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RESOLUTION NO. 8319
RESOLUTION REGARDING ATTENDANCE
BY COUNCIL MEMBERS AT COUNCIL MEETINGS
WHEREAS, the attendance of Council Members at meetings is one of the most
important duties imposed by law on members; and
WHEREAS, member presence to participate in hearings, deliberations and
decisions of the Council is essential to the prop'er discharge of the member's official
duties; and
WHEREAS, recognizing that it is not always possible for a member to be present
at all meetings and that by reason of business demands, state of health, personal
problems, vacations and other matters, occasional absences are excusable; and
WHEREAS, Subsedion 205.15 of the Richfield City Code establishes rules for
attendance at Council meetings that may be invoked by resolution of the Council.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City of Richfield, Minnesota that
the following rules apply to absences of Council Members from meetings during
calendar year 1996:
1. A member of the Council may not be absent from any regular or duly called special
meeting unless excused by a majority of the Council. Regular meetings are those
defined as in Section 205.01 of the Richfield City Code. Special Council meetings
are those called pursuant to Subsedion 205.03 of the Richfield City Code. For
purposes of this resolution, special meeting~ are further categorized as:
a) Special business meetings: Special meetings called to condud official business
of the City where the Council considersadion requiring a vote of the City
Council.
b) Special informational meetings: Special meetings called for the City Council to
receive information or to participate in discussion but where no official adion of
the City Council is taken.
c) Special ceremonial meetings: Special meetings called for ceremonial adivities
but where no official adion of the City Council is taken, including ribbon cuttings,
community celebrations and similar adivities.
2. Notices of special meetings shall be deemed properly addressed if addressed to the
address shown on the member's voter registration.
Resolution No. 8319
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3. Any member of the Council desiring to be excused shall insofar as possible, give
advance notice to the City Manager stating i) the meeting at which the member will
be absent; ii) the member's reason for being absent; and iii) the member's location
during the meeting.
4. At the beginning of each regular, special business or special informational meeting,
the Clerk shall call the roll. If a member is absent, the City Manager shall report any
communication from the absent Council Member regarding the reason for absence.
The Mayor shall request the Council Members to determine whether the absence is
excusable or unexcusable.
5. For each unexcused absence from a regular or special business meeting, the
absent member shall be penalized by a fine of $25 and the Mayor, if absent, shall
be penalized by a fine of $50. The fine shall be automatically deducted from the
next Council Member payment unless otherwise directed by a majority of the City
Council Members present. No fine shall be imposed for an unexcused absence
from a special informational or special ceremonial meeting.
6. This resolution remains in effect until December 31, 1996, unless revoked prior to
that date by resolution of the Council.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Richfield, Minnesota this 8th day of
January, 1996.
0~lU
Martin J. Kirs , ayor
ATTEST:
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Thomas P. Ferber, City Clerk