Meetings; rules and procedures for meetings; freedom of information; emergency ordinances.

Charleston, S.C., City Code § 2-23

in effect

Sec. 2-23. - Meetings; rules and procedures for meetings; freedom of information; emergency ordinances. (a) The council, after public notice, shall meet regularly at least once in every month at such times and places as the council may prescribe by rule. Special meetings may be held on the call of the mayor or of a majority of the members. (b) The council shall determine its own rules and order of business and shall provide for keeping minutes of its proceedings which shall be a public record. (c) Procedures for meetings of a municipal governing body shall not conflict with the provisions of the general laws of the state with regard to freedom of information. (d) To meet public emergencies affecting life, health, safety or the property of the people, the council may adopt emergency ordinances; but such ordinances shall not levy taxes, grant, renew or extend a franchise or impose or change a service rate. Every emergency ordinance shall be enacted by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (⅔) of the members of council present. An emergency ordinance is effective immediately upon its enactment without regard to any reading, public hearing, publication or public notice requirements. Emergency ordinances shall expire automatically as of the sixty-first day following the date of enactment. (e) All regular meetings of city council that are recorded by a videographer shall be posted virtually in real time or televised as long as any existing cable franchise provider is required, as a part of its franchise agreement with the city, to provide such televising services, including at least one (1) camera and camera operator, to televise such meetings at no cost to the city. The city shall place a copy of each televised or virtually-posted regular city council meeting on the city's website. The public shall obtain copies of any regular city council meeting in accordance with the requirements of the S.C. Freedom of Information Act. Copies of all virtual or televised meetings of city council shall be archived and retained by the city's records management division. (f) Councilmembers may attend standing committee meetings virtually or by telephone. Councilmembers may attend meetings of city council or the committee on ways and means virtually or by telephone only if the remaining members attending in person constitute a quorum of the governing body. During emergency meetings or specially called meetings due to exigent circumstances, councilmembers may attend virtually without the requirement that a quorum be present in person. When virtual or telephonic attendance is permitted in accordance with this subparagraph, the following rules and procedures shall apply: (1) Notice of virtual or telephonic attendance shall be provided to the clerk of council's office and when possible, not less than twenty-four (24) hours before the scheduled start time for the meeting. The clerk of council shall advise the mayor or committee chair of the request. (2) At any meeting where a councilmember is attending virtually or by telephone, there shall be a device that allows the voice of the remotely-participating councilmember to be heard by everyone present in the meeting room. (3) Any meeting where a councilmember is attending virtually or by telephone shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of the S.C. Freedom of Information Act. (4) Any councilmember attending a committee meeting virtually or by phone where an executive session is held will ensure that no other person is within a range that would allow matters to be discussed or considered to be heard. (Ord. No. 1977-71, § 1, 11-8-77; Ord. No. 2010-246, § 1, 10-12-10; Ord. No. 2016-117, § 1, 9-27-16; Ord. No. 2019-098, § 1, 10-8-19; Ord. No. 2022-016, § 1, 1-25-22; Ord. No. 2022-047, § 1, 3-22-22)

Source: City of Charleston, South Carolina, Code of Ordinances and Zoning Ordinance (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/sc/charleston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CICO_CH2AD_ARTIICICO_DIV1GE_S2-23MERUPRMEFRINEMORFetched: 11/7/2026