A. Ward Boundaries: Three (3) wards have been established with the following boundaries:
1. First Ward/Precinct: The First Ward shall consist All property within the City of Little Falls, lying southerly and easterly of a line drawn from the intersection of the south City limits and the centerline of First Street Southeast; thence northerly along the centerline of First Street Southeast to the intersection of the centerline of State Highway 27; thence westerly along the centerline of State Highway 27 to the center of the Mississippi River; thence northeasterly along the centerline of the Mississippi River to the intersection with the extension westerly of the centerline of Fourth Avenue Northeast; thence easterly along the centerline of Fourth Avenue Northeast and its extension easterly to the easterly right-of-way of US Highway 10 and Trunk Highway 371; thence northerly along the easterly right-of-way of US Highway 10 and Trunk Highway 371 and continuing northerly along the easterly right-of-way of Trunk Highway 371 to the north line of Section 13, Township 41, Range 32 and there ending.
2. Second Ward/Precinct: The Second Ward shall consist of all the property within the City of Little Falls lying easterly of the Mississippi River and lying northerly and westerly of the following described line: commencing at the centerline of the Mississippi River and the intersection with the extension westerly of the centerline of Fourth Avenue Northeast; thence easterly along the centerline of Fourth Avenue Northeast and its extension easterly to the easterly right-of-way of US Highway 10 and Trunk Highway 371; thence northerly along the easterly right-of-way of US Highway 10 and Trunk Highway 371 and continuing northerly along the easterly right-of-way of Trunk Highway 371 to the north line of Section 13, Township 41, Range 32 and there ending
3. Third Ward/Precinct: The Third Ward shall consist of all property within the City of Little Falls lying westerly of the following described line: commencing at the intersection of the south City limits and the centerline of First Street Southeast; thence northerly along the centerline of First Street Southeast to the intersection of the centerline of State Highway 27; thence westerly along the centerline of State Highway 27 to the center of the Mississippi River; thence northeasterly along the centerline of the Mississippi River to the intersection with the north City limits and there ending.
B. City Council Meetings: Regular meetings of the city council shall be held on the first and third Mondays of each month at seven thirty o’clock (7:30) P.M. in the council chambers of the city hall in the city. Special meetings of the city council may be called by the mayor or president of the city council, or any three (3) members of the council, upon notice provided to the public and all members at least three (3) days before the date of the meeting. Such notice shall be in writing and delivered personally to each member or left at their usual place of residence with some responsible person. If at any meeting of the city council it is found that no quorum is present, said meeting may be adjourned from time to time until a quorum is obtained. Any city council meeting may be adjourned from time to time upon a majority vote of the members present. No more than two (2) city council members shall be present in the washroom or break room simultaneously during a city council meeting.
C. City Council Procedures At Meetings: The city administrator shall, prior to each regular meeting, prepare the following items: 1) an agenda for the forthcoming meeting; 2) a compiled list of all claimants who have filed verified accounts claiming payment for goods or services rendered to the city, such list to be called “council report” and shall include the fund, department, vendor name, description and amount; and 3) a copy of all minutes, reports and other pertinent matters to be considered. The city administrator shall forthwith cause to be mailed or otherwise delivered to each city council member copies of all said documents. All city council meetings as to procedural matters, if not set forth in the charter, this code or city policy, shall be conducted using “Robert’s Rules Of Order (Revised)”, as a basic guide.
D. City Council Reorganization: At its first regular meeting in January, the city council shall, in the order herein stated and prior to commencing its regular order of business, reorganize by: 1) having all new officers and officials take and subscribe their oath of office; 2) seat all new members of the city council; 3) elect a council president and vice president; 4) perform such other organizational acts or functions as may be permitted or required.
E. Interim Emergency Succession: Due to the possibility of attack or a natural disaster requiring a declaration of a state of emergency, it is found urgent and necessary to ensure the continuity of duly elected and lawful leadership of the city to provide for the continuity of the government and the emergency interim succession of key governmental officials by providing a method for temporary emergency appointments to their offices.
In the event of an attack upon or a natural disaster affecting the vicinity of the city, the mayor, city council and city administrator shall be forthwith notified, by any one of said persons and by any means available, to gather at city hall. In the event that safety or convenience dictates, an alternative place of meeting may be designated. Those gathered shall proceed as follows:
1. By majority vote of those persons present, regardless of number, they shall elect a chairperson and secretary to preside and keep minutes, respectively.
2. They shall review and record the specific facts relating to the attack or natural disaster and injuries to persons or damage to property already done or the imminence thereof.
3. They may, based on such facts, declare a state of emergency.
4. By majority vote of those persons present, regardless of number, they shall fill all positions of the city council (including the office of mayor) of those persons upon whom notice could not be served or who are unable to be present.
5. Such interim successors shall serve until such time as the duly elected official is again available to and returns to their position, or the state of emergency has passed and a successor is designated and qualified as required by law, whichever shall occur first.
6. The interim emergency city council shall exercise the powers and duties of their offices, and appoint other key government officials to serve during the emergency.
F. Salaries Of Mayor, President Of The City Council And Council Members: Pursuant to Minnesota statute 415.11, and notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law, charter or ordinance, the city council may by ordinance fix their own salaries as members of the city council, and the salary of the chief elected executive officer of the city of Little Falls, in such amount as they deem reasonable. No change in salary shall take effect until after the next succeeding municipal election. Notwithstanding Minnesota statute 415.11, subdivision 2, or a charter provision to the contrary, the city council may enact an ordinance to take effect before the next succeeding municipal election that reduces the salaries of the members of the city council. The ordinance shall be in effect for twelve (12) months, unless another period of time is specified in the ordinance, after which the salary of the members reverts to the salary immediately before the ordinance was enacted.
The salary of the mayor shall be nine hundred dollars ($900.00) per month, payable monthly. The salary of each council member shall be eight hundred dollars ($800.00) per month, payable monthly; provided, however, the salary of the president of the city council shall be nine hundred dollars ($900.00) per month, payable monthly.
The city will not provide the mayor or city council members with health insurance. The city will comply with the consolidated omnibus budget reconciliation act (COBRA), as applicable.
In addition to the above, and as authorized by Minnesota statute 353D, the city shall contribute to the defined contribution plan (DCP), administered by the state of Minnesota Public Employee Retirement Association, for the mayor and city council members who choose to enroll and contribute five percent (5%) of their respective salaries to said DCP plan. (Ord. 77, 6th Series, eff. 10-19-2015; amd. ord. 29, 7th Series, 3-7-2022)