(a) Any news medium organization that desires to be given advance notification of special meetings of a municipal body shall file with the Clerk a written request therefor. Except in the event of an emergency requiring immediate official action as referred to in subsection (e) hereof, a special meeting shall not be held unless at least 24 hours advance notice of the time, place, and purposes of the special meeting is given to the news media that have requested the advance notification in accordance with subsections (b) and (c) hereof.
(b) News media requests for the advance notification of special meetings shall specify:
(1) The municipal body that is the subject of the request;
(2) The name of the medium;
(3) The name and address of the person to whom written notifications to the medium may be mailed, telegraphed, or delivered;
. (4) The names, addresses, and telephone numbers (including addresses and telephone numbers at which notifications may be given either during or outside of business hours) of at least two persons to either one of whom oral notifications to the medium may be given; and
(5) At least one telephone number which the request identifies as being manned, and which can be called at any hour for the purpose of giving oral notification to such medium.
(c) Any request shall be effective for one year from the date of filing with the Clerk or until the Clerk receives written notice from such medium canceling or modifying such request, whichever is earlier. Each requesting news medium shall be informed of the period of effectiveness at the time it files its request. The requests may be modified or extended only by filing a complete new request with the Clerk. A request shall not be deemed to be made unless it is complete in all respects, and the request may be conclusively relied on by the City, the municipal body that is the subject of the request, and the Clerk.
(d) The Clerk shall give oral notification or written notification, or both, as the Clerk determines, to the news media that have requested the advance notification in accordance with subsections (b) and (c) hereof, of the time, place, and purposes of each special meeting, at least 24 hours prior to the time of such special meeting.
(e) In the event of any emergency requiring immediate official action, a special meeting may be held without giving 24 hours advance notification to the requesting news media. The persons calling such meeting, or any one or more of such persons or the Clerk on their behalf, shall immediately give oral notification or written notification, or both, as the person or persons giving such notification determine, of the time, place, and purposes of the special meeting to the news media that have requested the advance notification in accordance with subsections (b) and (c) hereof. The minutes or the call, or both, of any special meeting shall state the general nature of the emergency requiring immediate official action.
(Res. 1975-44. Passed 12-9-75.)