Any news media organization that desires to be given advance notice of special meetings of a municipal body shall file with the Fiscal Officer a written request therefor and shall at the time of such written request make a deposit of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per annum which is determined to be a reasonable fee annually for the purpose of enabling the Fiscal Officer to send, mail or orally give notices of such meetings.
For each notification mailed, telegraphed or delivered orally, the deposit shall be diminished by one dollar ($1.00); and in the event that the amount deposited becomes an amount less than five dollars ($5.00), said deposit shall be renewed by a second deposit in the amount of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) which amount shall then be diminished as before.
All amounts deposited with the Fiscal Officer in any one calendar year shall be deemed to be earned on the 31st day of said year and no refund of any deposit shall be made.
Except in the event of an emergency requiring immediate official action, a special meeting shall not be held unless twenty-four hours advance notice of the time, place and purpose of such special meeting is given to the news media who have requested advance notice thereof.
All requests for such advance notice shall be in writing and have specifically the following:
(a) The name of the municipal body subject of such request.
(b) The name of the medium seeking the notice.
(c) The name and address to whom written notice shall be mailed, telegraphed or delivered, including phone numbers at the office of the media or phone numbers and addresses where notices can be given either during or outside of regular business hours and the names and addresses of at least two persons to either one of whom oral notice may be given as required.
Such written request shall be effective for a period of six months from the date of filing with the Fiscal Officer or until the Fiscal Officer receives written notice canceling or modifying said request, whichever date is earlier. A request may be modified or extended only by filing a completely new request with the Fiscal Officer.
The Fiscal Officer shall give such oral notice or written notice, or both, as the Fiscal Officer deems necessary to the media as requested of the time, place and purpose of each special meeting at least twenty-four hours prior to the time of such special meeting.
In the event of an emergency requiring immediate official action, a special meeting may be held without giving the twenty-four hours’ advance notice. Such notice shall then be given by the person or persons calling such meeting or the Fiscal Officer on their behalf. The minutes of such meeting or the call for such meeting or both shall state the nature of the emergency requiring immediate official action.
(Ord. 278-76. Passed 4-7-76.)