§ 2-29. Study session meetings.

(a)

The board of directors may hold study session meetings at such times, under such circumstances and on such conditions as the board may prescribe for the purpose of informing themselves of the business and affairs of the city, provided no official action of the board of directors shall be taken at such meetings. The city clerk shall not be required to keep minutes of study session meetings.

(b)

The city clerk shall prepare and give notice of study session meetings. Such notice shall be given to each member of the board, the mayor, the city administrator, the public and the news media pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act of 1967 [A.C.A. § 25-19-101]. Said notice shall include the time, date, place and item or items of business on the agenda for the meeting called.

(c)

The regularly-scheduled study session meeting shall precede the regular meeting of the board by at least five (5) days.

(d)

To the extent practical, items of business or matters which are complex or involve policy decisions shall be presented at a study session meeting together with a briefing of relevant facts and circumstances prior to being placed on the agenda of a regular meeting. Additionally, the city administrator shall provide a list of all then-known items contemplated to be on the next regular meeting agenda.

(e)

The time and place of study session meetings shall be determined by a majority of the members of the board, and notice given as herein provided.

(f)

Only the city administrator, the mayor, or a member of the board of directors may invite persons to address the board of directors at a study session, and a majority of the board of directors may limit the time of a presentation, or deny any presentation to the board. In all controversial and complex matters, such a briefing may be a condition precedent to further consideration of the item of business. The city administrator or his staff shall undertake reasonable efforts to give notice of the study session to persons having an existing direct interest, as contrasted with a general interest, in the item of business under study by the board of directors at a study session, and the board of directors may to permit such directly interested persons to make informed presentations to the board if requested to do so.

(g)

The study session meeting room shall be so arranged as to encourage and facilitate communication between the mayor, the members of the board of directors, the city administrator and any invited guests.

(Ord. No. 24-10, § 1, 5-18-10)