(a) Any news medium organization that desires to be given advance notification of special meetings of a municipal body shall notify the Clerk of Council either verbally, in writing or by email.
(b) Except in the event of an emergency requiring immediate official action as referred to in subsection (f) hereof, a special meeting shall not be held unless at least twenty-four hours advance notice of the time, place and purpose of such special meeting is given to the news media that have requested advance notification in accordance with subsection (c) hereof.
(c) News media requests for such advance notification of special meetings shall specify:
(1) The municipal body that is the subject of such request;
(2) The name of the medium;
(3) The name and address of the person to whom written notification to the medium may be mailed, telegraphed or delivered; and
(4) The names, addresses and telephone numbers (including addresses and telephone numbers at which notifications may be given either during or outside of business hours) of at least two persons to either one of whom oral notifications to the medium may be given.
(d) Any request shall be effective for one year from the date of filing with the Clerk or until the Clerk receives written notice from such medium canceling or modifying the request, whichever is earlier. Each requesting news medium shall be informed of the period of effectiveness at the time it files its request. Requests may be modified or extended only by filing a complete new request with the Clerk. A request shall not be deemed to be made unless it is complete in all respects, and such request may be conclusively relied on by both the municipal body that is the subject of the request and the Clerk.
(e) The Clerk shall give oral, electronic or written notification, or all, as the Clerk determines, to the news media that have requested advance notification, in accordance with subsection (c) hereof, of the time, place and purposes of each special meeting, at least twenty-four hours prior to the time of such special meeting.
(f) In the event of an emergency requiring immediate official action, a special meeting may be held without giving twenty-four hours advance notification thereof to-the requesting news media. Any one or more persons calling such meeting, or the Clerk on their behalf, shall immediately give oral notification, electronic correspondence, or written notification or all, as the person or persons giving such notification determine, of the time, place and purpose of such special meeting to such news media that have requested advance notification in accordance with subsection (c) hereof. The minutes, call, or written notification (which may include facsimile and email transmissions), of any special meeting shall state the general nature of the emergency requiring immediate official action.
(Ord. 2019-05. Passed 1-22-19.)