Title
An Ordinance adjusting Mayoral Succession, the procedures for declaring open and closed emergency meetings, and the process for restricting public access to meetings during emergency situations in the City of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, providing for the codification of the same, and including an emergency clause.
Body
***NOTE: The substitute bill is attached to this packet with updated information and included HB 2725***
This ordinance creates two new sections of the Municipal Code dealing with continuity of government during emergency situations. Section 1 provides that upon the declaration of an emergency situation or the existance of an undeclared emergency when both the mayor and the mayor pro tem are unable to serve, the powers and duties of the mayor are conferred on the member of the City Council with the longest continuous tenure during the last 8 years. If there is a tie in tenure then the determination is made by the drawing of lots. The purpose of this ordinance is to ensure that the emergency operations authority continues even in the event that the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem are unable to serve. This only applies in emergency situations.
The second section of this ordinance also only applies when an emergency has been declared. This section allows the City Council to conduct meetings via eletronic means so long as a quorum is physically present in the Council Chamber. Specifically, this provision would allow a member of Council who has been quarantined to be absent and to participate and vote in City Council meetings.
Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance on an emergency basis.
Presenter
Brian W. Head, City Attorney