[Ord. No. 1227 §1, 1-9-2002]
The corporate powers of the inhabitants hereby incorporated under the name and style of the Mayor, Board of Aldermen and citizens of the City of Platte City shall be vested in and expressed by a Board of Aldermen to consist of two (2) members from each ward to be elected by the qualified voters of said City of Platte City.
[Ord. No. 1227 §1, 1-9-2002; Ord. No. 1469 §1, 4-27-2006]
A. 
No person shall be a member of the Board of Aldermen unless he/she be a citizen of the United States, over the age of twenty-one (21) years and shall have resided within the City limits for one (1) year next preceding his/her election and be a bona fide resident at the time he/she files and during the time he/she serves of the Ward for which he/she is elected.
B. 
If the Alderman shall, after his/her election, move from the ward from which he/she was chosen, his/her office shall be thereby vacated.
[Ord. No. 1227 §1, 1-9-2002]
A. 
It is the duty of each Alderman to attend all regular and special meetings of the Board at the time and place designated for holding same.
B. 
Each Alderman shall receive for his/her services the sum as set by the Board from time to time.
[Ord. No. 1227 §1, 1-9-2002]
A. 
No person shall be Mayor unless he/she be at least twenty-five (25) years of age, a citizen of the United States and a resident of the City at the time of and for at least one (1) year next preceding his/her election.
B. 
The Mayor shall sign all commissions and appointments of City Officers elected or appointed; shall approve all official bonds unless otherwise provided by ordinance; shall sign all orders and warrants drawn on the City Treasury for money. He/she shall have power to call every male inhabitant of the City over the age of eighteen (18) years and under the age of fifty (50) years to aid in enforcing the laws and shall have power to remit fines and forfeitures, grant reprieves and pardons for offenses arising under the ordinances of the City.
[Ord. No. 1227 §1, 1-9-2002]
A. 
The Board of Aldermen shall, at the first (1st) meeting after the City election in April of each year, elect one (1) of their own number who shall be styled "Acting President of the Board of Aldermen" and who shall serve for a term of one (1) year.
B. 
When any vacancy shall happen in the office of Mayor by death, resignation, removal from the City, removal from office, refusal to qualify or from any other cause whatever, the Acting President of the Board of Aldermen shall for the time being perform the duties of Mayor with all the rights, privileges, powers and jurisdiction of the Mayor until such vacancy be filled or such disability be removed or, in case of the temporary absence of the Mayor, until the Mayor's return.
[Ord. No. 1227 §1, 1-9-2002]
A. 
The Presiding Officer of the Board of Aldermen shall be the Mayor or, in his/her absence, the Acting President of the Board of Aldermen.
B. 
The Mayor shall have the following duties:
1. 
He/she shall preserve strict order and decorum at all regular and special meetings of the Board.
2. 
He/she shall state every question coming before the Board, announce the decision of the Board on all subjects and decide all questions of order subject, however, to an appeal to the Board, in which event a majority vote of the Board shall govern and conclusively determine such question of order.
3. 
The Mayor shall not vote on any question, except in case of tie, nor shall he/she preside or vote in cases wherein he/she is interested.
4. 
He/she shall sign all ordinances and resolutions adopted by the Board during his/her presence, unless vetoed in accordance with the provisions of this Code.
C. 
In the event of the absence of the Mayor, the Acting President of the Board shall sign ordinances and resolutions as then adopted and shall perform all other duties of the Presiding Officer herein set forth.
[CC 1992 §100.130]
The style of the ordinances shall be as follows: "Be it ordained by the Board of Aldermen of the City of Platte City, Missouri, as follows:".
[CC 1992 §100.140; R.O. 1979 §2.010]
Ordinances shall be introduced and sponsored by a member of the Board of Aldermen; except, that the Mayor, City Administrator or the City Attorney may present ordinances to the Board, and any member of the Board may assume sponsorship thereof by moving that such ordinances be adopted or otherwise such ordinances shall not be considered. No ordinance or Section thereof shall be amended or repealed unless the new ordinance contains the title of the ordinance or Section amended or repealed and, when practicable, all ordinances shall be introduced as amendments to existing ordinances or Sections thereof.
[CC 1992 §100.150; R.O. 1979 §2.020]
A. 
No ordinance shall be passed except by bill and no bill shall become an ordinance unless on its final passage a majority of the members elected to the Board of Aldermen shall vote for it and the "ayes" and "nays" be entered on the journal. Every proposed ordinance shall be introduced to the Board of Aldermen in writing and shall be read by title or in full two (2) times prior to passage. Both readings may occur at a single meeting of the Board of Aldermen. If the proposed ordinance is read by title only, copies of the proposed ordinance shall be made available for public inspection prior to the time the bill is under consideration by the Board of Aldermen. No bill shall become an ordinance until it shall have been signed by the Mayor or the person exercising the duties of the Mayor's office or shall have been passed over the Mayor's veto as herein provided.
