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A. The mayor of the city shall receive an annual salary of ninety-four thousand dollars ($94,000.00) for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2020 and an annual salary adjustment each subsequent July 1 thereafter, starting July 1, 2020, equal to the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Works (CPI-W), current series, U.S. All items, as determined by comparing the December index for the year just ended with the December index for the calendar year preceding it.
B. Each member of the council shall receive an annual salary of nine thousand two hundred seventy-two dollars and twenty-two cents ($9,272.22) for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2020 and an annual salary adjustment each subsequent July 1 thereafter, starting July 1, 2020, equal to the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), current series, U.S. All items, as determined by comparing the December index for the year just ended with the December index for the calendar year preceding it.
C. In the event that there is no percentage change increase as described in subsections A and B of this section in any given year, then the salary of the mayor and the salary of each member of the council shall not be increased in any such year. (Ord. 5662, 9-19-2022)
A. Council members shall refrain from becoming directly involved in the administrative activities and daily responsibilities of employees. Council members may make inquiries of department heads or their designee, for the limited, legitimate purpose of informing themselves regarding agenda items or important affairs of an immediate and urgent nature. The mayor may choose to establish formal procedure for council-department head interaction and department head support of council committees. Council members may discuss with the mayor anything pertaining to city affairs.
B. Council members shall avoid situations that can result in city employees being directed, intentionally or unintentionally, by one or more members of the council. While council member interaction with the city's employees is unavoidable, giving direction regarding other city employees, duties, working conditions, supervisors, etc., is discouraged. If an employee voices a concern or complaint with them, council members may listen to such concerns and complaints, and shall then refer any such complaints back to the mayor, or if the mayor is involved in the matter, to the human resources director, for follow up and action if needed. Council members may remind the city's employees that they have a number of resources at their disposal to address employment issues if needed, including the employee handbook, or following the grievance procedures set forth in their collective bargaining agreement in the case of a union employee. This section shall not be construed as prohibiting or discouraging employees from reporting criminal acts or serious acts of personal misconduct that violate the employee handbook.
C. In situations in which an employee approaches a council member and the communication does not involve a complaint or concern with regard to other city employees, duties, working conditions, supervisors, or other terms of employment, council members may freely speak with the employee.
D. Nothing herein shall diminish a council members' constitutional right to free association or speech with any city employee during any city employee's time when not in work status. (Ord. 5662, 9-19-2022)
A. Council members shall not become involved in disciplinary matters and the disciplinary or investigative process except where adopted city policy or state law may allow such participation.
B. Council members shall operate within the city's established chain of command. The established chain of command requires the mayor, department heads, managers, and supervisors to oversee and direct their workforce on behalf of the city. The human resources director and mayor are required to ensure city policies are consistently applied across all departments. This is to avoid inconsistent or political influences in the investigative or disciplinary process, which may lead to arbitration, civil service proceedings, or litigation. (Ord. 5662, 9-19-2022)
A majority of the whole number of members of the council to which the city is entitled shall be necessary to constitute a quorum. The number of members needed for a quorum of the city council is four (4). Less than a quorum may adjourn and compel the attendance of members. (Ord. 5662, 9-19-2022)
A. Regular Meetings: Regular meetings of the city council shall be held on the first and third Mondays of each month at council chambers in city hall at five thirty o'clock (5:30) P.M., or at such other designated place other than council chambers pursuant to subsection F of this section. When a meeting date falls on a day designated by the city as a holiday, the regular meeting shall be held on the following evening at five thirty o'clock (5:30) P.M. in the council chambers at city hall, or at such other designated place other than the council chambers. The city council may adjourn a regular meeting to any date it may deem proper.
B. Special Meetings: Special meetings of the city council may be called by the mayor or by any four (4) council members, by serving a written notice of the special meeting to the city clerk not less than seventy two (72) hours prior to the meeting. Only such business may be transacted at a special meeting as is mentioned or referred to in the notice of the meeting. Special meetings shall be held in city hall, or at such other designated place other than city hall pursuant to subsection F of this section. The city clerk shall deliver notice of the meeting to council members via email and to their city-issued mailbox no later than twenty four (24) hours prior to the meeting. Every attempt shall be made to confirm council members are in receipt of the notice of special meeting and are aware that said meeting is to take place.
