The Council shall hold at least two (2) regular meetings in each calendar month provided, however, that it may recess during the month of August. A majority of the members of the Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meetings of the Council, but a lesser number may adjourn the meeting. At any meeting at which a quorum is present, any ordinance or resolution may be passed or adopted, or any other action may be taken, by the affirmative vote of four (4) members of the Council unless a larger number be required by the provisions of this Charter. The Clerk of Council shall keep a record of its proceedings in minutes in which the yea or nay vote of each Councilperson voting on every ordinance or resolution or the reconsideration of legislation vetoed by the Mayor, and the action of Council on other measures shall be recorded.
All meetings of the Council shall be open to the public, except when Council authorizes an executive session. All motions to hold an executive session shall state the matter or matters to be considered in the executive session. Council may hold an executive session after a majority vote of a quorum of Council determines to hold such a session for the purpose of consideration of any of the following matters:
(a) To consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee or official, or the investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee, official, licensee, or regulated individual, unless the public employee, official, licensee, or regulated individual requests a public hearing. Except as otherwise provided by law or ordinance, Council shall not hold an executive session for the discipline of an elected official for conduct related to the performance of his/her official duties or for his/her removal from office.
(b) To consider the purchase of property for public purposes, or for the sale of property at competitive bidding; if premature disclosure of information would give an unfair competitive or bargaining advantage to a person whose personal, private interest is adverse to the general public interest. Council shall not use this division as a subterfuge for providing covert information to prospective buyers or sellers. A purchase or sale of public property is void if the seller or buyer of the public property has received covert information from a member of Council that has not been disclosed to the general public in sufficient time for other prospective buyers and sellers to prepare and submit offers. If the minutes or legislation of Council show that all meetings and deliberations have been conducted in compliance with this section, any instrument executed by the City purporting to convey, lease, or otherwise dispose of any right, title, or interest in any City property shall be conclusively presumed to have been executed in compliance with this section insofar as title or other interest of any bona fide purchasers, lessees, or transferees of the property is concerned.
(c) Conferences with an attorney for the City concerning disputes involving the City that are the subject of pending or imminent court action;
(d) Preparing for, conducting, or reviewing negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees concerning their compensation or other terms and conditions of their employment;
(e) Matters required to be kept confidential by Federal law or rules or State statutes;
(f) Specialized details of security arrangements where disclosure of the matters discussed might reveal information that could be used for the purpose of committing, or avoiding prosecution for, a violation of the law.
(Amended 11-6-1990; 11-7-2000; 11-2-2010)