City of Olivette - Government

City Council Information

Ruth Springer Council Member	Richmond Coburn Council Member	Jean Antoine Mayor	Missy Waldman Mayor Pro-tem	Jim Baer     Council Member

I.      ESTABLISH POLICY

A.            Adopt goals and objectives

B.            Establish priorities for public services.

C.            Approve programs.

D.            Approve/amend the operating and capital project budgets.

E.            Enact Ordinances and Resolutions

F.            Approve grant applications.

G.            Approve large contract purchases.

H.            Approve zoning changes.

I.            Choose mayoral appointments.

II.      REPRESENT THE CITY

A.          Through the legislative process such as Resolutions outlining council opinions and suggestions.

B. Through appointments to various regional or state boards

C. Lobby state and federal officials

D. Through attendance at St. Louis County Chamber meetings, Missouri Municipal meetings, and Conference of Cities meetings.

III.          PROVIDE PUBLIC LEADERSHIP

A.            Transmit constituents' wishes and concerns.

B.            Arbitrate conflicting interests.

C.            Follow own best judgement:

The Council has its Regular Meeting on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 7:30 p.m., unless that meeting falls on a holiday, in which case the meeting is not held.  Generally, the last meeting in December is not held.

The Council and staff generally meet together in retreats for goal setting, problem solving, or project review.

Items to be considered by the Council are listed on the Agenda for regular and special meetings. Ordinances or resolutions which the Council wants to placed on an upcoming Agenda are normally directed to the City Manager, the City Attorney, and the Executive Secretary who is also the Interim City Clerk at a previous Council meeting.  Other items to appear on the agenda are discussed by the staff at the staff meeting the day after a Council meeting in order to prepare for the upcoming agenda.  Agenda items are normally discussed with the Mayor before the agenda is prepared.

The Agenda is prepared by the City Manager and the Executive Secretary/ who is also the Interim City Clerk on the Friday prior to regular meetings. A copy is posted on Olivette's Web Site,on the bulletin boards in City Hall, Public Works, Community Center and two other bulletin boards located within the community at the strip shopping malls, and sent to all subdivision trustees.  Each Council Agenda packet includes a brief summary of proposed legislation, staff recommendations as well as a calendar of upcoming meetings and events plus general information about the City for approximately 30 days.

The following rules govern the conduct of meetings of the City Council. Rules, other than those prescribed by statute, may be suspended at any time by the consent of a majority of the City Council present at any meeting.

Rule 1.  The Mayor shall decide all questions or order, subject to appeal to a majority of the Council.

Rule 2.  A member of Council discussing a question shall address his fellow members, and no member of  Council has the floor until recognized by the Mayor, subject to appeal to a majority of the Council.

Rule 3.  Roll call votes shall be taken and recorded for all ordinances or propositions which create liability  against or obligation on the part of the City or for the expenditure or appropriation of money and in all other instances where a request is made by any member of Council.

Rule 4.  No vote or action of the City Council shall be rescinded at any special meeting unless there is present at such meeting as many members of the Council as were present when such vote or action was originally taken.

Rule 5.  All meetings of the City Council shall be open to the public, except portions of such meetings from which the City Council may, by majority vote of the members present, exclude the public as permitted under the Open Meetings Law.

Rule 6.  Any person in attendance at an executive session is honor-bound not to violate the confidentiality of the discussion taking place during the session, except as to any portions thereof which may clearly violate the Open Meetings Law.

Recommendations approved by the Planning and Community Design Commission for legislative action shall be placed on the agenda upon the receipt of said recommendation by the Executive Secretary and serving as the Interim City Clerk.

The City Manager shall make the agenda known to the Council and to the press as far in advance of a meeting as may be practical, preferably two days in advance of such meeting. The published agenda may be altered or suspended by the Council present.

Rule 7. The general public shall be afforded an opportunity to address the Council during the portion of the order of business set aside for Hearing from Citizens. Any person desiring to address the Council shall be required to identify himself, stating his home address or place of business, and to address his remarks to the Mayor. Council Members desiring further information or comment from the speaker or from any other person in the audience may request the same.  Protracted, repetitive, irrelevant or abusive remarks from the public may be closed off at any time by direction of the City Council.

Rule 8. A majority of the City Council shall approve the agenda. Items shall be added or removed upon majority vote.

Rule 9. The Chairmpersons of the various boards, commissions, and advisory committees established by statute or ordinance, may, upon the approval of a majority of the City Council, render an oral report. Reports may be received in written form and made part of the record.