CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTIETH COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. R-12-91 ENACTMENT NO. ____________________
SPONSORED BY: Trudy E. Jones
RESOLUTION
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Determining Reasonable Notice Of Public Meetings Of The City Council (Jones)
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DETERMINING REASONABLE NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL.
WHEREAS, the Albuquerque City Council met in regular session at the Council/Commission Chambers, One Civic Plaza, on September 17, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. as required by law and with notice as specified in Council Resolution R-11-287, Enactment No. R-2011-108; and
WHEREAS, Section 10-15-1(B) of the Open Meetings Act (NMSA 1978,
Sections 10-15-1 to 4) states that, except as otherwise provided in the constitution of New Mexico or the Open Meetings Act, all meetings of a quorum of members of any board, commission, administrative adjudicatory body or other policy making body of any state or local agency held for the purpose of formulating public policy, discussing public business or for the purpose of taking any action within the authority of or the delegated authority of such body, are declared to be public meetings open to the public at all times; and
WHEREAS, any meetings subject to the Open Meetings Act at which the discussion or adoption of any proposed ordinance, resolution, rule, regulation or formal action occurs shall be held only after reasonable notice to the public; and
WHEREAS, Section 10-15-1(D) of the Open Meetings Act requires the Albuquerque City Council to determine at least annually what constitutes reasonable notice of its public meetings.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE:
Section 1. Meetings of the full Council shall normally be held at the Vincent E. Griego Chambers, lower level of the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Government Center at One Civic Plaza, near the intersection of Fifth Street and Marquette Avenue NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Section 2. Meetings will be held each month on the dates specified by Council resolution, as provided in Section 2-1-1 of the Revised Ordinances of Albuquerque, 1994. Generally, Council meetings are held at 5:00 p.m. on the first and third Mondays of each month, pursuant to the Council Rules. The final agenda will normally be available three days prior to the meeting, but at least 24 hours prior to the meeting from the Clerk of the Council, whose office is located in Suite 9087, Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Government Center, 1 Civic Plaza NW. The Clerk of the Council shall post, if possible, a draft listing of agenda items to come before the full Council on the Albuquerque city web site (www.cabq.gov/council <http://www.cabq.gov/council>) at least five working days prior to the meeting, subject to revision until the agenda is deemed final.
Section 3. Special meetings may be called by the President of the Council or by three Councilors upon 48 hours notice. The notice shall include information on how members of the public may obtain a copy of the agenda. The agenda shall be available to the public at least 24 hours before any special meeting.
Section 4. Emergency meetings will be called only under circumstances when an unexpected occurrence or condition, or the state resulting therefrom requires immediate consideration or action to protect the health, safety and property of citizens or to protect the public body from substantial financial loss. The Council will avoid emergency meetings whenever possible. Emergency meetings may be called by the President of the Council upon 24 hours notice, unless the threat of personal injury or property damage requires less notice. The notice for all emergency meetings shall include an agenda for the meeting or information on how the public may obtain a copy of the agenda.
Section 5. For the purpose of meetings described in Section 2 of this resolution, notice requirements are met if notice of the date, time and place is placed in one or more newspapers of general circulation in Albuquerque or posted in the lobby of the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Government Center. The Clerk of the Council shall also provide copies of the above information as well as copies of the agendas to those broadcast stations licensed by the Federal Communications Commission and newspapers of general circulation in Albuquerque, which entities have made a written request for notice of public meetings. Such notice shall be provided to the Government Access Cable TV Channel to be transmitted, and posted on the Albuquerque city web site (www.cabq.gov/council <http://www.cabq.gov/council>).
Section 6. For the purpose of special meetings and emergency meetings described in Sections 3 and 4 of this resolution, notice requirements shall be met by posting notice of the date, time, place and agenda in the lobby of the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Government Center. The Clerk of the Council shall also provide telephone notice to those broadcast stations licensed by the Federal Communications Commission and newspapers of general circulation in Albuquerque that have made a written request for notice of public meetings.
Section 7. Public documents, including the agendas and minutes, can be provided in various accessible formats. Please contact the Clerk of the Council at the Council Office if a summary or other type of accessible format is needed. In addition to the information specified above, all notices shall include the following language:
"NOTICE TO PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES: If you have a disability and require special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Council Office as soon as possible before the meeting date at 768-3100 or by TTY at 1-800-659-8331."
Section 8. Cancellations and different meeting times and places may be announced at prior meetings of the full Council.
Section 9. Notice of committee meetings shall be equal to that specified in Sections 5, 6 and 7 of this resolution. Council committees do not hold emergency meetings.
Section 10. All ordinances, resolutions, rules or parts thereof, inconsistent herewith, are hereby repealed to the extent only of such inconsistency. This repealer shall not be construed to revive any ordinance, resolution, rule or part thereof heretofore repealed.
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