(A) Number of members; qualifications; election; vacancies. The city shall be divided into three wards with each ward containing, as nearly as practicable, an equal portion of the population. From each ward there shall be elected, in accordance with the statutes of the State of Nebraska, including Neb. RS 17-102 through 17-104, two Council members. Vacancies shall be filled in accordance with statutes of the State of Nebraska, including Neb. RS 32-1406.
(1998 Code, § 1-103)
(B) Organization. City Council members shall take office and commence their duties on the first regular meeting in December following their election. The newly elected members, together with the members holding over, shall reorganize by electing the Council President and by approving the assignments to standing committees of the Council.
(1998 Code, § 1-104)
(C) Vacancies due to unexcused absences.
(1) In addition to the events listed in Neb. RS 32-560 and any other reasons for a vacancy provided by law, after notice and a hearing, a vacancy on the City Council shall exist if a member is absent from more than 5 consecutive regular meetings of the Council unless the absences are excused by a majority vote of the remaining members.
(Neb. RS 19-3101)
(2) The City Council shall take a vote on whether to excuse a member's absence from a meeting upon either:
(a) A written request from the member submitted to the City Clerk; or
(b) A motion of any other Councilmember.
(3) If a Councilmember has been absent from 6 consecutive regular meetings and none of the absences have been excused by a majority vote of the remaining members, the City Clerk shall include this as an item on the agenda for the next regular meeting. At that meeting, the Council shall set a date for a hearing and direct the City Clerk to give the member notice of the hearing by personal service or first class mail to the member's last known address.
(4) At the hearing, the Councilmember shall have the right to present information on why one or more of the absences should be excused. If the Council does not excuse one or more of the member's absences by a majority vote at the conclusion of the hearing, there shall be a vacancy on the Council.