[Referendum of 11-5-1991; Ord. No. 472-2011 §1 (Proposition
3), 5-3-2011; passed in election 4-5-2011]
The regular election for the choice of members to the City Council
and to vote on such other propositions as may be presented by the
Council shall be held annually in accordance with guidelines as are
from time to time codified by the Missouri Secretary of State's
office.
The Council may, by resolution, call, fix the time, and provide
for the conduct of special elections.
Except as to the methods and procedures established by ordinance,
the applicable election laws of the State of Missouri shall govern
the conduct of all elections.
The Council shall have the power to provide for the use of mechanical
or other devices for voting or counting of votes not inconsistent
with State law.
All election times and dates shall be as specified by State
law.
Those residents of the City who have registered to vote in City
elections according to the Constitution and laws of the State of Missouri
shall be legal voters of the City.
The names of candidates for the Council shall be printed on
ballots without party designation, and all election campaigns shall
be conducted on a non-partisan basis.
Unless otherwise provided by Statute, the election official
for the City shall be the City Clerk, or if absent or disabled, an
alternate appointed by the Council, or in the event of its failure
to act, by the Mayor. Said election official shall be responsible
for the conduct of City elections in accordance with the Constitution
and applicable laws of the State of Missouri, and ordinances as may
be adopted by the Council.
[Ord. No. 330-2008 §1, 5-6-2008; passed in election 4-8-2008; Ord. No. 96-2020, 8-18-2020; passed in election 11-3-2020]
With the effective date of this Charter, all members of the
Council shall continue in office until the expiration of their respective
terms. Effective with the April 6, 2021, general municipal election,
members of the Council will initially be elected as follows:
April 6, 2021 election — One (1) general Council member
(three (3) year term), Ward 1 Council member (three (3) year term),
Ward 2 Council member (two (2) year term), and Ward 3 Council member
(two (2) year term).
April 5, 2022 election — One (1) general Council member
(three (3) year term) and Ward 4 Council member (three (3) year term).
April 4, 2023 election — One (1) general Council member
(three (3) year term), Ward 2 Council member (three (3) year term),
and Ward 3 Council member (three (3) year term).
Thereafter, all members of the Council will be elected for three
(3) year terms in accordance with the following rotation:
Cycle 1 — One (1) general Council member and Ward 1 Council
member.
Cycle 2 — One (1) general Council member and Ward 4 Council
member.
Cycle 3 — One (1) general Council member, Ward 2 Council
member, and Ward 3 Council member.
[Ord. No. 980, 12-6-1977; Referendum of 2-7-1978; Referendum of 11-6-1979; Ord. No. 95-3 §2, 1-17-1995; passed in election 4-4-1995]
Nominations of candidates for City Council shall be by petition.
For the name of a candidate to appear on the printed ballot, a petition,
signed by not less than thirty-five (35) legal voters of the City,
shall be presented to the City Clerk pursuant to the time constraints
in Section 115.125, RSMo., 1986.
Persons signing the petitions of candidates seeking election
to the Council shall designate their residential street, and house
number within the City. Such petitions in a form approved by ordinance
shall be available upon request from the City Clerk.
[Referendum of 2-7-1978; Referendum of 11-6-1979]
The designated election authority shall provide for the counting
of absentee ballots and regular ballots. Election returns shall be
canvassed as provided by State law and the candidates receiving the
most votes cast for each office shall be elected.
[Referendum of 2-7-1978]
Should there be a tie vote in any special or general election,
the winner shall be determined by lot, in a Council meeting open to
the public to which all candidates affected are invited.
