall or at a place as approved by resolution or motion adopted at a regular meeting by a majority of the councilmembers present, and shall be open to the public and all news media.

(b)

Special meetings. A special meeting of the city council may be called by the mayor, council chairperson, or by a majority of the members of the council. Whenever a special meeting is called, a notice in writing signed by the mayor, the council chairperson, or a majority of the members of the council shall be served on the city clerk. The city clerk shall forthwith serve verbal and written notice on each member of the council, the mayor, and the city attorney, stating the date, hour, and place of the meeting, and the purpose for which the meeting is called. No other business shall be transacted at such meeting. At least 48 hours must elapse between the time the city clerk receives notice in writing of such meeting and the time the meeting is to be held.

(c)

Emergency meetings. An emergency meeting of the city council may be called by the mayor or the council chairperson, whenever in their opinion an emergency exists which requires immediate action by the city council. Whenever an emergency meeting is called, the mayor or the council chairperson shall notify the city clerk, who shall forthwith serve verbal (telephone) and written notice on each member of the city council, the mayor, and the city attorney. Such notice shall state the date, hour, and place of such meeting, and the purpose for which it is called. No other business shall be transacted at such meeting. At least 24 hours shall elapse between the time the city clerk receives notice of such meeting and the time the meeting is to be held.

(d)

Notice requirements for special or emergency meetings; meetings open to public. If after reasonable diligence, it was impossible to give notice of a special or emergency meeting to each city councilmember, the failure shall not affect the legality of the meeting if a quorum is in attendance. The minutes of each special or emergency meeting shall show the manner and method by which notice of the special or emergency meeting was given to each member of the city council, or shall show a waiver of notice. All special or emergency meetings shall be open to the public and all news media. Anything to the contrary in this section notwithstanding, notice of any special or emergency meeting of the city council shall be waived only by not less than a majority of the entire membership of the city council. No special or emergency meeting shall be held unless notice is given in compliance with the provisions of this section, or notice is waived by a majority of the entire membership of the city council.

(Code 1985, § 30.04)

State law reference

Open meetings, F.S. ch. 286.