B. 
Every bill passed by the Board of Aldermen and presented to the Mayor and by him/her approved shall become an ordinance and every bill presented as stated above, but returned with the Mayor's objections thereto, shall stand reconsidered. The Board shall cause the objections of the Mayor to be entered at large upon the journal and proceed at its convenience to consider the question pending, which shall be in the following form: "Shall the bill pass, the objections of the Mayor thereto notwithstanding?" The vote on this question shall be taken by "ayes" and "nays", the names entered upon the journal and if two-thirds (⅔) of all members of the Board shall vote in the affirmative, the City Clerk shall certify the fact on the roll. The bill thus certified shall be deposited with the proper officer and shall become an ordinance in the same manner and with the same effect as if it had received the approval of the Mayor.
C. 
The Mayor shall have the power to sign or veto any ordinance passed by the Board of Aldermen; provided that if he/she neglects or refuses to sign any ordinance and return such ordinance with his/her objections, in writing, at the next regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen, such ordinance shall become a law without his/her signature.
[CC 1992 §100.160; R.O. 1979 §2.030]
All ordinances passed by the Board of Aldermen, except when otherwise specifically provided, shall take effect and be in force from and after their final passage.
[Ord. No. 1227 §1, 1-9-2002]
The Board of Aldermen shall keep a journal of its proceedings and the "ayes" and "nays" of the members voting on any question shall be entered therein at the request of any two (2) members.
[Ord. No. 1227 §1, 1-9-2002; Ord. No. 1614 §1, 2-24-2009; Ord. No. 1615 §1, 3-11-2009; Ord. No. 1631 §1, 8-26-2009; Ord. No. 2023, 6-24-2025]
A. 
Establishment Of Committees.
1. 
Standing committees shall be as follows:
a. 
Public Safety Committee.
b. 
Public Works Committee.
c. 
Economic Development Committee.
2. 
Ad hoc committees shall be as follows:
a. 
Personnel Committee.
b. 
Finance and Budget Committee.
c. 
Additional committees as may be established by the Mayor.
B. 
Composition And Membership.
1. 
Standing committees shall each consist of three (3) members of the Board of Aldermen to be appointed by the Mayor with the consent of the Board of Aldermen. Such members shall possess such qualifications, knowledge and interest of the particular area in which they serve as the Mayor may deem appropriate and advisable. The Mayor shall be an ex officio member of each committee, but shall not count against the quorum and may vote in the event of a tie. The City Administrator and any staff designated by the City Administrator shall attend committee meetings and provide staff support to the committee but shall not be members of any standing committee.
2. 
Ad hoc committees shall consist of two (2) members of the Board of Aldermen to be appointed by the Mayor with the consent of the Board of Aldermen. Such members shall possess such qualifications, knowledge and interest of the particular area in which they serve as the Mayor may deem appropriate and advisable. The Mayor shall serve as an ex officio member of each committee but shall not count against the quorum and may vote in the event of a tie. The City Administrator shall be a non-voting member of each committee.
3. 
Committee Chairperson. At its initial meeting each term, committees shall elect one (1) member to serve as Chair. Until such selection is made or in the absence of the Chair, the Alderman of longest tenure on the Board shall be acting Chairperson.
4. 
Meeting Schedules — Regular And Special.
a. 
Standing committees: Committee meeting schedules shall be set by the Mayor with the consent of the Board of Aldermen with schedules to be set within 60 days following each municipal election. Committees shall meet monthly, although meetings may be cancelled or rescheduled by the Chair. However, committees shall meet at least once in any 60-day period and in no less than nine (9) months of the year.
b. 
Ad hoc committees shall meet at the request of the Committee Chair, Mayor, City Administrator or upon request of any two (2) members of the Board of Aldermen to be delivered in writing to the City Clerk or the City Attorney. There is no annual minimum number of meetings required for ad hoc committees.
c. 
Special meetings of the standing committees may be called by the Mayor, the Chair or any two (2) members of the Committee whose request is delivered in writing to the City Clerk and City Attorney. Such special meetings shall occur as soon as possible following the request in compliance with the posting requirements of the Open Meetings Act.
5. 
Agendas And Meeting Procedures.
a. 
Items shall be placed on standing committee and ad hoc committee agendas as follows:
(1) 
As directed by the Mayor.
(2) 
As directed by the Committee Chairperson.
(3) 
In accordance with a majority vote of the Board of Aldermen.
(4) 
As verbally requested by any two (2) members of the committee.
(5) 
As requested by the City Administrator.
b. 
Committees shall reach a decision by consensus as announced by the Chair, except that any committee member may request a roll call vote on any item.
c. 
Committees may reach the following outcomes on any agenda item:
(1) 
Forward to the Board recommending approval with no changes.
