An emergency ordinance is an ordinance necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health, morals, safety or welfare, in which ordinance the emergency is defined and declared in a preamble thereto. An emergency ordinance must be approved by a majority of available members of the City Council. An emergency ordinance must be in writing but may be enacted without previous filing or voting, and may be adopted finally at the meeting at which it is first introduced and voted upon by the Council. An emergency ordinance shall remain in effect for the duration of the emergency. No prosecution shall be based upon the provisions of an emergency ordinance until twenty four (24) hours after the ordinance has been adopted, filed with the City Clerk and has either been posted in three (3) conspicuous places in the City, or published as provided for in this Charter, or the person charged with the violation thereof had actual notice of the ordinance prior to the act or omission resulting in the prosecution.
(Amended 5-27-2003)