BACKGROUND: Section 8 of the Columbus City Charter requires all City Council meetings to be open to the public. This provision is being reaffirmed and clarified to ensure that the Charter is consistent with state law, as provided in the Ohio Revised Code.
TITLE:
To submit to the electors of the City of Columbus a proposed amendment to Section 8 of the Columbus City Charter to ensure conformity with state law; to place such City Charter amendment on the November 2, 2010 ballot at a special election to be held concurrently with the General Election; to repeal the existing provisions thereof, and to declare an emergency.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
BODY:
Whereas, the President of Council has appointed a Committee to review the Columbus City Charter for the purpose of recommending any amendments which may be advisable with respect to the operations of the City; and
Whereas, the Review Committee, comprised of a diverse group of citizens who engaged in due deliberation, has reported its recommendations that Section 8 of the City Charter be amended to clarify and reaffirm open meeting provisions and ensure consistency with state law; and
Whereas, the amendment hereinafter set forth to Section 8 of the Columbus City Charter shall be submitted to the electors of the City at a special election to be held on the date of the next general election on November 2, 2010
Whereas, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City of Columbus in that it is necessary to immediately authorize submission of the proposed City Charter amendment to the electors in order to allow for timely submission to the boards of elections for placement on the November 2, 2010 ballot and for the immediate preservation of the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; now therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. The City Council hereby finds that a regular municipal election will not be held in 2010. Therefore, pursuant to City Charter Section 234, a special election is hereby called to place the amendment hereinafter set forth to Section 8 of the Columbus City Charter on the November 2, 2010 ballot at a special election to be held concurrently with the general election, a date not less than 60 nor more than 120 days from the passage of this ordinance.
SECTION 2. That Section 8 of the Columbus City Charter be amended as follows:
Section 8. Meetings of council.
At 5 o'clock p.m., on the first Monday in January, following a regular municipal election, the council shall meet at the usual place for holding meetings. If the first Monday in January is a legal holiday, then the meeting shall be held on the following day. Thereafter the council shall meet at such times as may be prescribed by ordinance or resolution; provided that at least fifty regular meetings shall be held in each year. The mayor, the president of the council, or any three members thereof may call special meetings of the council upon at least twelve hours' written notice to each member of the council, served personally on each member or left at the member's usual place of residence. Such notice shall state the subject to be considered at the meeting and no other subjects shall be then considered unless all members of council are present. All meetings of the council or committees thereof shall be held in public in accordance with the general laws of Ohio pertaining to the requirements for open meetings of public bodies and any citizen shall have access to the minutes and records thereof at all reasonable times.
SECTION 3. That upon approval of the electors of the proposed amendment and upon certification of the election results, the existing Section 8 of the City Charter be, and it is hereby, repealed.
SECTION 4. That the City Clerk shall forthwith serve a certified copy of this ordinance upon the boards of elections of Franklin County, Delaware County, and Fairfield County, Ohio.
SECTION 4. That the boards of elections of Franklin County, Delaware County, and Fairfield County, Ohio be, and hereby are, requested to place this proposed amendment upon a separate ballot, or upon the same ballot with any other proposed amendments, to be submitted to the electors as provided for and upon the date as set forth herein.
SECTION 5. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.