C. Work Session: Work session meetings of the city council may be held on the first and third Mondays of each month at council chambers in city hall, or at such other designated place other than council chambers pursuant to subsection F of this section. When a meeting date falls on a day designated by the city as a holiday, the work session shall be held on the following evening in the council chambers at city hall, or at such other designated place other than the council chambers. City council may hold work sessions to review matters which are expected to come before city council for formal action at a regular meeting or otherwise need study and advance consideration. Items to be considered shall be listed on the agenda and shall state the approximate start time for each item following the first. Any topic discussed during a work session shall not be on the regular agenda on the same date, unless an emergency arises. City council recommendations for future action, when necessary, shall be made in the form of a motion and approved by a majority vote. Motions made during work sessions shall be limited to recommendations for further study, placing a topic on a regular or special session agenda for a vote, to cease further action, or to delay discussing a topic until a certain date. Motions made during work sessions shall not bind council members to vote in favor or against an item on a regular or special session agenda.
D. Planning Session: Planning session meetings of the city council shall be held only on the fifth Monday of a month at council chambers in city hall at five thirty o'clock (5:30) P.M., or at such other designated place other than the council chambers pursuant to subsection F of this section. When a meeting date falls on a day designated by the city as a holiday, the planning session meeting shall be held on the following evening at five thirty o'clock (5:30) P.M. in council chambers at city hall, or at such other designated place other than the council chambers. The purpose of the meeting shall be for council to discuss future projects, policies, strategic planning, or any other matter consistent with the purview of the city council. The city council shall not conduct any other business at the meeting except to authorize the payment of bills or to approve emergency agenda items.
E. Closed Session: Iowa Code section 21.5 outlines specific instances where cities are allowed to discuss city business in closed session prior to voting on the matter in open session. Before entering into closed session, the city attorney will make a statement to the city council and public noting the reason for adjourning to closed session and that the reason complies with a specific section of Iowa Code. City council must then make an affirmative, public vote equal to the lesser of two-thirds of the members of the body or all of the members present at the meeting to enter into closed session. Once in closed session, discussion must remain germane to the topic for discussion listed on the agenda. Final action on any item must take place in open session.
1. Matters discussed in closed session are sensitive in nature, where public disclosure of such information may be detrimental to the city. Elected officials and city staff shall follow article 1-4B of this chapter, with respect to matters discussed and information presented in closed session meetings.
F. Change Of Location: Regular, special, work session, or planning session meetings of the city council may be held at such other designated place other than city hall as the city council may deem advisable and necessary; provided, however, such designation of a meeting place other than the council chambers in city hall shall be by city council resolution. Notice of such change of meeting place shall be given to the public by publication as provided by Iowa Code section 362.3.
G. Electronic Meetings: A meeting of the city council may be conducted electronically only when a meeting in person is impossible or impractical and only if:
1. The council members participating in the meeting at each location by telephone or video can hear and be heard by all council members, provided that if any participant is hearing impaired other suitable means of communication are provided. If the meeting is conducted by email or video, the council members participating in the meeting shall, to the extent possible, have access to a reliable internet connection.
2. The city council provides public access to the conversation of the meeting to the extent reasonably possible.
3. The city council complies with Iowa Code section 21.4. For the purpose of this paragraph, the place of the meeting is the place from which the communication originates or where public access is provided to the conversation.
4. Minutes are kept of the meeting. The minutes shall include a statement explaining why a meeting in person was impossible or impractical.
H. Informal Meetings: Council members may hold meetings other than those outlined in this chapter. At such informal meetings, no legislative business may be transacted, and city business cannot be discussed if four (4) council members are present, unless there has been compliance with open meeting laws. At informal meetings where a quorum is not present, council members may receive informational briefings from staff, make site visits, receive public comments, or engage in informal discussion. (Ord. 5662, 9-19-2022)
The mayor may create and appoint no fewer than three (3) council members to standing committees of the council. Committee members shall be appointed at the first meeting in January or at the time a vacancy occurs. A chair shall be selected from the members of the committee. Nothing shall preclude the city council from acting as deemed necessary without the input of a committee in the case of an emergency to conduct the business of the city. Each of the following committees shall specifically be assigned the following responsibilities and other duties as deemed appropriate:
A. Finance Committee: This committee shall review travel requests, budget line item amendments, expenditure pre-authorizations, and refund requests for sanitation services in accordance with city finance policies and procedures. The committee shall meet prior to each regular session and planning session. (Ord. 5662, 9-19-2022)
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