(2) 
Forward to the Board recommending approval with specified changes.
(3) 
Forward to the Board not recommending approval.
(4) 
Return to staff for revisions and return to committee.
(5) 
Return to staff, no further action.
(6) 
Provide guidance to staff for future items.
[Ord. No. 1227 §1, 1-9-2002]
The Mayor shall appoint the members of the Personnel and Finance Committee, Public Works Committee, Public Safety Committee and such other committees as may be provided in this Code with the advice and consent of the Board of Aldermen. Such committee members shall possess such qualifications and knowledge of the particular area in which they shall serve as the Mayor may deem appropriate and advisable. The compensation to be paid to the committee members, if any, shall be fixed by resolution by the Board of Aldermen. The duties of such committee members shall be fixed by the Sections of this Code pertaining to such committee.
[Ord. No. 1227 §1, 1-9-2002; Ord. No. 2025, 5-27-2025]
A. 
Regular Meetings.
1. 
Regular meetings of the Board of Aldermen shall be held at such time and place as shall be designated by resolution of the Board of Aldermen, which resolution shall be passed by a majority vote of the members of the Board of Aldermen at a meeting at which all members of the Board of Aldermen are present. There shall be at least one (1) regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen each calendar month.
2. 
The schedule for a regular meeting or meetings may be adjusted from time to time due to calendar or other scheduling conflicts. Such adjustment shall be considered in open session upon the request of the Mayor or any member of the Board. Such a request shall be considered a privileged request and shall be discussed and considered at the meeting at which it is requested. Following discussion, the Mayor shall announce the adjusted date as a consensus decision, however a roll call vote shall be held upon request of any member of the Board.
B. 
Special Meetings.
1. 
The Mayor or any two (2) Aldermen may request a special meeting by submitting a written request to either the City Clerk or the City Attorney.
2. 
Specific agenda items for such meeting, including a request for executive session of the Board, shall be included in the written request for such meeting.
3. 
The recipients of such request shall deliver the request to the Mayor as soon as possible but not later than 5:00 P.M. on the first working day following the date of submittal.
4. 
The Mayor shall schedule a special meeting to be held as soon as practicable but not later than the second working day following the date the Mayor receives such request.
5. 
Special meetings shall be held at City Hall unless otherwise requested in the written request for such meeting. No special meetings shall be held on a Saturday, Sunday or Federal or State of Missouri Holiday.
6. 
In the event the request for a special session includes a request for an executive session of the Board, the special meeting shall commence in open session and upon confirmation of a quorum, the meeting shall adjourn to executive session only upon a majority vote of the member's present.
7. 
Notice of the meeting shall be posted for the public in the same manner as regular meetings and made in compliance with Section 120.070.
C. 
Responsibilities Of The President Of The Board Of Aldermen. In the event, the Mayor fails or is otherwise unable to schedule a special meeting as required by this Section; the City Attorney shall notify the President of the Board of Aldermen of such failure or inability. Upon such notice, the President of the Board of Aldermen is hereby authorized and directed to schedule and call for such special meeting as if the Mayor were absent.
D. 
Emergency Meeting.
1. 
An emergency meeting is separate and distinct from a special meeting. An emergency meeting may be called only for the initial meeting of the Board of Aldermen in response to a municipal state of emergency as declared by the Mayor in response to a natural or man-made disaster or other condition which presents an urgent threat to the safety and welfare of the City and its inhabitants and in accordance with Chapter 44; RSMo.
2. 
The Mayor, or in their absence, the President of the Board of Aldermen shall schedule the emergency meeting as soon as possible following the Declaration of a Municipal State of Emergency.
3. 
The agenda for such meeting shall include, at a minimum, Board action to consider the Mayor's Declaration of a Municipal State of Emergency and to review the City's response to such emergency in accordance with Section 135.145, Emergency Procurement Procedures and Duties, and Section 225.050, Mayor-Duties, of the City Code.
4. 
Public posting of the emergency meeting shall be required and shall occur as soon as possible after the meeting is scheduled. However, due to the exigent circumstances, requirement for a 24-hour posting period is hereby waived.
E. 
Severability. If any provision of this Section is found to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain enforceable and in effect as if the stricken provision had never existed.
[Ord. No. 1227 §1, 1-9-2002]
A majority of the Board of Aldermen shall constitute a quorum to do business but a smaller number may meet and adjourn from day to day and may compel the attendance of absent members in such manner as the Board may prescribe.
[Ord. No. 1227 §1, 1-9-2002]
A. 
The Mayor, or in his/her absence the Acting President of the Board, shall take the Chair precisely at the hour appointed for the meeting and shall immediately call the Board to order. In the absence of the Mayor and the Acting President, the City Clerk or his/her assistant shall call the Board to order, whereupon a Temporary Chairman shall be elected by the members of the Board present. Upon the arrival of the Mayor or Acting President, the Temporary Chairman shall immediately relinquish the Chair upon the conclusion of the business immediately before the Board.
