Impact
WARD: All Wards
COMMITTEE: Administration
$ IMPACT: None
Title
Approval of Ordinance 2016-06 to Amend the City of Smyrna Code of Ordinances Chapter 2, Article II, Division II, Section 2-47: Special meetings-Calling; notice.
Body
ISSUE: Recommendation to change special meeting notice to allow 24 hour advance notification by electronic means rather than mail or hand delivery and to allow no notification to berequired if the mayor, all councilmembers, and city administrator are present when the special meeting is called.
BACKGROUND: The current special called meeting notification ordinance was established before 1977. The proposed amendment to the special called meetings notice ordinance aims to update the Code to reflect contemporary practice. The requirement for notification to be distributed via mail or hand delivery does not reflect the invention of electronic mail. Cities such as Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Chattahoochee Hills, and Kennesaw have updated Code which allows for notification by electronic means. Staff believes electronic delivery is both the quickest means to notify elected officials of a special called meeting and the best use of taxpayer money. It is also now common practice to allow no notification to be required if the mayor, all councilmembers and city administrator are present when the special meeting is called.
RECOMMENDATION/REQUESTED ACTION: Staff recommends approval.