All public bodies shall keep written minutes of all their open meetings. Minutes shall include, but need not be limited to:

The date, time and place of the meeting

The members of the public body recorded as either present or absent

A summary of discussion on all matters proposed, deliberated, or decided, and a record of any votes taken

The minutes of meetings open to the public shall be available for public inspection within seven (7) days of the approval of such minutes by the governing body.

Public Notice:

Public notice must be given for all meetings, whether open or closed to the public. Public notice is given by posting a copy of the notice at the principal office of the body holding the meeting.

An agenda for each regular meeting is required to be posted forty-eight (48) hours in advance of such meeting. Public notice of any special meeting shall be given forty-eight (48) hours before such meeting, which notice shall also include the agenda for the meeting.

Public Hearings:

Public hearing requirements could include:

Posting at City Hall no less than twenty (20) days before the Hearing

Publishing in a newspaper of local circulation no less than twenty (20) days before the Hearing

Direct mailing to parties directly affected no less than twenty (20) days before the Hearing

Conflict of Interest:

Conflict of Interest law seeks to minimize the extent to which public employees pursue their own financial interests at the expense of the public interest.

No elected or appointive city official or employee, whether paid or unpaid, shall engage in any business or transaction or shall have a financial or other personal interest, direct or indirect, which is incompatible with the proper discharge of his or her duties in the public interest or would tend to impair his or her independence of judgment or action in the performance of his or her official duties. Personal as distinguished from financial interest includes an interest arising from blood or marriage relationships or close business or political association. Specific conflicts of interest are enumerated below for the guidance or officials and employees:

Incompatible employment - no elected or appointive city official or employee shall engage in or accept private employment or render services for private interests when such employment or service is incompatible with the proper discharge of his or her official duties or would tend to impair his or her independence of judgment or action in the performance of his or her official duties.

Valley Falls Code of Ordinances

Because Valley Falls is a Home Rule City, it can determine its own local laws. City laws are also called ordinances. As ordinances are passed, they are put into the City's Code of Ordinances, or City Code Book.

How is a City Ordinance created?

City Council requests new legislation or the City Administrator recommends new legislation

City Council reviews the proposed ordinance and votes at a following Council meeting

Ordinance is published if necessary.

Ordinances may be enacted in response to state or federal mandates, or in response to City specific issues. The City's Code of Ordinances is organized to make the laws of the City as accessible as possible to city officials, city employees and private citizens.

Numbering System - The numbering system is the backbone of a code of ordinances. It uses a numbering structure that allows for easy expansion and amendment of the code. It is based on three tiers, beginning with Chapter, then Article, and ending with section.

Chapter - A chapter is a broad category under which ordinances on a related subject are compiled. For example, the first chapter is Chapter 1, Administration, which contains ordinances about general code adoption, definitions, and duties of City officials. The titles in this code are separated by tabbed divider pages for quick reference.

Article - Articles deal with more specific subjects. All of the articles on a related subject are grouped in one chapter.

Section - Each section of the code contains the substantive ordinance material.

Ordinance History Note - At the end of certain code sections, you will find an "ordinance history note," which lists the underlying ordinances for that section. The ordinances are listed by number, section (if applicable) and year, with the most recent amendment added to the beginning.

Legal Considerations

Kansas Open Meetings Act (AKA, Sunshine Laws)

Intent of the Act:

The public policy provision states that "in recognition of the fact that a representative government is dependent upon an informed electorate, it is declared to be the policy of this state that meetings for the conduct of governmental affairs and the transaction of governmental business be open to the public. It is declared hereby to be against the public policy of this state for any such meeting to be adjourned to another time or place in order to subvert the policy of open public meeting."