B. 
Conduct of the meeting shall include the following:
1. 
Before proceeding with the business of the Board of Aldermen, the City Clerk or his/her Deputy shall call the role of the members and the names of those present shall be entered in the minutes.
2. 
A majority of all members elected to the Board of Aldermen shall constitute a quorum at any regular or special meeting of the Board. No business shall be transacted at any regular or special meeting unless a quorum is present.
3. 
The Board of Aldermen shall, by resolution, establish the order in which business of the Board shall be brought before the Board for consideration and disposition at each meeting.
4. 
Unless a reading of the minutes of the Board of Aldermen's meeting is requested by a member of the Board, such minutes may be approved without reading if the City Clerk had previously furnished each member with a synopsis of the minutes.
5. 
Decorum before the Board of Aldermen shall be maintained; no member of the Board shall, by conversation or otherwise, delay or interrupt the proceedings or the peace of the Board or disturb any member while speaking or refuse to obey the orders of the Board or its Presiding Officer. All persons attending any meetings shall refrain from personal, impertinent or slanderous remarks or boisterous conduct. Any person indulging in such conduct shall be forthwith, by the Presiding Officer, barred from further audience before the Board unless permission to continue shall be granted by the majority vote of the Board.
C. 
The following rules of debate shall be observed by the Mayor and the Board members:
1. 
The Mayor or such other member of the Board of Aldermen as may be presiding may move, second and debate from the Chair, subject only to limitations of debate as are imposed by this Article on all members of the Board. No Alderman shall be deprived of any of the rights and privileges of an Alderman by reason of his/her acting as the Presiding Officer.
2. 
Every member desiring to speak shall address the Chair and, upon recognition by the Presiding Officer, shall confine himself/herself to the question under debate.
3. 
A member, once recognized, shall not be interrupted when speaking unless it shall be to call him/her to order or as otherwise provided in this Article. If a member, while speaking, is called to order, he/she shall cease speaking until the question of order is determined and, if in order, he/she shall be permitted to proceed.
4. 
A member of the Board moving the adoption of an ordinance or resolution shall have the privilege of closing the debate.
5. 
A motion to reconsider any action taken by the Board may be made only on the day such action was taken. It may be made either immediately during the same session or at a recessed or adjourned session thereof. Such motion shall be made by one (1) of the prevailing side, but may be seconded by any member. Such motion may be made at any time and shall have precedence over all other motions or while a member has the floor and it shall be debatable. Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent any member of the Board from making or remaking the motion to reconsider or any other motion at a subsequent meeting of the Board.
6. 
A member of the Board may request, through the Presiding Officer, the privilege of having an abstract of his/her statement on any subject under consideration by the Board entered in the minutes. If the Board consents thereto, such statement shall be entered in the minutes.
7. 
The City Clerk may be directed by the Presiding Officer, with the consent of the Board of Aldermen, to enter in the minutes a synopsis of the discussion on any question coming regularly before the Board.
8. 
Any member of the Board of Aldermen shall have the right to have the reasons for his/her dissent from or protest against any action of the Board entered in the minutes.
D. 
When a quorum is present at any regular or special meeting, any resolution or motion shall be passed by a majority vote of the Board of Aldermen. Unless a member of the Board of Aldermen states that he/she is not voting, his/her silence shall be recorded as an affirmative vote. A motion to adjourn shall always be in order and decided without debate.
[Ord. No. 1227 §1, 1-9-2002; Ord. No. 1978, 8-22-2023]
A. 
The Platte City Board of Aldermen is committed to public discourse that is respectful, civil and courteous as it conducts City business. This is the expectation of Board Members, City Staff as well as the public that participates in Board meetings and the process of governance. The Board values the input and participation of the public regarding issues within the community, or on specific items that come before the Board for consideration.
B. 
Each person addressing the Board of Aldermen shall give their name and address in an audible tone of voice for the records and, unless further time is granted by the Board, shall limit their address to three (3) minutes. All remarks shall be addressed to the Board or Committee as a body and not to any member thereof. No questions shall be directed to an Alderman or Committee Member except through the Presiding Officer. No person, other than the members of the Board and the person having the floor, shall be permitted to enter into any discussion, either directly or through a member of the Board, without permission of the Presiding Officer.
1. 
The Board of Aldermen or Appointed Committee establishes, on each agenda, a maximum period of time for public comments to not exceed thirty (30) minutes at regularly scheduled meetings, however it is optional and therefore not mandatory.
2. 
The Board of Aldermen shall on an annual basis review the public comment policy[1] at which time it will be amended by resolution.
[1]
Editor's Note: The City's Public Comment Policy is held on file in the City offices